James Joyce’s infamous Ulysses explored in new documentary on BBC One NI
Date Posted: September 1, 2022
Arena: James Joyce’s Ulysses is a new feature length documentary to mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of this modernist masterpiece. Adam Low explores the book’s influences and themes and its lasting legacy. It tells the story of its creation and also reflects some of its sexually explicit aspects. A co-production by DoubleBand Films and Lone Star with support from Northern Ireland Screen, the documentary airs on Thursday 8th September at 10:40pm on BBC One Northern Ireland.
Ulysses has sometimes been described as the most infamous novel of the twentieth century and its seeming complexity continues to bemuse readers old and new. Written in Trieste, Zurich and Paris during the First World War at a time of huge historical upheaval, Ulysses follows Leopold Bloom throughout the course of a single day in Dublin – 16 June, 1904. It’s full of observations about everyday life and Bloom’s interactions with his wife Molly and school teacher Stephen Dedalus.
The date 16 June, 1904 had particular significance for James Joyce because it was when he first met Nora Barnacle. She later became his wife and mother to his two children and is widely considered to be the inspiration for Molly Bloom in Ulysses. And 16 June has now become affectionally known as Bloomsday.
James Joyce’s Ulysses makes brilliant use of archive footage and photographs to retrace James and Nora’s journey through Europe. It also provides a revealing insight into their sometimes tempestuous relationship through the correspondence that they exchanged during times spent apart.
Those taking part in the documentary include Salman Rushdie, Colm Tóibín, Anne Enright, Howard Jacobson, Eimear McBride, Paul Muldoon, John McCourt, Nuala O’Connor and many more.
James Joyce faced many difficulties getting Ulysses published. It was banned for obscenity in the United States in 1920 before eventually being printed in Paris in 1922 by an American woman who had never published a book before.
Many believe Ulysses revolutionised the modern novel, including because of its engagement with issues around anti-Semitism, feminism and sexuality.
It is often regarded as being difficult to read, but beneath its variety of styles lies a story about ordinary people that celebrates humanity and its complexities.
Arena: James Joyce’s Ulysses airs on Thursday 8th September at 10:40pm on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.
