Irish revolutionary Bobby Sands is probably best known in the contemporary context of Michael Fassbender‘s performance as the activist in Steve McQueen‘s terrific “Hunger.” But Sands’ story is so much more, and “Bobby Sands: 66 Days,” making its North American Premiere at DOC NYC today, offers another window into his life.
Directed by Brendan Byrne, the film centers on Sands’ 66 day hunger strike that would forever change the course of Irish and English history, as he battled for himself and his fellow inmates to be recognized as political prisoners. Their protest captured the attention the world, forced a necessary conversation about English and Irish relations, but as you’ll see in this exclusive clip, also transformed Sands from soldier into something so much more.
“Bobby Sands: 66 Days” debuts today at DOC NYC at 9:30PM at IFC Center, and opens in theaters on November 30th.