‘Timely’ Troubles reminder

A film encapsulating the lives of everybody killed during the Troubles comes at an apt moment in history, its directors have said.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Oct 2019, 12:11 BST
Dermot Lavery (left) and Michael Hewitt of Doubleband Films who directed, Lost Lives, a cinematic film inspired by the book of the same name, which was written over seven years by five journalists, that records the circumstances of every single death in the Troubles. PA Photo: Liam McBurney/PA WireDermot Lavery (left) and Michael Hewitt of Doubleband Films who directed, Lost Lives, a cinematic film inspired by the book of the same name, which was written over seven years by five journalists, that records the circumstances of every single death in the Troubles. PA Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Dermot Lavery (left) and Michael Hewitt of Doubleband Films who directed, Lost Lives, a cinematic film inspired by the book of the same name, which was written over seven years by five journalists, that records the circumstances of every single death in the Troubles. PA Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Liam Neeson, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Bronagh Gallagher, James Nesbitt, Adrian Dunbar, Ciaran Hinds and Bronagh Waugh are among the Northern Ireland acting stars who have lent their voices to the project Lost Lives.

The film was inspired by the book of the same name. First published in 1999, Lost Lives documents the deaths of all 3,700 people killed during the 30-year sectarian conflict.

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The work was compiled by five journalists who covered the Troubles – David McKittrick, Chris Thornton, Brian Feeney, David McVea and the late Seamus Kelters.

Co-directors and producers Michael Hewitt and Dermot Lavery, of Doubleband Films in Belfast, have now tried to capture the essence and importance of the book for cinema goers.

Noting the heightened tensions in Northern Ireland due to Brexit uncertainty, Lavery said the premiere at the London Film Festival was timely.

“After the conflict here there has probably been no moment more apposite to remind people of Lost Lives the book,” he said.

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“If the film can do anything, if it points us towards what Lost Lives the book represented, then that would be a good thing.

“Because here we are on the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Troubles, the 21st anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement but yet sometimes it feels that we haven’t moved that far on and that, in fact, tensions are starting to rise again in the context of Brexit.

“So, almost accidentally, it felt like a good moment to remind people of the achievement of Lost Lives, which reminds us of the terrible tragedy and loss and grief as a result of the conflict.”

The film is woven together with the stories of 18 lives taken from the book – people who the directors felt were representative of the loss of the thousands killed. Each actor narrates one of the accounts.

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Ahead of last night’s premiere, Hewitt said it was a difficult task selecting which 18 stories to highlight.

“We took ourselves away from the office for a week to just go through the book in its entirety and be clear of any distraction,” he said.

He said he considered the film an extension of the book, which was last printed over a decade ago.