A One Mann’s Movies review of “Ransom ’79” (2024) (From the 2024 Irish Film Festival, London).
“Ransom 79” was the second film I saw this week at the Irish Film Festival in London. It is another documentary but as the festival’s director Michael Hayden commented on introducing the film, “It plays out like a thriller”. And he was right.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“Ransom ’79” Plot Summary:
In August 1979, the Irish Ministry of Agriculture received a ransom demand warning of a release of Foot and Mouth disease that would have devastated the Irish economy. We join Irish journalistic legend and MND-sufferer Charlie Bird in his one last case to uncover the truth.
Certification:
UK: NR; US: NR. (At the time of writing, this film was not rated by the BBFC. I would estimate that it would be a ’12’ certificate.)
Talent:
Starring: Charlie Bird, Colin Murphy.
Directed by: Colm Quinn.
Written by: Charlie Bird, Colin Murphy & Colm Quinn.
Running Time: 1h 27m.
“Ransom ’79” Summary:
Positives:
- MND is a bastard of a disease and this moving piece documents Charlie Bird’s progressive decline.
- The historical details are intriguing particularly a friendship between cop and crook.
Negatives:
- The historical story does tend to rather peter out.
Review of “Ransom ’79”:
The MND Society should be getting this a UK Distribution.
This is a film with two intertwined stories. The first of these concerns the investigation of the historical story by the team of Charlie Bird and Colin Murphy. (Murphy was at the Festival showing and Q&A and I got to meet him.) Charlie Bird is not much known in the UK, but in Ireland he is a legend of broadcasting: like Huw Edwards but without the dodgy behaviour. The opening titles of the film show Charlie at different ages presenting on the news of past events. In the present day, we see him struggling with Motor Neuron Disease. Curiously (and this was a surprise to my expectations of the disease), his voice was the first thing to go (he speaks using a voice synthesiser). He is otherwise, at least at first, in full control of the rest of his body with the ability to sit and walk.
The relationship with Colin Murphy – a collaborator in an earlier theatre show – is wonderful to watch. Some aspects of their discussion caught by the camera are extremely moving. At one point Charlie comments that “Sometimes I feel I want to die”, so it’s very pertinent at the moment given the UK Assisted Dying Bill is going for a vote in parliament. Particularly moving is an emotional final scene between the pair which (Murphy told me) caught him completely by surprise.
This is a film looking for a UK distribution route. I would suggest that the MND Society might want to have a word with chains like Picturehouse or Everyman to help get this into cinemas to assist with their fund raising efforts. Because Charlie Bird is a great example of fierce determination in the face of overwhelming odds.
August 27th, 1979.
This was a big day in history. It was the day that Lord Mountbatten was murdered in a bomb attack in Mullaghmore Harbour, County Sligo together with his 14-year-old grandson Nicholas, Paul Maxwell, and Doreen Knatchbull (Lady Brabourne). But it was also the day that a clerk in the Ministry of Agriculture in Dublin opened the first letter asking for £5 million “or else”.
What follows is a cat and mouse game of responding (via notices in the Irish Times) and then jousting with the ransom gang to try to determine if the threat is real or not and how to respond. It was the Irish government policy not to pay ransom demands (although Bertie Ahern, who would become the Irish Taoiseach in the late 90’s, comments that “anecdotal evidence suggests that a few were paid”… Politician speak if ever I heard it!)
Sssh… it’s a secret.
What seems extraordinary in the film is how top secret this threat was and how it never leaked outside of the Department of Agriculture. It would have been utterly devastating to the Irish economy. Yet Ray MacSharry, the Minister for Agriculture at the time, says that the matter was not discussed with cabinet! And Gerry Collins, the Minister for Justice at the time, says that he was unaware of the issue!
A bizarre set of characters
In the end, the film discloses a whole bunch of different characters: a plumber from County Mayo; a serial bank robber and police murderer (Paddy McCann) and a mysterious (unnamed) barrister. In particular, the film highlights the curious relationship that has developed over the years between McCann and his nemesis in the police force, Detective Superintendent Tom Connolly.
And then….
If there’s a disappointment to the story it’s that the historical story does tend to peter out somewhat. There is a potentially thrilling drop-off route established with a white mini deployed (like the Italian Job, but without the gold bullion). I won’t provide spoilers as to what happens, but let’s just say it was a bit of a deflation of my anticipation.
Summary Thoughts on “Ransom ’79”
This is a really engrossing true-life-crime documentary that is both a fascinating historical record and also a great tribute to Charlie Bird, who sadly died of MND in March of this year. I really hope that the producers manage to find a distribution route so that people in the UK can get to see it.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Ransom ’79”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGP2VaxmM6k .
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