Wind That Shakes the Barley, The (2006)

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Ken Loach's take on the Irish War of Independence is concisely summed up by a line late in the film:

It's easy to know what you are against, but quite another to know what you are for.

The pro-treaty forces, it goes, were against the English occupation -- Damien (Cillian Murphy), Loach's protagonist, is one who was fighting for jobs, food, and equality. The English had to go because they were oppressive landowners; replacing them with a new, local élite is no answer at all.

The explicit political economy is the most interesting aspect of the film, which is otherwise a typical sort of miserable revolution-porn: "help, help, I'm being oppressed!", bad things happen to good people etc.

Well done, albeit dismal and at times a little overwrought. A worthy effort overall.

- Sam - 2009-06-23 12:29:47