1916: The Irish Rebellion

This three-part PBS-aired documentary explores the 1916 Easter Rising, a bold but doomed armed insurrection that attempted to end British rule over Ireland and establish an independent republic. Directors Ruán Magan and Pat Collins assemble an extraordinary tapestry of rarely-seen archival footage and still photographs to document the rebellion, along with a wealth of interviews featuring distinguished experts in Irish history. The film traces the long history of British rule over Ireland and compares the Irish fight for freedom with similar revolutions in the United States and France. It also offers an in-depth consideration of Easter Rising leaders including Roger Casement, whose anti-colonial passion was rooted in his experiences with the chaos that Belgian colonial forces wreaked in the Congo, and John Devoy, whose republicanism ideals were shaped during his years in the United States. While the Easter Rising was a failure—and ill-appreciated in Britain, which was in the midst of fighting World War I—it was also one of the first major freedom movements of the 20th century. Narrated by Liam Neeson, this informative and engaging historical series is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (P. Hall)