Daughters of the Troubles: Belfast Stories

In this well-done program, we are introduced to the Catholic Geraldine O'Regan and the Protestant May Blood, two women on the cusp of generational Irish troubles. Living in Belfast, their stories are ones of survival, and even victory, in the face of conservatism, segregation, and violence on one hand, and unemployment, welfare dependence, and teen pregnancy on the other. Beautifully narrated by Angelica Huston, the video illustrates Northern Ireland's enormous political, social, and religious complexity. More basic historical detail would have been welcome here; even a short chronicle of the Troubles themselves would have helped give more perspective to these women's individual stories. Even so, this is highly recommended for larger collections. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Glaser)