Out of Ireland
The enormous story of Irish emigration is well told in this documentary  that mixes an adept historical overview and deeply touching personal stories  with well-chosen archival material and gorgeously filmed modern footage. The  troubled history of Ireland is covered by way of explaining why millions fled  their homeland, and deserved attention is given to the uprising of 1798 and the  Great Famine of the 1840s. The flood of poor Irish to the New World and their  struggles to assimilate and eventually triumph is told with excerpts of letters,  some of which are beautifully read by the noted playwright John B. Keane.  Musician and folklorist Mick Moloney appears frequently to offer apt anecdotes  and appropriate snatches of song, and historians provide perspective on the  poverty and political repression at home that forced the Irish to cross a  dangerous ocean to find a better life. Representative 19th-century Irish  immigrants who found new lives in places as diverse as Massachusetts and North  Dakota are profiled, and the contributions made in American society by the  descendants of the millions who left Ireland are noted. As a striking blend of  solid history and resonant personalities,Out of Irelandis a thoughtful  presentation that also happens to be a pleasure to watch.--Robert J.  McNamara