The power of cinema...

Over the past few days I have watched two movies which have both set my mind thinking about ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland, and conflict/reconciliation on a broader scale. The two movies I watched were ‘The Iron Lady’ and ‘Hunger’.

Most people will know that ‘The Iron Lady’ features Meryl Streep playing an elderly Margaret Thatcher who is looking back over her life, while being plagued by dementia. I was not alive during Margaret Thatcher’s time as Prime Minister, however her legacy has certainly lived on. From what I have read, and the many conversations I have had about her policies, I do not think I would have been in agreement with Margaret Thatcher during her time as Prime Minister.

‘Hunger’ follows the story of Bobby Sands, an Irish Republican hunger striker who died in 1981 after 66 days on hunger strike. These movies are inter-related as Margaret Thatcher was PM during this turbulent time of Northern Irish history. As someone born in the late 80's into a Northern Irish Protestant family, it is unlikely that Bobby Sands and I would have seen eye to eye on many issues.

Watching both of these movies stirred up many emotions for me. Even though I did not live through this most turbulent time of our history, the events of ‘The Troubles’ have impacted my life, along with the lives of everyone who has lived in Northern Ireland, whether we realise it or not.

These movies forced me to look at both Margaret Thatcher and Bobby Sands in a new light, as human beings. Margaret Thatcher is a mother, a wife and someone who, I presume, believed she was doing right thing. Bobby Sands was a son, a friend and someone who also, I presume, believed he was doing the right thing. These movies, respectively, lead you into a relationship with the main characters. A challenging place.


If I had been alive in the early 80’s Bobby Sands and Margaret Thatcher both would have been my neighbour. Both are children of God. Would I have loved them? I need to ask myself this question continuously. 

My faith calls me to love my enemies and not to judge others. I know I do not always live out this call, but, with God's help, I will continue to try.