Educational Media Reviews Online

During the late 1960s in Belfast, violence forced many from their homes. It was dangerous for Catholics to marry Protestants, mob culture ruled the day, and children thought this was just the way life was. The Disappeared, a documentary by filmmaker Alison Millar, seeks to expose the “invisible dead” – individuals from Northern Ireland who were labeled as dissidents or who were suspected of being informants for the British during the conflict in the 1970s. After being abducted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), these individuals were executed and secretly buried, yet news accounts from that time often claimed the missing had simply gone into hiding. Viewers are introduced to several of the disappeared through contemporary interviews (conducted by investigative journalist Darragh MacIntyre) with surviving family members, as well as through archival footage that provides a compelling reminder of the battle-scarred landscape from that era. MacIntyre also interviews current and former political figures, including Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, in his attempt to understand why these disappearances occurred and to help the affected families gain closure. (The IRA has admitted to some, but not all, of the murders of the disappeared.)

The documentary falls short in several areas. First, several interviewees speak with a thick Irish brogue, but Millar chooses not to provide subtitles for any of the dialogue (save for one man whose testimony is heard solely through audio recordings). While this is understandable given the initial audience for the film (it was made as a co-production with BBC-Northern Ireland), the decision is likely to cause difficulty for some viewers and may even cause the audience to disconnect from the film at times. A more important shortcoming, however, is the lack of contextualization for viewers who are unfamiliar with this period in the history of Northern Ireland. The Disappeared is rooted in the stories of the individuals who were killed and their families’ search for closure – a worthy perspective that deserves to be told. However, Millar assumes her audience will have an intimate familiarity with and understanding of Ireland’s political climate, and this assumption may limit the effectiveness of the film for some audiences.

Despite these issues, The Disappeared still offers value for those interested in knowing more about this turbulent time in Ireland’s history. The film would be useful for undergraduate courses in European/British/Irish history, political science, or peace and conflict studies. Public libraries with strong collections in Irish history would also find this film of interest for their patrons.