Black 47 ★★★
WHEN the British Empire’s at times brutal reign over its subjects is depicted on screen it usually focuses on colonial times in India or Africa or further back and closer to home in Scotland.
In contrast, the relationship with Ireland is nearly always concentrated on the modern conflict of the 1950s to 1990s with the villains being IRA terrorists.
So it’s refreshing to have a film like Black 47 (2018) set during the height of the 19th Century potato famine when thousands died of starvation and, rather than recognise the devastating economic and social impacts, the British Rulers intensified their oppression.
Black 47 features a central character, Feeney, played by Australian James Frecheville, whose rebellion fuelled by personal tragedy has similarities to Ned Kelly, Australia’s own much-debated anti-hero.
The heavily-bearded and quietly spoken Feeney is technically guilty of treason as a deserter from the British Army but the truth is more complicated.
Many adult Irish men were faced with either joining up and fighting overseas alongside the colonising British for some money for their families or staying at home, refusing to betray their independence but possibly watching their families die of starvation as a result.
Feeney chose to fight for money and has therefore been labelled a traitor by both sides. When he returns home to find his mother and sister dead and their home being used to house pigs his sense of righteousness and vengeance is fuelled by guilt.
He seeks retribution from the establishment, killing several along the way and attracting the attention of the British Army who send a small posse after him led by ambitious English officer Pope, played by Freddie Fox, and another Irish so-called traitor working for the British, Hannah played by Hugo Weaving.
What is initially perceived to be a relatively simple mission turns into a bloody and treacherous one with Feeney displaying deadly guerrilla tactics akin to Rambo and characters not being exactly what they appear.
Daly and his cinematographer PJ Dillon, who has worked on television’s Vikings and Game of Thrones, perfectly capture the desolation and depression of the times, not just in the visuals but also the overall atmosphere created.
James Frecheville exploded onto our screens in 2010 as part of the great acting ensemble in crime thriller Animal Kingdom, but hasn’t made much of a mark since.
He gives a commanding yet also quiet performance as Feeney and is well supported by Fox, the always excellent Weaving, up and coming Barry Keoghan and veterans Stephen Rea and Jim Broadbent.
The subject may be dark, violent and depressing for many, but there is no doubting the skill and passion that brings this story to the screen.