Educational Media Reviews Online

On Easter Monday 1916, a group of Irish patriots captured a number of Dublin buildings, including the post office, in rebellion against British occupation of Ireland. The British promptly suppressed the rebellion and executed 15 of the Irish revolutionaries.

Over sixty years later, Curious Journey a British documentary, contains interviews of activists of the Irish Republican Army who took part in the 1916 Revolution. Though militarily it was a useless gesture, it ignited a popular movement against the British.

When asked, "Why take actions against British rule?" the former activists offered answers such as "1,000 years of Irish history and civilization," and "love for our country." Ireland felt like a vestige of the colonial era. The British had "no just cause" to be in Ireland, as they put it. One gave examples of British mandates in education in Ireland to "Britain-ize" the Irish children.

Most of the documentary contains activists' stories from the revolution, such as recruiting, gun fights, and stories of imprisonment. There are stories of people returning from political imprisonment and second hand stories of people who have died since 1916. When asked, "Where do you hope this will take Ireland?" one responded that he hoped Ireland has the virtue and sense to become a nation.

Though this is an old film, it is unquestionably an historically relevant work. It does not offer narrative history, but invaluable anecdotes. The producers included some rather stirring quotes from Irish poets and philosophers to accentuate the interviews. Recommended to those interested in the 1916 Revolution, but those not familiar with the events of the revolution should learn the essentials in order to make better sense of this film.