In 2016 the Irish will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the insurrection that gave birth to the Republic of Ireland and has come to symbolize the fight against British occupation.

These days the guns are silent and the war in Northern Ireland is a thing of the past. The peace process has been stumbling forward since 1998, and while it has been challenging and patiencetrying, it has also helped people open up and widen their perspective.

Ireland(s): The Rise of a Nation is a twopart documentary that takes an upclose look at one of the most significant conflicts of the late 20th century. It tells the story of this tormented island through moving interviews with people who lived through the conflict: both republicans and loyalists, men and women, politicians and freedom fighters, and simple bystanders. They give us their views on Ireland’s troubled past and discuss their own role in the violence, either as perpetuators or victims. They also share their fears for their island home, along with their hopes for a peaceful future.

Part One tells the story of the key events and upheavals in the century that started with the 1916 Easter Rising and closed with the signing of the peace agreement in April 1998. We go from the War of Independence, to the Britishimposed partition of the island, to the crushing of the Irish resistance with the 1969 riots. This broad overview ends with the last thirty years in the conflict, the bloodiest and most widely mediatized years in Ireland’s history. This overview will have a personal tone, thanks to firsthand accounts from men and women who lived through the key events of the past century, often participating in the fighting and sometimes making the dreadful choice of resorting to violence to make their voices heard and have their rights recognized. Their stories help us understand why people go to war and what drives them to keep on fighting, despite the suffering, doubts and death.

Documentary: Ireland(s) The Rise of a Nation – Part 1: The War Years (2015)
Direction: Emmanuel Hamon & Alain Frilet
Production: What’s Up Films

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