The Ranger and Black 47
Have you ever seen the film
An Ranger
? It was made in 2008. It’s entirely in Irish Gaelic. You’ll get it on
YouTube. It’s only ten minutes long and it has English subtitles.
The film is about an Irish soldier – a Gael from Connemara – who is
returning home, after being overseas. He was in the service of the
Empire for 21 years. When he reaches his old home, it is roofless.
There is nobody living [there]. And pigs are living in the ruins. The
soldier is sickened.
While he was away, the potato famine happened. There were also
clearances. He goes to the house of his mother’s cousin – the man who
owns the pigs. The cousin blames the English for what happened – and a
Scot or two. The soldier’s mother was cleared from her house, and she
died in the poorhouse.
But the soldier doesn’t accept the other man’s excuse. He brings out a
big knife – a
khukuri
he got in Asia. He’s going to wreak revenge on the people who destroyed
his family. For the rest, you have to see the film!
Perhaps some of you will be saying – hey, Ruairidh, you’re talking
about the film Black 47. That appeared on the world’s big screens last
year.
And you’d be correct. Black 47 was based on
An Ranger – although it is much longer. And most of it is in English.
If you were looking for a film that is full of humour, I wouldn’t
recommend Black 47 to you. It is dark and harrowing. But it is well
made. And I was pleased how much Irish Gaelic was in it.
The star actor spoke no Irish before he started the project. Indeed, he is
Australian. His name is Seumas Frecheville. I reckon he did a good job.
An Ranger agus Black 47
Am faca sibh riamh am film, An Ranger? Chaidh a dhèanamh ann an
2008. Tha e ann an Gàidhlig na h-Èireann air fad. Gheibh sibh e air YouTube. Chan eil e ach deich mionaidean a dh’fhaid agus tha
fo-thiotalan Beurla air.
Tha am film mu dheidhinn saighdear Èireannach – Gàidheal à Conamara – a tha
a’ tilleadh dhachaigh, an dèidh a bhith thall thairis. Bha e ann an
seirbheis na h-Ìmpireachd fad bliadhna thar fhichead. Nuair a ruigeas e a
sheann dachaigh, chan eil mullach air. Chan eil sgeul air duine beò. Agus
tha mucan a’ fuireach anns an tobhta. Tha an saighdear air a sgreamhachadh.
Fhad ʼs a bha e air falbh, bha gort a’ bhuntàta ann. Bha fuadaichean ann
cuideachd. Tha e a’ dol gu taigh co-ogha a mhàthar – am fear leis a bheil
na mucan. Tha an co-ogha a’ cur na coire airson na thachair air na
Sasannaich – agus Albannach no dhà. Bha màthair an t-saighdeir air a
fuadachadh às a dachaigh, agus chaochail i ann an taigh nam bochd.
Ach chan eil an saighdear a’ gabhail ri leisgeul an duine eile. Tha e a’
toirt sgian mhòr a-mach – khukuri a fhuair e ann an Àisia. Tha e
a’ dol a dh’fhaighinn dìoghaltas air an fheadhainn a rinn sgrios air a
theaghlach. Airson a’ chòrr, feumaidh sibh am film fhaicinn!
ʼS dòcha gum bi feadhainn agaibh ag ràdh – ist, a Ruairidh, tha thu a’
bruidhinn air a’ film Black 47. Nochd sin air sgàileanan mòra an
t-saoghail an-uiridh.
Agus bhiodh sibh ceart. Bha Black 47 stèidhichte air An Ranger – ged a tha e mòran nas fhaide. Agus tha a’ chuid as
motha dheth ann am Beurla.
Nam biodh sibh a’ coimhead airson film a tha làn àbhachdais, cha mholainn Black 47 dhuibh. Tha e dorch, dòrainneach. Ach tha e air a dheagh
dhèanamh. Agus thug e toileachas dhomh na bh’ ann de Ghàidhlig na h-Èireann
ann.
Cha robh facal Gaeilge aig a’ phrìomh chleasaiche mus do thòisich e air a’
phròiseact. Gu dearbh, tha e Astràilianach. ʼS e Seumas Frecheville an
t-ainm a tha air. Saoilidh mi gun do rinn e sioba mhath.
