Even before Ireland had a national television station ( RTE was founded in 1961) or film industry ( the first Irish Film Board was set up in 1980), the Catholic Church realised the importance of moving image and the role it could play in not only spreading the divine message but in exploring questions of faith, human rights and social issues.
Founded in 1959 by a small group of Dublin priests led by Father Joe Dunn and Father Desmond Forristal, Radharc Films is considered Ireland's first independent documentary company, responsible for the most extensive collection preserved by the IFI Irish Film Archive. The team made over 400 documentaries between 1961 and 1996, and the collection transferred to the IFI from Father Joe Dunn’s house in 1998, exceeds 2,000 cans of film, with an equal number of tapes and an extensive document collection.
While it would be easy to dismiss documentaries with a religious ethos such as these, as probably propogandist in nature, even a superficial viewing of the Radharc output uncovers insightful and challenging filmmaking. The Radharc team were not afraid to tackle difficult and often controversial topics and their standing as clergy allowed a level of access that a team of lay filmmakers may not have been able to achieve.
Breadth of filmmaking
In an Irish context, the Radharc series had a remarkably broad reach both geographically and thematically. The subject matter reflected the interest the team took in national and international issues; with Fr. Peter Lemass in front of the camera, Fr. Dunn directing and Fr. Forristal as writer. Diverse (and often contentious) topics of national interest were tackled, for example, Open Port (1968) looking at prostitution in Cork, Young Offender (1963) the first film from within an Irish prison – The Road to Nowhere (1971) – about young people and drugs and Dying for a Drink (1983) a harrowing drama about alcoholism.
Their international output was equally varied as the team covered five continents including North and South America, Africa and Asia in search of globally significant subject matter. Over 130 documentaries were made dealing with non-Irish issues, often made in dangerous circumstances. The struggles of developing countries was examined in films such as Night flight to Uli – Famine in Biafra (1960), Cuba – Land of Hope and Glory (1986), Guatemala – Where the Pope is a Communist (1984) and Life and Death in Bali (1980). Often Radharc coverage of international events served as an introduction for Irish audiences to these thought-provoking topics, providing a unique perspective on international issues.
Enduring legacy
Today Radharc’s output can be appreciated not just for its place within national and international documentary production, but also as a cultural, social and historical record, spanning three decades. The Radharc cameras captured topics of national and global importance. They documented a changing Ireland, recording values and traditions that no longer exist; they questioned and discussed important social and theological issues and their coverage of global politics and events gave Irish audiences unique access to these topics.
The Radharc Trust continues to promote the ethos embodied by the Radharc team through screenings and educational work and through its biannual Radharc Awards, that recognise documentaries of outstanding quality, that address topics of social justice. The winners of this year’s awards will be announced on October the 24th - you can watch a number of early films made by the Radharc Team on the IFI Archive Player here.
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