Man of Aran

Colman 'Tiger' King - A Man of Aran
Maggie Dirrane - His Wife
Michael Dillane - Their Son
Pat Mullin - Shark Hunter
Patch 'Red Beard' Ruadh - Shark Hunter
Patcheen Faherty - Shark Hunter
Tommy O'Rourke - Shark Hunter
'Big Patcheen' Conneely of the West - Canoeman
Stephen Dirrane - Canoeman
Pat McDonough - Canoeman

Robert Flaherty's first sound film is a brilliant dramatised documentary - although not recognised as such by all contemporary writers - about the Herculean struggles of a community living on the remote island of Aran off the Irish coast. The island is so barren that the soil has to be collected from rock crevices and mixed with seaweed before crops can be grown. A thrilling battle between the island fishermen and a huge basking shark essential for the supply of oil in winter is the showpiece of a superbly photographed film.