I thought it was pretty good. And I dont think the Irish Film Board would support this film if they thought it was a mockery. I for one never heard of this incident till I saw this film and did some research afterwards. Im sure that was the intent, to bring awareness to such a tragedy and abuse of power. Acting was alright, Weaving stood out as always. The rest did ok.

I thought Weaving was pretty mediocre, personally, though he was better than Freeville or Freddie Fox, who really cannot act at all. You're right about the Irish Film Board, but still... And I'm assuming you have no Irish connections if you'd never heard of the Famine?

Zero Irish connections.

Thought so- I'm 3/4 Irish, so I've been aware of it since I was 7 (I'm now 24, nearly 25), both my mum's parents were from Wexford, which is briefly mentioned in the film, while my dad's mum was born to Irish parents in Leitrim, but they quite quickly moved over to Bradford in England- do you know the song "Fields of Athenry"?

Nope, but does Oh Danny Boy count? Cause I think everyone knows that one!

Well, the reason I mentioned FOA is because it's explicitly about the Famine, which Danny Boy isn't, but it's a lovely song too

I saw it at an Irish film festival, with the producer there for Q&A after the film. There were probably 250 to 300 people in the audience. The crowd cheered when a certain character got his comeuppance.

The Famine is not the film's central theme. It is a drama and action film set during the Famine. Recommended!

That's kinda my issue- it's turned a national tragedy into a melodrama

@Joeisacoolguy said:

That's kinda my issue- it's turned a national tragedy into a melodrama

It's a movie, not a documentary.

@MongoLloyd said:

@Joeisacoolguy said:

That's kinda my issue- it's turned a national tragedy into a melodrama

It's a movie, not a documentary.

SPR is a movie. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a movie. Titanic is a movie. All of these admittedly have their controversies, but they weren't so bloody disrespectful. Being a movie is NEVER an excuse.