On the fateful day of April 10th, 1998, a peace deal was signed between republicans and unionists in Northern Ireland in what has been dubbed as the Good Friday Agreement. This historic event marked the beginning of a long road to healing for a region that had seen decades of sectarian violence and hatred.
Nearly a decade later in 2007, international news network Al Jazeera visited Belfast to explore how the situation had changed since 1998 and to document what divisions still existed within Northern Ireland. As part of their visit, they created a documentary that delved into this complex issue in hopes of better understanding what life was like on ‘the other side’.
The documentary is an eye-opening exploration of the intricacies of life in Northern Ireland after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and how it has impacted both sides. It interviews people from both sides of the disagreement who share their stories and opinions about how things have changed since 1998. It also highlights several inspiring stories from individuals who crossed boundaries and found bridges where there were once walls.
This is an important document for anyone wanting to understand why peace is so fragile in this region, as well as those looking for inspiration on how we can all work together towards mutual understanding. This documentary provides an invaluable look at humanity’s darkest hour – when mistrust reigned supreme – but also shows light at the end of the tunnel with examples of real change. We highly recommend everyone watch this important documentary by Al Jazeera and see first-hand just how far we have come since 1998.
