43/38
During that time, Rea appeared in the film for which he is perhaps best known in the United States: the 1992 romantic thriller The Crying Game
Narrative
Spanning four tumultuous decades during the Northern Ireland turmoil, the real Dolours Price was married for two decades (1983-2003) to Irish actor Stephen Rea. In that film, Rea plays Ferguson, a deeply reluctant and ambivalent member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) — the same organization with which Price was associated for many years. When episode 1 of “Say Nothing” (released in the UK in 2024; 9 episodes, each running between 41 and 50 minutes) opens, it is “Belfast 1972,” and we are reminded that this is “Based on a True Story.” A woman is taken from her home, leaving her children behind.
We don’t know why or who took her
We then go to “Dublin, Ireland, 29 Years Later.” and we meet. Dolours Price. She is to be interviewed as part of an oral history of the riots.
At this point, we are 10 minutes into episode 1
A few comments: There have been many films, TV series and documentaries about the riots, but I don’t recall ever seeing anything like Say Nothing, which presents 3 decades of the riots in a fresh light. The series follows several events and jumps around in time, but somehow presents the major themes of the riots in a clearer perspective than ever before. While the differences and struggles between the Protestants/British Army and the Catholics/Irish-minded get a lot of attention, less obvious issues like the disappearance of the IRA are also covered.
Warning: This miniseries is not for the faint of heart
There are many solid performances, and none better than Lola Petticrew’s as Dolours. By the end, I felt like I had been emotionally punched in the gut. This miniseries is gripping from start to finish, even if some parts are uncomfortable.
I watched 3 episodes of it last night and was simply fascinated
(On a side note, within minutes of watching episode 1 I realized I needed English subtitles because I was missing about half of what I was hearing (Northern Irish accents and all…) Say Nothing started streaming on Hulu a week ago. I read the positive review in the New York Times and then found out that it currently has a 91% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and with good reason. If you’re in the mood for top-notch drama or just want to learn more about The Troubles, I’d happily suggest you check it out and draw your own conclusions.