MONEY given by the Welsh Assembly Government to help make a controversial film about IRA terrorist Bobby Sands has been labelled a disgrace.Hunger, which has just been nominated in various categories of the British Independent Film Awards, attracted £120,000 funding from the Wales Creative IP Fund.
Producers had to use the Assembly money in Wales and company Dragon DI, of Pencoed near Bridgend, were contracted to work on the colouring and look of the film in post production studios.
Hunger, put on general release yesterday. is directed by Turner Prize winner Steve McQueen and brings to life a slice of Northern Ireland's troubles by focusing on Bobby Sands' bid to starve himself to death 27 years ago.
But the fact taxpayers’ money was used to help put the film together has been criticised.
Tory MP David Davies said Welsh Assembly Government financing of the film was “disgraceful” and totally unnecessary.
“First of all I think it’s wrong this company was given money for this film when it's needed elsewhere much more,” he said.
“Why not give it to companies involved in providing transport, or to companies making washing machines?
“Giving taxpayers’ money to a company which helps to make films is not a good enough reason in my view – how does this entitle them to get a six-figure sum?
“I used to run a small transport business in Newport – I wasn’t given any money. We had to go out there and earn the money.
“It’s a disgrace a film which is sympathetic to an IRA terrorist is given Welsh Assembly backing.
“Anyone who served in the armed forces will be disgusted.
“I don’t give a damn how many awards it’s won or has been listed for – it’s just another piece of IRA propaganda.”
The Royal British Legion said they would not comment on the issue, beyond stating the organisation backed freedom of expression and would not condemn creative works.
Finance Wales manages the budget for projects on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Since the Wales Creative IP Fund was launched in May 2005, it has invested more than £7m in 11 films, seven television productions and a new media project, including £120,000 in Hunger.
The film has won the prestigious Camera D’Or prize at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and the Diesel Discovery Award at the 34th Toronto Film Festival.
A spokesman for the Wales Creative IP Fund said: “We can confirm that the IP Fund has invested £120,000 in Hunger.“To date we have not received any complaints about this investment.
“The IP Fund, which is managed by Finance Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, provides commercial investment in Wales’ creative industries.
“The Fund aims to achieve a return on its investments and increase production activity in Wales.“All investments are made on a commercial basis and producers must secure a minimum of 60 per cent of their budget from other investors and also demonstrate that a proportion of the production’s budget, equal or greater than the fund’s investment will be spent in Wales.
“The producers of Hunger have used a Welsh company for post production of the film.”
**Sod the homeless and the many urgent needs for redevelopment in Wales, lets spunk some taxpayers money into a film about Irish terrorists.
Not that I am worried as the film has a happy ending, at least they did not have a large catering budget for the movie.
I shall quote former PM Mrs Thatcher who said of terrorist Sands:
"Mr. Sands was a convicted criminal. He chose to take his own life. It was a choice that his organisation did not allow to many of its victims"
An so I shall finish with the old Bobby Sands jokes:
What is Bobby Sands telephone number? Nuneaton! 8080.
What is Bobby Sands' idea of a underground subway? A straw.
What has a plank of wood and a Bobby Sands got in common? They both are thin and cannot move.
What does a Mcdonald's Sands special consist of? Nothing!
Why did the Bobby Sands cross the road? To burn off more calories!
What has a plank of wood and a Bobby Sands got in common? They both are thin and cannot move.
What does a Mcdonald's Sands special consist of? Nothing!
Why did the Bobby Sands cross the road? To burn off more calories!
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6 people have spoken:
Funny how the peace loving left always seem to champion terrorists?
True, a shame for all the people of Wales who could have done with that money on say roads, housing and frivolous stuff like that.
I've seen the film. Nobody else here has. David Davies hasn't, he's just exprssing an obvious and reactionary view based on nothing other than the name of one of the characters.
So yes, I can understand the consternation over money spent on frivolous things like films and as a neutral could argue for and against, but pro terror- or even pro-Sands it ain't. In fact, the overwhelming message is the whole message regarding brutality of the system, similar in aspect to the film Scum. It's fairly bleak, no glory for the hunger strikers here. That's the truth of the matter.
For glorifying the man, look no further than our dear friends in The Islamic republic of Iran. Following Sand's death Iran renamed the street on which the British Consulate is situated from Winston Churchill Street to Bobby Sands Street.
May watch it when it turns up on Channel 4 or somesuch.
As I joked it does have a happy ending.
More annoyed at the Arsembly a huge waste of time, effort and money can throw cash at films when there are many more important issues to resolve.
After all many films can get corporate sponsorship these days, I am sure McDonalds would have been more than happy to help out! :-)
It was an investment. If the film makes a profit, the money will be returned to the fund and the fund participates in profits. I appreciate that if it flops, it is taxpayer's money down the drain, but it's going to make a profit after such critical success.
Well I hope that it does, after all as you say its taxpayers money. My gripe is with our money being spent on film when there are just so many pressing social needs in Wales.
I am sure that the people in poor housing, or even homeless are so happy at their money being spent this way.
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