A man on the side of the people

THE ADMIRABLE Peter Lennon, who has died in London at the age of 81, has been listed as "a journalist" in most obituaries. True enough. Raised in Dublin, the son of a salesman, whose family had once been wine merchants, Lennon was a correspondent for the Guardian,the Sunday Timesand The Irish Times.

At various times a television critic, book reviewer and high-brow cultural commentator, he delivered vigorous opinions and firm reporting for over half a century. He was a good friend of Samuel Beckett and leaves a lively correspondence with the great man.

His most lasting contribution may, however, spring from his brief period as a documentary film-maker. In 1968, then resident in Paris, Lennon embarked on a landmark picture entitled Rocky Road to Dublin. At a time when criticism of the State was frowned upon, the film vigorously analysed the – as Lennon saw it – parochialism, isolationism and clerical totalitarianism that still plagued the Irish Republic. Beginning with a brief study of the modern State, the film went on to take in a series of enlightening (not to say depressing) interviews with prominent figures and interested citizens. Douglas Gageby, then this newspaper's editor, still felt the need to argue for open debate of contraception on The Irish Times'letters page. Father Michael Cleary, later subject of a scandal, is shown "entertaining" female hospital patients. A young married woman details her pathetic efforts to discuss birth control with her local priest. The film's ultimate conclusion is that the idealism that helped spur independence was fatally betrayed.

Not surprisingly, Rocky Road to Dublin, shot by Raoul Coutard, key cinematographer of the French New Wave, created something of a storm in this country. The film's screening at the Cork Film Festival is still a subject of controversy. The organisers, noting that the film had been shown in Dublin, initially rejected it, but, when it was accepted for the Cannes critics' week, they grudgingly granted Rocky Roada single lunchtime screening. (The film arrived at Cannes just as Jean-Luc Godard and others were attempting to cancel the event in sympathy with striking students.)

Rocky Roadwas rarely seen in Ireland until 2004, when a restored print, accompanied by an excellent documentary by Paul Duane, returned in triumph to the Cork Film Festival. In the succeeding years, it has secured its place as the quintessential study of Ireland's squalid post-revolutionary compromises. No documentary on the nation is complete without a soul-destroying excerpt from Lennon's brilliant, miserable cinematic screed.

“People might now begin to see it as a very affectionate film about Ireland,” he mused, following the picture’s rehabilitation. “Because it attacked the institutions, they missed the point that it was on the side of the people.”

– The Rocky Road review in The Irish Times, May 1968

Peter Lennons feature-length documentary The Rocky Road to Dublin which had a special press showing at the weekend introduces a breath of fresh air into an area too often concerned with the glossy Bord Failte advertisement image of Ireland. This, one would hope, is one of the kinds of picture which would emerge from a native film industry, prejudiced maybe, ironic maybe, but fresh and individual and owing nothing to any establishment ideas about how this country should be projected . . .

I suppose there will be those who will take offence at parts of this film, but it seems a pity it’s been given a “controversial” label before it’s even been seen. What it is really is an acute, humane and unsentimental look at this country, and one which thoroughly deserves a commercial showing here. If our cinema managements have any gumption at all, they’ll be queuing up to buy it.

– Fergus Linehan