Omagh

Star Review

A worthy companion piece to writer-producer Paul Greengrass's Bloody Sunday (2001), this is a compelling reconstruction of the car bombing that claimed 29 lives in the Northern Irish town of Omagh on 15 August 1998. The depiction of the carnage is truly horrifying. But what's most shocking about this exemplary docudrama is the revelation that the authorities ignored warnings that could have prevented the most pitiless act of terror in Ulster's history.

The influence of Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers (1965) is obvious. But there's something Hitchcockian about the juxtaposing of the activities of the Real IRA and the citizens doing their Saturday shop. However, director Pete Travis never lets such dramatic devices detract from the reportagist realism of the action. Similarly, he follows Ken Loach's lead by ensuring that the picture's political aspect is as accessible as it's authentic. Moreover, he retains a human element by allowing Gerard McSorley, as the father of one of the deceased, to display passion as well as pragmatism, as the courageous head of the victim support group.

David Parkinson on 4th February 2008

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Film Description

A powerful and deeply moving examination of the aftermath of the Real IRA bombing that killed 29 people in Omagh, Northern Ireland on 15th August, 1998. The film focuses on the struggle of the families of the victims to obtain justice in the face of official indifference and is a worthy companion piece to writer-producer Paul Greengrass's Bloody Sunday (2001).

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Film Details

Cast

Brenda Fricker, Gerard McSorley

Technical Details