The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) 7/10

Starring : Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham
Director : Ken Loach
Running Time : 128 mins

In 1920s Ireland, brothers Damien (Murphy) and Teddy (Delaney) have different views on how to achieve Irish independence, but when medical student Damien witnesses some terrible acts of violence he joins forces with Teddy’s resistance group. However, when a truce is eventually signed between England and Ireland, some members of the resistance don’t agree with the terms and Teddy and Damien find themselves fighting on opposite sides of an Irish civil war.

This is a very slow story that takes a long time to get going, but the pacing just makes the ending of the movie all the more effective. Murphy and Delaney do a fine job as the politically opposed brothers whose lives are torn apart by the terrible life they live in Ireland, and the violence surrounding their lives helps add to the inevitable disasters that are just waiting to happen.

You’ll like this if you liked : Michael Collins