Rent The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)

An interesting historical drama that nevertheless lacks originality - The Wind That Shakes the Barley review by Philip in Paradiso

In County Cork, in Ireland under British rule, in 1920, Damien O'Donovan (Cillian Murphy) has decided to leave his native village in order to practise medicine in a hospital in London. For his part, his brother Teddy is involved in Ireland's struggle for independence from Britain: he is the commander of the local flying column of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Events decide Damien to join his brother, Teddy, and the film shows their involvement in armed operations against the British security forces. The film shows what happened when, after the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921), which established the Irish Free State as a British Dominion and led to the partition of Ireland, some of the anti-British fighters accepted it, while others rejected it: the Irish war of independence turned into a civil war (1922-1923) in Ireland itself.

The movie is very much a historical drama following a linear narrative. Ken Loach being who he is, the film intends to show that the British occupation of Ireland was a savage and ruthless colonial enterprise - and no doubt, in many ways, it was: the ultra-violent paramilitary forces, such as the Black and Tans, are shown in action in the film. The story is told from the standpoint of the IRA fighters. This is fine, but the movie does feel a bit demonstrative, didactic and predictable at times: somehow, it lacks originality. However, it is a convincing and well-made film. It seems to capture the atmosphere in Ireland in the 1920s very well. I enjoyed watching the movie, even though it may not be the masterpiece that some people claim it is. Somehow, the film is interesting and feels necessary.

Brothers in Arms - The Wind That Shakes the Barley review by Steve

For this low budget Palm D'Or winner, Ken Loach adopts the Irish War of Independence (1919-21) as a vehicle for his own socialism. He portrays the IRA as divided between an elite who will merely replace British colonial rule, and the rebel-heroes intent on creating a more equal and free society. 

As the fight for autonomy mutates into civil war, two brothers (Cillian Murphy, Pádraic Delaney) must take opposite sides in the struggle for the soul of the Republic. With horrifying consequences. This is strikingly photographed on location in County Cork in the customary Loach style, with native songs and a homespun production design.

So the IRA are all local Irish actors, and aside from the leads, mostly non professionals. IMDB says the British army was cast from ex-soldiers who were asked to improvise. Miscues were not reshot. This feels raw and spontaneous, rather than heritage cinema. The political lessons are converted into scenes of unconvincing dialogue.

The story is not well told, and some pre-knowledge is an advantage. Its scope is limited to the soldiers in the field rather than the politicians, so the wider picture is rarely seen. It's probably more of interest to students of the director than those of Irish history though its representation of colonial rule is a useful head reset for UK patriots

Awful film - The Wind That Shakes the Barley review by VC

I can't believe this film got awards and brilliant professional reviews! I wonder if the director had been an unknown rather than Ken Loach if the reviews would have been so positive? The film was entirely fictional so if you want to understand the Irish rebellions etc it will be no use at all. I couldn't understand the dialogue as it was mumbled throughout. There were lots of things I couldn't understand because I know nothing of the history really, and for example, references to what I thought were "forecourts" in fact meant "Four Courts" and there were many other instances! The film seems to think you already know everything. I didn't think the acting was very good either. It didn't grip me at all and I couldn't wait for him to get executed!