Bobby Sands: 66 Days

By the early 1980s, after two decades of violence and unrest, the situation in Northern Ireland took a sudden and profound turn inside the infamous Maze Prison. Seeking the right to be treated as political prisoners rather than common criminals, Irish Republicans led by Bobby Sands began a prison hunger strike that would draw international attention to the conflict. In the 66 days that he refused food, Sands would be elected to the British Parliament, put the Irish Republican struggle centre stage on the world news agenda, and pay the ultimate price for his political convictions. The film combines a powerful mosaic of archival materials, reconstructions and the illuminating accounts of former prisoners, commentators and key players in the drama. With Sands's evocative prison diary at its core, the film brings fresh insight to an iconic figure who single-handedly created a transformative moment in Ireland's history that had global aftershocks.

Director: Brendan J. Byrne

Cast

Martin McCann

Bobby Sands (voice)

G

Gerry Adams

Self

Norman Tebbit

Self

S

Seán Donlon

Self

R

Raymond McCord

Self

D

Danny Devenny

Self

Fintan O'Toole

Self

Mahatma Gandhi

Self (archive footage)