The Wind That Shakes The Barley

Tuesday, 14 November 2006

Director: Ken Loach     127 mins  UK /Ireland  2006  Starring: Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham       Loach's film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for this hard-hitting film about two brothers who end up fighting on opposing sides in Ireland after the first World War.  Set in the beautiful countryside of Cork and using a mix of professional actors and locals the film begins as the rural idyll is shattered when the Black and Tans beat a local lad to death.  Criticism of the film has been that it is pro IRA, but Loach has tried to portray the events of the time from the point of view of both sides, showing how indoctrination was a significant factor in the actions of the Black and Tans and refusing to gloss over similar savagery on the part of the IRA.  A challenging film that also deals with the role of women in guerrilla warfare and the devastating effects of war on all concerned.