Documentary filmmaker George C. Stoney revisits the Aran Islands to re-evaluate Robert Flaherty's 1934 documentary "Man of Aran". Stoney and British documentary filmmaker Harry Watt explore the myths surrounding the film and its impact on the islanders. They speak with original participants, including Maggie Dirrane, and discover that Flaherty's film was more a romanticized vision than a genuine documentary. The film's legacy still affects the islands today, with some islanders welcoming tourism for employment opportunities while others fear it will destroy their way of life.
How the Myth Was Made: A Study of Robert Flaherty's Man of Aran
A documentary filmmaker travels to the Aran Islands to explore the truth behind Robert Flaherty's 1934 film "Man of Aran", a cinematic masterpiece that left a lasting impression on him since childhood.
