'A Doctor's Sword' tells the incredible story of how Dr Aidan MacCarthy joined the RAF as World War II was beginning, was rescued from Dunkirk, captured by the Japanese in Java and was less than a mile from the hypocentre of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki on the 9th of August 1945. When he arrived home to West Cork he was half his original body weight and brought a samurai sword that was given to him by the commander of the POW camp - Dr MacCarthy had saved the Japanese officer's life from POWs who wanted to kill him in revenge. The documentary follows his daughter, Nicola, as she searches in Japan for the family of the Japanese officer in order to find the origin of the sword (trailer below).

Aidan MacCarthy was the first non-Japanese doctor to assist in the relief effort and he worked in makeshift hospitals in caves above Nagasaki during the days following the attack. Incredibly, after the war he held no bitterness towards the Japanese and the sword now hangs in MacCarthy's bar in Castletownbere.

The documentary was produced by IT, Tralee lecturer, Bob Jackson, directed by Gary Lennon and is now showing in cinemas throughout Ireland. On Monday 24th, Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27^th August the film will be showing at the Phoenix Cinema Dingle at 7pm.  Tralee Omniplex will also show the documentary from Friday 28^th August at 7 pm.

Here is the trailer: