Michael Collins is a biographical film directed by Neil Jordan and released in 1996. The film depicts the life of Michael Collins, an Irish revolutionary and one of the key figures in the Irish War of Independence against British rule. It stars Liam Neeson in the titular role, alongside Julia Roberts, Aidan Quinn, and Alan Rickman.
The movie begins in 1916, with Collins taking part in the Easter Rising, a failed rebellion against British rule in Ireland. Collins is arrested and later released, and he then becomes a leading member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which carries out guerrilla attacks against British forces.
As the conflict intensifies, Collins becomes convinced that a negotiated settlement with Britain is the only way to achieve Irish independence. He becomes the chief negotiator for the Irish side in the Anglo-Irish Treaty talks of 1921, which result in the establishment of the Irish Free State, a self-governing dominion within the British Empire.
However, the treaty is controversial within Ireland, with many republicans believing that it falls short of true independence. Collins becomes the target of assassination attempts and is eventually killed in an ambush in 1922, just a few months after the establishment of the Free State.
The film portrays Collins as a complex figure, torn between his desire for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and his revolutionary ideals. It also depicts the personal relationships that shaped his life, including his friendship with Harry Boland (played by Quinn) and his romantic relationship with Kitty Kiernan (played by Roberts).
Overall, Michael Collins is a powerful and engaging portrayal of a pivotal moment in Irish history, and a tribute to a man who played a crucial role in Ireland's struggle for independence.