Foreign films have a tendency of avoiding definitions when it comes to the IRA. All the stereotypes and context clues are presented, but the films or shows never go as far as naming the organization. This, Connelly points out, “allows filmmakers to exploit the public’s fascination with the IRA while clearly stating that their scripts are not a political commentary.” This maneuvering around political commentary, however, is of course a commentary of its own. The reluctance to name the organization as the IRA “grants a cloak of legitimacy to the IRA by blaming violence and extremism on lone malcontents.” On the other hand, in Irish films and films that take place within Northern Ireland, even if the organization is not directly named, the portrayal again is enough to indicate the identity of the group. Where foreign films avoid defining their terrorist organizations to keep the portrayals from becoming too politically charged, Irish films cannot deny the political nature of the group.
Portrayals that Include “Not the IRA” structures:
In the American Action Movie Genre
Films where this structure is noticeably absent:
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