Cillian Murphy, Pádraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham, Orla Fitzgerald, Mary O'Riordan
2006-06-23
In 1920s Ireland young doctor Damien O'Donovan prepares to depart for a new job in a London hospital. As he says his goodbyes at a friend's farm, British Black and Tans arrive, and a young man is killed. Damien joins his brother Teddy in the Irish Republican Army, but political events are soon set in motion that tear the brothers apart.
Loach's 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley' is a compelling, if austere, reflection on revolution and its human cost. The film's dedication to historical authenticity is evident in every frame, as the stark black-and-white cinematography grounds the narrative in a brutal reality. The film's diegetic sound design immerses the viewer in the Irish landscape and the tumultuous period of struggle for independence. It is a work that demands introspection, compelling the viewer to consider the morality of violence in the pursuit of political ideals. The performances are restrained and powerful, lending a raw intimacy to the epic scale of the story.
