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The Irish Filmography

Written by Kevin Rockett

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778 pages, about 16 hours of reading

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About this book

Documents as completely as possible all fiction films made in Ireland and about Ireland and the Irish produced world-wide since the beginning of cinema.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The Irish Filmography, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 20 hours
  • advanced
  • Informative
  • Scholarly
  • Comprehensive

Kevin Rockett's "The Irish Filmography" stands as a monumental and indispensable academic reference work, meticulously cataloging films connected to Ireland from the earliest moving images to its publication date. This comprehensive volume serves as an exhaustive record, offering detailed entries on various productions, including feature films, documentaries, shorts, and television works, whether produced in Ireland or dealing with Irish themes and subjects internationally. It provides crucial data such as production details, cast and crew information, release dates, and concise synopses, making it an essential resource for scholars, students, and enthusiasts of Irish cinema. The book not only documents an extensive body of work but also implicitly charts the evolution of Irish identity and its cinematic representation over more than a century.

Not applicable in the traditional literary sense, as this is an academic reference work comprised primarily of factual film entries. The essence of the book is its compiled data rather than quotable prose or character dialogue. Its 'impact' is in its comprehensive scope and utility.

Key themes

National Identity in Irish Cinema
The filmography implicitly chronicles the diverse and often conflicting portrayals of Irish national identity throughout cinematic history. By listing films produced both within Ireland and abroad, it allows for an examination of how concepts of Irishness, republicanism, post-colonialism, and modernity have been constructed and deconstructed on screen. It highlights the evolution from romanticized, often stereotypical depictions to more nuanced, complex explorations of contemporary Irish life and its global connections.
Historical Representation and Memory
The collection of film entries provides a unique lens through which to view historical events and periods in Ireland's past, from the Famine and the struggle for independence to the Troubles and beyond. It highlights how cinema has acted as both a chronicler and an interpreter of historical memory, often shaping public perception and understanding. The filmography allows for an analysis of how different historical narratives have been constructed, contested, and revisited over time through film.
The Diaspora and Migration
Many films cataloged in "The Irish Filmography" deal with the experience of Irish emigration and the diaspora. This theme explores the challenges of leaving Ireland, adapting to new cultures, and the enduring connections or disconnections with the homeland. It highlights the global reach of Irish stories and the complexities of maintaining cultural identity while living abroad, as well as the impact of return migration.

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How does a comprehensive filmography like Rockett's influence the academic understanding and critical reception of Irish cinema?

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