Sir, - Having seen the much-hyped film Michael Collins, I felt I must write to express my disappointment and, indeed, anger. Much has already been said regarding the accuracy of historical facts in the film, so I will not comment on this. Instead, I would like to take issue over the portrayal of characters.
Without exception, Michael Collins and his followers are portrayed as charming, witty, considerate, thoughtful, fair-minded, decent salt-of-the-earth fellows fighting, albeit reluctantly, with a conscience for a noble cause. On the other hand, the forces of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the British Army come across as cowardly, brutal, vicious thugs who show absolutely no scruples about killing and maiming innocent men, women and, indeed, children.
Not wishing to take sides on this episode in Irish history, I find that Neil Jordan has no such difficulty. I am deeply saddened that packed cinemas, not only here in Ireland, but all over the world, will watch this film and be influenced by its total one-sidedness.
Is it really a coincidence that the outrageous bomb attack here in Derry last week took place a mere hundred yards from the cinema, where the so-called freedom fighters, in all probability, saw the film and were inspired to carry out their atrocity? Just as disturbing is the news that this violent film, rated Certificate 15 in Northern Ireland, has been given a PG certificate in the Republic, presumably to indoctrinate the young and keep a large rift between the two communities.
How sad to think that Neil Jordan's one-sided, Robin Hood-style version will undoubtedly give the vast majority of people such a distorted view of this episode in Irish history, with all its implications for the troubled times in which we live. How long will it take all of those fair-minded, and working, moderate leaders in the community to repair such damage? - Yours, etc.,
Clearwater, Londonderry, BT47 IBE.