Back to trending
Some Mother's Son

Some Mother's Son

Drama · History · 1996

Based on the true story of the 1981 hunger strike in a British prison, in which IRA prisoner Bobby Sands led a protest against the treatment of IRA prisoners as criminals rather than as prisoners of war. The film focuses on the mothers of two of the strikers, and their struggle to save the lives of their sons.

Movie details

Some Mother's Son

“Between love and loyalty... Between life and death... Lies a choice no mother should have to make.”

1996 Drama · History 1h 52m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Based on the true story of the 1981 hunger strike in a British prison, in which IRA prisoner Bobby Sands led a protest against the treatment of IRA prisoners as criminals rather than as prisoners of war. The film focuses on the mothers of two of the strikers, and their struggle to save the lives of their sons.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Some Mother's Son?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Jimmy's Hall

Jimmy's Hall

History · 2014

In Depression-era Ireland, Jimmy Gralton returns home after ten years of exile in America. Seeing the levels of poverty and oppression, his inner activist reawakens and he looks to reopen the dance hall that led to his deportation.

The Eichmann Show

The Eichmann Show

Drama · 2015

The behind-the-scenes true life story of a groundbreaking producer, Milton Fruchtman, and blacklisted TV director Leo Hurwitz who, overcoming enormous obstacles, set out to capture the testimony of one of the war's most notorious Nazis, Adolf Eichmann, who is accused of executing the 'final solution' and organising the murder of 6 million Jews. This is the extraordinary story of how the trial came to be televised and the team that made it happen.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Drama · 2013

A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Munich - The Edge of War

Munich - The Edge of War

Drama · 2021

At the tense 1938 Munich Conference, former friends who now work for opposing governments become reluctant spies racing to expose a Nazi secret.

Shirley

Shirley

History · 2024

Shirley Chisholm makes a trailblazing run for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination after becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress.

Belfast

Belfast

Drama · 2021

Buddy is a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, whose life is filled with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance. Yet, with his beloved hometown caught up in increasing turmoil, his family faces a momentous choice: hope the conflict will pass or leave everything they know behind for a new life.

Mr. Turner

Mr. Turner

History · 2014

Eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner lives his last 25 years with gusto and secretly becomes involved with a seaside landlady, while his faithful housekeeper bears an unrequited love for him.

Gandhi

Gandhi

Drama · 1982

In the early years of the 20th century, Mohandas K. Gandhi, a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance from the British government, Gandhi adopts a policy of 'passive resistance', endeavouring to win freedom for his people without resorting to bloodshed.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Drama · 2017

An African-American woman becomes an unwitting pioneer for medical breakthroughs when her cells are used to create the first immortal human cell line in the early 1950s.

Paul, Apostle of Christ

Paul, Apostle of Christ

Drama · 2018

Luke risks his life to visit Paul in a Roman prison, where the apostle awaits execution under Nero. As Paul reflects on his past and the Christian community faces persecution, Luke resolves to record the story of the early church.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Terry George

Written by

Jim Sheridan · Terry George

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren

Kathleen Quigley

Fionnula Flanagan

Fionnula Flanagan

Annie Higgins

Aidan Gillen

Aidan Gillen

Gerard Quigley

David O'Hara

David O'Hara

Frank Higgins

John Lynch

John Lynch

Bobby Sands

Tom Hollander

Tom Hollander

Farnsworth

Tim Woodward

Tim Woodward

Harrington

Court is in session

Put Some Mother's Son on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.