The film Lyra is a deeply personal portrait of journalist Lyra McKee, who was known for her reporting on the Northern Ireland conflict and her commitment to uncovering the truth about controversial issues in her home country. When she was tragically killed while reporting on a riot in Derry/Londonderry, her death sparked outrage and grief across the UK and beyond.
Directed by Alison Millar, a close friend of Lyra's, the film draws on footage of Lyra's reporting for various media outlets, including her celebrated book, Angels with Blue Faces:Seven Lives and Death in South Armagh, which explored the murky world of paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland. Through Lyra's own words and interviews with her colleagues, friends, and family, the film provides a touching portrait of a young woman who was dedicated to her craft and passionate about justice and equality.
In exploring the circumstances of Lyra's death, the film delves into the complex political and social landscape of contemporary Northern Ireland, grappling with the ongoing legacy of the Troubles and the tensions that still exist between different communities. Ultimately, however, the focus of the film remains on Lyra herself, and her remarkable legacy as a journalist and human being, whose loss is still being felt deeply by those who knew her and admired her work.