My life for Ireland
Encyclopedia
My life for Ireland is a German anti-British propaganda movie from 1941 directed by Max W. Kimmich
.
Eighteen years later, in 1921, his son Michael Jr. is expecting to pass his school leaving exams. As the son of an infamous Irish nationalist, he has been educated in a college run by British teachers. This way the British government wanted to re-educate Irish pupils into "worthful" British civilians.
. It lacks, however, the cruder propaganda of later years, such as Carl Peters
and Ohm Krüger
, when Hitler had given up hope of making peace with Great Britain. The anti-British atmosphere of the film, however, can be judged from the opening sequence, which depicts a meeting of Irish revolutionaries:
Some German viewers in ethnically mixed areas expressed fears that it would stimulate Poles to rebellion. The film, however, enjoyed a positive response from the audiences.
Max W. Kimmich
Max Wilhelm Kimmich was a German film director and screenwriter during the first half of the 20th century...
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Plot
In 1903, the Irish nationalist Michael O'Brien is captured in Dublin after committing an attack on British policemen, and he is sentenced to death. While he is in jail, his pregnant fiancée Maeve visits him and they are secretly married. Afterwards, Michael hands his wife a silver cross that would always be worn by the best Irish freedom fighter. On the cross, the words My life for Ireland are engraved.Eighteen years later, in 1921, his son Michael Jr. is expecting to pass his school leaving exams. As the son of an infamous Irish nationalist, he has been educated in a college run by British teachers. This way the British government wanted to re-educate Irish pupils into "worthful" British civilians.
Propaganda
This film contributed to the era of anti-British film. In this film, as in Der Fuchs von Glenarvon, the British are depicted as brutal and unscrupulous oppressors but no match for the Irish. A British officer, for instance, simply abandons an Irish sergeant on the battlefield, taking the last water bottle with him, and winning the Victoria CrossVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. It lacks, however, the cruder propaganda of later years, such as Carl Peters
Carl Peters (film)
Carl Peters is a 1941 German anti-British propaganda film, directed by Herbert Selpin and starring Hans Albers.It depicts Karl Peters, one of the founders of German East Africa....
and Ohm Krüger
Ohm Krüger
Ohm Krüger was a 1941 propaganda film, produced in Nazi Germany, about Paul Kruger in the Boer War. It was the first film to be awarded the 'Film of the Nation' award. It was re-released in 1944.-Plot:...
, when Hitler had given up hope of making peace with Great Britain. The anti-British atmosphere of the film, however, can be judged from the opening sequence, which depicts a meeting of Irish revolutionaries:
ASSEMBLY: We must build new roads
LEADER: With what shall we build new roads?
ASSEMBLY: With the bones of our enemy!
LEADER: And who is our enemy?
ASSEMBLY: England!
Some German viewers in ethnically mixed areas expressed fears that it would stimulate Poles to rebellion. The film, however, enjoyed a positive response from the audiences.