Mike Scotland

Black 47 is an excellent film which depicts the results of British arrogance and indifference to the Irish as they starved, froze to death after having their lands taken from them by force. It was another chapter in the 800 year repeated invasions and all too common acts of genocide of the Irish starting with the English Normans, the violent defeat of Irish chieftains O'Neill, under Queen Elizabeth 1,James 1, the eviction of land and the colonisation of Ulster by settlement, followed by the dispossession of catholic estates, Genocide by Cromwell. I could go on. Everyone needs to read Irish history to see the almost total subjugation of the Irish under the tyranny of the English. There is some fantasy about the 'super hero' like main character, Feeney. but it is an acceptable fiction of a rebel who stands up for justice and revenge. The film in my mind is excellent in many ways. Well filmed, well acted and believable enough. It is well researched showing the prevailing thinking of the British and the greed of landlords, the hardships and suffering of life for the poor. I rate it as 5/5.