Roots of a Man

Roots of a Man is an excellent example of how a film does not need a ridiculously high budget to be extremely successful. Directors Jeff and Matthew Campagna bring the story of Cahir Rua - an historical figure to the O'Dochartaigh Clan - back to life while inviting viewers to partake on Jeff Campagna's journey of self-discovery that he experiences while tracing back his roots in Ireland.

The breath-taking Irish scenery in combination with the heartfelt story of a young man's quest to learn more about himself by learning about where he has come from makes this film a true success for the Campagna brothers.

Beautifully shot, composed, edited and matched with the perfect sound scape - film lovers can only wait for more to come from the Campagna brothers.

As the son of a parent from Donegal, I found it very interesting. There should have been more film of Inishowen. Just the title of Buncrana and an odd picture of some sites along with a limited map was inadequate. He became a loyalist to the Queen of England. From wikipedia: Sir Cahir Rua O'Doherty Irish: Cathaoir O Dochartaigh or Cataoir O Docartaig; 1587-5 July 1608 was the last Gaelic Chief of the Name of Clan O'Doherty and Lord of Inishowen, in what is now County Donegal. O'Doherty was a noted loyalist during Tyrone's Rebellion and became known as the Queen's O'Doherty for his service on the Crown's side during the fighting. After the war O'Doherty had ambitions to become a courtier and applied for a position in the household of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, but he increasingly came into dispute with Irish-based officials such as the Viceroy Sir Arthur Chichester and the Governor of Derry Sir George Paulet. In 1608 he launched O'Doherty's Rebellion, seizing Derry from Paulet and burning it to the ground. O'Doherty was subsequently killed in a battle at Kilmacrennan, and the rebellion swiftly collapsed.

Roots of a Man is a story about identity, self-discovery, and the desire to be part of something bigger than yourself. We follow Jeff Campagna on a journey to Ireland where he meets up with various locals and historians and discovers the rich past of the Dogherty's - a past he never knew he was a part of.

The scenery is absolutely gorgeous and the D.O.P has an excellent eye for picking out breath-taking and memorable shots. And the historical re-enactments add a haunting flavour to the doc, bringing the viewer even deeper into this tale. Technically speaking, it was very well edited and the music that was chosen suited the tone of the doc perfectly.

Although at first glance you might think this tale is specific to the Dogherty Clan, it's a heartfelt story that speaks to many of us whose parents or grandparents have immigrated and settled in another country and leave us searching to our roots for a real sense of identity and belonging.

A great job by the Campagna brothers and I look forward to seeing their next venture!

I purchased this film off of their official site and was quite impressed. Although you can tell it was made with a very low budget, it's still very captivating. Like a lot of docs it has some pacing issues and occasionally drags. However, even with a few thousand dollars for an entire budget, the filmmakers were ambitious enough to include historical reenactments to maintain the viewers attention. These flashbacks were very stylish and impact-full despite their low cost. It's not a fantastic doc, but considering it was made for a $3000 CAN price tag and with a crew consisting of two young brothers, it was very impressive and a sign of great things to come. All in all, it was a great purchase. Good job.

I understand the low budget for the film, and in the past I have certainly enjoyed other low-budget films...but not this one. It was unoriginal and simplistic. Been there, done that...yawn. Other people that I spoke to at the festival seemed unimpressed as well. Although they clearly tried to cover it, the film was an attempt for the creators to act beyond their years...but they didn't pull it off. How many high school kids do this exact thing? Difference being they do it around their own city instead of spending tons of money on a plane ticket. The only reason I gave it a two is because there is some gorgeous scenery...but I thank mother nature for that, not the creators of the film. Better luck next time.