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REBELLION HAS BEEN pulling in the viewers for RTÉ on Sunday nights since the start of the year.
And while there was always going to be interest in any Irish production going out in what’s now come to be known as the ‘Love/Hate slot’ – the fact that it was the marquee drama of the 1916 centenary meant there was a heightened curiosity factor ahead of the first episode.
Reaction to that debut outing was largely positive – and while many viewers agreed that the drama was holding up last weekend, others took to social media to take issue with the way events were depicted.
Considering that the Rising is of such significance in Irish history, the response comes as no great surprise to the drama’s director.
“All the five episodes are quite different – so reactions might be quite different to three than they were to two,” says Aku Louhimies, who is a highly-regarded director and screenwriter in his native Finland.
This is definitely a period of history in Ireland that people have different emotions about, or strongly disagree over.
Episode two
Much of the commentary in the wake of last Sunday’s episode focused on the killing of James O’Brien, the unarmed RIC officer who was shot by the Irish Citizen Army at the gates of Dublin Castle.
While the drama depicts the policeman refusing several times Captain Seán Connolly’s commands to open the gate, historical accounts describe the events happening much more quickly – with O’Brien being shot as he attempted to close the entrance on the rebels.
In a phone interview with TheJournal.ie, Louhimies says one of his conditions of taking the job was that the events depicted would have to have been historically proven.
I have to trust that it’s accurate script-wise if it’s gone through historians and they’ve said it’s okay to do this way, then I assume it’s right.
That said – the production is a drama, he adds. He doesn’t necessarily entertain every line of criticism he encounters.
There’s some people say – here, Pearse wasn’t that tall. That’s irrelevant… I have to pick the best possible actor for a role.
As far as the events of 1916 are concerned, historians have different interpretations of what happened, he adds.
When it comes to putting together each episode:
We decide in this drama, it’s going to be like this.
Who is Aku Louhimies?
With more than two decades of experience as a director under his belt, Louhimies has helmed everything from documentaries to TV series, along with eight feature films.
He characterises all of his non-documentary work as “drama” he says.
Some lighter, some darker.
His Irish agent, Richard Cook, put him in contact with RTÉ as Rebellion was being planned, he says – and he became involved with the script in the early stages.
While the fact that he was something of an outsider may have had something to do with him getting the job in the first place, the director was familiar with the Rising from his history studies.
Louhimies says his military experience informed his approach to the role (service is a requirement in Finland and the director remains a reserve officer to this day, with a rank of lieutenant).
It’s one of those things when you run around with guns… I don’t want to make killing too much of an entertainment. I would not want to romanticise any kind of violence ever – even though I’m sure it’s necessary sometimes, and sometimes it happens.
Before filming started, he “wanted the actors to shoot with real guns, to understand what it’s like to carry one”.
He also sought to demystify and de-romanticise some aspects of the Rising he says, cautioning:
It doesn’t make the significance of this happening any different.
Viewers of last week’s episode will have noted how characters in Rebellion almost never die as soon as they’re shot – with some lying in the streets for prolonged periods after attacks.
As Louhimies stresses, in real-life people “suffer for days before dying”. It’s all part of the Finn’s effort to prick the romanticisation of the State’s founding event.
The 47-year-old said he would be keen to follow the public reaction here to the final episodes of the drama.
He was also full of praise for the Irish film and TV industry during our interview – and talking in glowing terms about Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, which was nominated for an Oscar this week.
Touching on another minor criticism of the show raised by some viewers, the fact that it was so reliant on Love/Hate for its cast, he said he hadn’t even seen the Dublin crime drama before he took the Rebellion job.
“I didn’t look at their CVs,” he says.
They must have chosen good actors for that show as well.
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“I didn’t look at their CVs,” It seems like he didn’t bother to do a lot of things. A Finnish guy who quite obviously doesn’t know much about Irish history directs a series about the most pivotal few weeks in Irish history. Makes sense, but only in Donnybrook where they have a vested interest in downplaying, trivialising and confusing the events of 1916. The old spirit of Irish rebellion scares the bejaysus out of the corrupt establishment in this country, RTE is the mouthpiece of that establishment.
Does that mean RTE didn’t cross the Finnish line with this one?
Here here Len.
A Finnish guy fought in the rising, funnily enough.
Why spend so much on fiction when there is enough material to do a very accurate historical piece?….a wasted opportunity and licence fee.
The series that TG4 did on the leaders of the rising was excellent I thought. It was called Seachtar na Casca.
TG4 make the best documentaries.
There’s some very good stuff and some poor stuff on TG4, but one thing that’s undeniable is they really make the most out of a tight budget unlike RTÉ who seem have turned p*ssing away their far larger budget into a sport, this underwhelming drama being the latest example.
The rising was brushed under the carpet by RTE like it was with the Government. Were nearly apologetic as a nation to how we fought back against the British.. It’s like we’re saying “Sorry about that” and come the anniversary itself people will be holding up placards saying “Careful Now” Instead of being proud for standing up for ourselves and fighting back against the Brits
Didn’t watch it last night, can’t believe some Finnish guy is directing
@ Jamie McCormack
most irish people don’t watch TG4 because they.. can’t speak irish!!!!!!!!
@ Cosmo Kramer
” Were nearly apologetic as a nation to how we fought back against the British ”
our pride for the men and women who fought and died in 1916 is large but nowhere near as large as our shame and disgust at what they degenerated into … drug dealing, sex abuse etc
Edna I speak Irish but there is nothing but cac bo on tg4
Enda, thats the first I heard about the 1916 rising being linked to orgabised crime, please go on and enlighten us
Enda Kenny/Diarmuid,yet when the uda/uvf/oo parade up and down your street you deem it a cultural event.
@ Josephine Sweeney
there used to be a great movie review show on TG4 not so long ago
i think it was called PONC @ NA MOVIES
@ Matty Reese
the IRA of its time rose up and I’m sure a lot of this country appreciate it
but we could have done without them the last couple of decades
I watched two episodes the first was slow and the second one was a disaster. the acting was poor what stood out was the way it made fun of the freedom fighters in the way the used the rifle. I won’t watch it tonight or any other disaster , I can see the viewing numbers go down.
Its like Fair City with weaponery. A load of bollocks really.
I had to look tonight after slating it last week, it is a bit better this time. History is really just an interpretation anyway. History is basically an opinion.
Really sorry I watched it…its inaccuracies have rendered it a myth.. Absolute rubbish production.
A corporal addressed an officer of the British army as…lieutenant lol
I’m still waiting for this blockbuster about Brian Boru about how he ended up becoming King of all Ireland and went on to drive the Vikings back into the sea. The 1000th anniversary was almost two years ago and hardly a dickie bird.
North Munster and Meath against the Vikings of Dubh Linn and associated mates. Good luck.
Ah don’t mind me.
@ObrienskiPaddy yes that’s right, he was correct to address the British Officer as Lieutenant, as you have the officer ranks within the British Army as second lieutenant, lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel and on up the ranks to General.
Let’s hope we don’t have a rebellion about the rebellion
i was wondering why I’d never heard of Brendan Gleeson’s other son.. and now i know
FLOP a brilliant reply. Is it just me but I am beginning to tire of the 1916 commemorations and we are just past mid January. It seems every supposedly interest group are putting huge efforts in trying to put there own spin on 1916 to promote their own ends, and this is particularly true of politicians with an election due. I cannot image the various special interests trying to wrangle there way on to a podium at Easter time. I know many getting out of the country over Easter because of this and I will join them.
Deuschland 83 on rte2 is a much better watch
Watchable as a work of fiction but as historically accurate as Adam and Eve
Its a disgrace and disrespectful to the men and women who died rebelling against one of the world superpowers. I expected no less from the shower in RTE…what a waste of money that we are forced to pay.
Absolutely appalling TV; neither dramatical nor historically factual. Utter crap.
How can a drama be factual? As for historical, it’s a drama, not a documentary and was specifically written to highlight the forgotten aspects of that time
@Vocal Outrage
Forgotten aspects. Hahahaaa. An Irish lass pregnant by English toff; that’s the only story here.
Never-mind, children in tenements with nice clothes and shoes, rooms in tenement bigger than the stage of the Gaiety, siege at City Hall a farce, battle of Mount Street a few kiilled, and the GPO garrison has a sing-song. Oh dear. I would suggest you read, “When the Clock Stuck in 1916″ for facts and then see some real docu-dramas of a historical nature on TG4.
Dramas can be historical as much as they can be factual not glossing over the actual events of the time; instead of a whitewashing Dublin, its people and events of the Easter Rising.
Singing what was to become the national anthem to raise spirits and remind the fighters why they were fighting is hardly a ‘sing-song’
@ AJ McLaughlin
people were furious at SKY news when they called Saoirse Ronan british
we want them to get their facts straight then we watch historical TV with more inaccuracies than the 9/11 report
It’s a drama, an artistic point of view. Very few true stories on film & TV are 100% true to the actual events, rather a generalised overview with a few subplots or character depictions thrown in for dramatic effect. This criticism is wayward & isn’t constructive in my opinion
It seems to be al about the wimmin not the men of 1916
If this were just a drama then fine but it was made on the back of the most important events in our history to coincide with it’s 100th anniversary. It was only while looking at the credits tonight that I realised Michael Collins was featured. Only the first line or two of the proclamation were read out in another episode and that is arguably the pivotal moment in our history. Not that I watched it but I think it was designed attract ‘Downton Abbey” types rather than depict our history.
Well there was no Irish in the firing squads so that’s one inaccuracy in the name of drama tonight..
Considering we had one commenter questioning the authenticity of the show asking why the national anthem was being sung in English in 1916….. I can’t take too many of the comments here seriously . But I will say this… It’s a drama
Actually, I didn’t question the authenticity, I corrected my error and my underlying premise that’s it doesn’t need to be historically accurate as it’s a drama is the same as yours.
Please read all my statements before commenting.
I think you’ll find very few people have any actual knowledge about history, rather some vain romanticised notions of “our heroes”…
Stopped watching after 15 mins, muck
Last nights epizode attempted to put the Catholic churches roll into perspective as only interested in looking after their own interests in a post colonial Ireland. I thought it a bit odd how a priest could enter the GPO through the British army checkpoints almost as he liked without question or concern for his own safety.
It’s a load shite!
Mills and Boon and feminist revisionism collide against a backdrop of Civil War politics.
The social media generation will find it philosophically engaging.
I can accept historical inaccuracies as its a drama, however, they’ve got to be at least plausible. Can’t imagine the rebels of 1916 singing the national anthem in English.
The national anthem was written in english. Wasn’t translated till years after the rising
I recant my statement, according to Wikipedia it was translated into Irish only in 1923. Maybe the series is more historically accurate than some commentators here would have you believe
@ Vocal Outrage
Can’t imagine the rebels of 1916 selling drugs
Can’t imagine the rebels of 1916 covering up sex abuse
Can’t imagine the rebels of 1916 shaking hands with sewage that murdered a police officer
Go away Enda. muppet
@ Matty Reese
spoken like a SF supporter
Anyone who ever doubted Ireland’s love for misery. We celebrate the rising we lost.
They didn’t loose they inspired a nation which eventually led to independence and a Republic.
If they lost why do we have a republic?…maybe the British had a change of heart and just gave it all back. Lost the battle but won the war!
They…. They lost. They inspired the rebellion but they lost the battle.
No. They became martyrs and the Irish stood up to the British. My point is they lost the battle.
How could they have won? Did it ever occur to you that they knew what they were doing
Yes the battle was lost and many a brave Irish soldier killed…a point it seems you delight in making.
Bu we won the war
The British celebrate Dunkirk, the Russians celebrate Borodino. Both were defeats but both marked important turning points in their respective wars.
Yes…and i hold these men and women in the highest esteem because i believe that when they took up positions on that morning they had to know how it would end for them.
Weren’t you Irish officially British in 1916?
No it was Great Britain and Ireland in 1916. Part of the British Empire but referred to as a separate country just like American, Canada and Australia once were. The same way that the six countries in Northern Ireland are not part of Britain but are part of the UK.
Just to clarify my point the people living in Ireland at that time would technical be british subjects but would be referred to as Irish and not British. The people living in Britain are british. Thats my understanding of it but i may be wrong.
@ Matty Reese
Daniel Day Lewis is rumored to star in christopher nolans upcoming Dunkirk drama
We probably were British. That’s why there was a rebellion, to stop being British.
It can’t be worse than the misery of making tea .
We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people.
Matty, you are wrong about Dunkirk as a turning point in WW2, it was lucky the British army escaped at all only for the bravery of private boat holders prepared to risk their own lives in the English Channel. Most of maritime losses were never reported until long after the war as Churchil feared a loss of moral over the defeat.
Primarily Darren, because home rule was already on the cards years before 1916 and would have probably been delivered peacefully anyway. The reason for 1916 was to take advantage of the political agenda by the Republican Brotherhood and some like minded individuals during a period when Britain was engaged elsewhere during WW1. Don’t forget that there was no end in sight for the war and Britain had already suffered a humiliating defeat during 1915 at Gallipoli which cost hundreds of Irish lives.
Could it be the Brit’s might have?? Y’know, in a less ‘beaten’ more ‘fed up’ kinda way?
Anyway, wasn’t it a Free State?
What’s to dislike? It’s right or it ain’t?
I kinda know that ain’t the whole truth … Mixing the political and geographical to ease your discomfort. Those guys in NI may not be in ‘Great Britain’ but they’re sure as hell British, like it or not.
The battle was fought and many brave Irishmen were killed each other? Just like in the American Civil War.
How many thousands of Irish men did they save from dying in the first world war by their actions? Putting Irish interests first, shocking.
This programme was a travesty of epic proportions, it doesn’t have a single redeeming feature.
RTE should be ashamed.
They should’ve invited Prince Charles and Brian O’Driscoll to be extras.
My other half, whose opinion I trust in cultural matters, informs me that this is a very poor production indeed.
Somebody did well out of the €6 million budget I’d say. It’s annoying, drama or not. Seachtain Na Casca on TG4 way better.
We sent the British away. Me and my kind.
You could always move to be with them again!
I like the taste of your spunk Al.
So that’s what kind you are – though as much.
@ Cez Miname
so thats why he is called ‘Cousins’
Was that at the same time the British army were acting as the IRA shooting people they thought were in rebellious activities, I think so…
Tonight’s episode was fair shite
Just as well it was 1916 and not 2016, if the freedom fighters saw some of the bile against in these comments I doubt they would have bothered to sacrifice their lives for our freedom.
The fighters involved in the rising were initially hated by the Irish public. Innocent civilians were caught in the crossfire and many of Dublin’s landmarks lay in ruins afterwards. Businesses were looted by people taking advantage of the chaos. When the rebels were marched off to prison many Dubliners spat on them and berated them.
It wasn’t until internment of suspected rebels without cause and the execution of the leaders of the rising that public opinion began to turn in favour of the rebels.
Correct my grandfather and over 300 rebels were ordered to inchageela to be ready to be bussed up to Dublin for the rising but the word never came . They were ready to give there lives for the cause of Irish Freedom and we should be humbled and proud of this at the very least . They wouldn’t have stood a chance after 5 days of English reprisals and knew it was the end for them . If the English had locked them up instead of executing them then the country might not have turned or turned so quickly as it did . Dev survived because the English didn’t know who he was and they stopped 2 names above him on the execution list otherwise he would be gone then too . I wonder how the country would have turned out with Michael Collins in charge 100% . The English had more respect for Collins than for devious dev.
Michael Collins roll in the rising was as an ADC to Joseph Plunkett, hardly an instigator that caught the British attention.
It’s good but they probably got Countess Markieviczs accent wrong. She was born in London and probably sounded Anglo Irish.
She wasn’t in it long enough to notice
Didn’t that constant Markiewicz die for our freedom? Shouldn’t that be in the drama? I wonder if that particular commentator will be confused watching this drama?
Also no disrespect to Camile O’Sullivan but she didn’t resemble Countess Markievicz at all, and she would definitely had an Anglo Irish accent. I thought the first episode was promising but it really went down hill last week….haven’t seen last nights episode yet. Fully agree with some commentators, its as if RTÉ are embarrassed to depict the violent rebelling against the British in order not to stir the pot. Strumpet City was a masterpiece in my opinion, would have been great to follow that lead more than Dowton Abbey.
@ Rosa Parks
Claudette Colvin was the first person arrested for resisting bus segregation
that was 9 months before Rosa Parks
because she was a teenager who was pregnant by a married man
the NAACP leaders worried about using her
Enda, your even less interesting than the muppet you have named yourself after.
In revolutions and rebellions lots of people are killed – men, women and children. In the Easter rebellion 485 men, women and children were killed. The Irish experience of rebellion has been no different than world experience. Let us not regard ourselves as freaks. And let us commemorate the dead.
@ Garreth Byrne
here is the truth about revolution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ebftIo_qu4
the Truth hurts
Josephine, Surely you mean “các tarbh”
Can’t believe some of the comments on here. I think it’s terrific and I don’t personally know anyone who doesn’t. The acting is entirely convincing and the so-called “inaccuracies” are not inaccuracies at all – they are elements of poetic licence to move the drama on and are essentially true aspects of the time expressed in a shorthand way. This is more than ok precisely because it is not a documentary. Whether it’s relations with the English, relations between Protestants and Catholics, conflicted loyal/disloyal Irish soldiers, the socialist influence, rising feminism, tenement living, whatever, this drama is hitting the nail on the head and I love it.
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