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Cannes diary part three: 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley' review

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Cannes diary part three: 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley' review

Dave Calhoun takes a look at the latest controversial effort from Ken Loach.

May 19 2006

Ken Loach returned to the Croisette last night with 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley', a provocative drama set in Ireland's County Cork between 1920 and 1922; that dangerous period that saw the signing of the Anglo-Irish treaty in December 1921 and the outbreak of civil war soon afterwards. It was a civil war that pitched brother against brother, as Irish popular history still very much remembers, and it's this powerful dynamic that Loach adopts as the fulcrum of his film.

For Loach, it marks a return to territory last seen in his Spanish Civil War film 'Land and Freedom'. Like that earlier work, 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley' proves to be a moving and intelligent historical play that explores divisions on the left on an intimate level and succeeds in presenting the prevalent ideas of the time without ever losing sight of the personal stories that Loach and his regular screenwriter Paul Laverty have decided to explore.

Loach presents two brothers, Damien (Cillian Murphy) and Teddy (Padraic Delaney), who together join a 'flying column' of armed guerilla republicans after witnessing the murder of a relative. A strict approach to casting and location pays off; almost all the cast are from Cork and the entire film was shot there, much of it outdoors and within its rugged rural landscape. There's a pleasing camaraderie and sense of purpose among the cast that make up the 'flying column' and lead actors Murphy, Delaney and Liam Cunningham as a Dublin train driver turned revolutionary all put in good turns amid this ensemble. Loach is quite adept at marrying his more experienced actors such as Murphy and Cunningham with a number of less experienced, local hands. The sense of purpose and cohesion of this grouping drives much of the film as they wage an armed campaign against the British.

Anyone expecting the British to come off lightly would be naive; the quite fair prognosis of Loach and Laverty is that the violence of British troops in Ireland helped to stoke the passions and the mission of those who fought this vicious guerilla campaign against the British government. As such, we see British troops behaving atrociously towards those they suspect of sedition. Are his British characters caricatures? I'd say not; Loach has decided to tell a republican story and the contact between these revolutionary republicans and the British would inevitably have been fraught and violent. It's a republican tale, in terms of the film's perspective, and we see the British through the eyes of Damien, Teddy and their comrades: as vicious occupiers.

Most tricky for Loach is presenting the complex arguments within the republican movement that followed the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and led to the political split that very soon saw the outbreak of war. He succeeds, and masters some compelling group scenes of debate and argument that never feel awkward or staged. It's refreshing to see Loach move away from the Scottish stories he's been telling (with much success) in his last few films. I wouldn't be surprised if the film picks up prizes come the end of the festival, most likely for Murphy as best actor or even Laverty as best screenwriter.

To read Dave Calhoun's 'Wind that Shakes the Barley' set visit, click here.

User comments on this story

D.A.Mee said...

Jerimiah MEE Not Mees resigned as a Guard in 1918 and joined the cause. He later became a Boston Cop. I think He's one of mine. Retired Cop Posted on Mar 26 2008 23:28

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Nick Clark said...

Peter J. Harris
What did you expect? A Hollywood style blockbuster of a movie with well-known actors in it?
This is as real and as gritty as it gets. Mr Roach's approach has always been to encourage actors to improvise to enhance realism in the narrative. You’ll find no over-acting or dramatics here, just pure expression making each scene as close to life as possible given the limitations of film. You only have to watch ‘Land and Freedom’ to see what wonderful results can be achieved in his kind of film making.
Life is mundane, people are mundane and once in a while conflict enters our world and blows it all apart. Posted on Sep 28 2006 13:17

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Ian Newton said...

This is a good film once one understands what the director is trying to do (though some initial historical summary to set the scene in context from, say, 1916 might have helped those unfamiliar with this period of Irish (and British) history. I would not myself accuse it of bias (unless it be in favour of the republican irregulars, as opposed to the lawfully constituted Free State forces, during the Civil War). However, those seeking a broader and clearer historical overview of these events would in my opinion be much better served by Neil Jordan's excellent film of about 10 years ago, "Michael Collins". Posted on Aug 26 2006 10:00

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Jackie Cornwall said...

Damien was a lot like Che Guevara; doctor turned guerilla/executioner, politicised by the suffering round him. Looked like him too. Presumabably deliberate. All imperialist regimes use brutality to stay in power. If the film had suggested any different, it would be lying. Posted on Aug 24 2006 09:49

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Ann McTaggart said...

I've only just seen the film by Ken Loach and it's wonderful!
It's realistic and thoughtful weighing up the atrocities that were meted out by The Black and Tans and portraying the terrible and difficult decisions that were made by memebers of the IRA. People have got to accept that the Brits were responsible for terrible atrocities, but that is not to say that as a Brit who is open to finding out about Irish History you should feel personally ashamed. Others were responsible for the dreadful callous decisions that were made. Posted on Aug 09 2006 16:01

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Clodagh said...

Well done Ken Loach, all his crew and actors on producing a great film. It is a fair and objective account of what it was like to live in the Ireland of the times - I have heard many a similar story from my grandparents, who were teenagers at that time. It was a moving experience watching the film.That a British director was able to produce this story to such a high level and with such an impressive understanding of the conflict at grassroots level, makes me hope that maybe someday people in England/UK will have a better grasp of the political history and present day politcal landscape in Ireland (N.Ireland). Dare I dream? Posted on Jul 27 2006 13:54

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conor mac eochaidh said...

i know we are meant to talking about the film but did anybody here steal my bike? Posted on Jul 26 2006 02:52

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Peter J. Harris said...

Saw this film yesterday and have to agree with Linda who HAS actually SEEN it. So hammy and amateur it was emabarrassing and cringeworthy. Totally lost faith with the Palm d'Or! Were they watching the same film?! I kept hoping it would improve but it struggled on with its small cast of actors and extras making it feel even more amateur, struggling with a script that sounded as if it had been written by a ten year old. One * Awful! Posted on Jul 13 2006 11:12

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jo adler said...

Controversial the film is not, badly written-yes. It's a movie with no leading role at all and nothing to make us care about its characters. It's almost as Loach doesn't know wheather he wants to make a movie about a nation or a single man. His confusion hinders thus the whole fabric of "the wind..." Posted on Jul 13 2006 09:25

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Mick (Birmingham) said...

Thanks John for the feedback. Yes I am aware of Mee and his book which I have ordered from Amazon. UK. He stood up for his principles as ahonest Irish policeman at Listowel (just down the road from us in Kerry) I saw the film `The Wind that Shakes.... in Birmingham and cried several times during the film. I accept that there are `bad apples` in any police force. read family history about my Great Grand Uncle James (born in 1868) who was an RIC Sgt. in Blackwater, Wexford. He was liked by his men and the community. Your Grandfather and my Great Uncle `Willie` would have joined the `Civic `Guards together in 1923. As it was pointed out in an earlier message on these pages the RIC were murdered to be replaced by the Tans (not covered in the Loach`s film) yet history says Michael Collins had a high regard for the RIC and modelled the new Free State police on them. The film was uncomfortable to watch but it was a fine piece of work. Dan Breen`s `My fight for Irish Freedom` captures the era too and is worth reading. Posted on Jul 06 2006 16:54

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John said...

Mick (Birmingham)
I wonder have you read Jerimiah Mees book about the RIC? He was a serving RIC man who went over to the IRA in 1920. He describes a force which was used to face farmers with bayonets on their carbines. Who were an intelligence gathering element of the British state in Ireland. The ‘police’ the world over are not the same thing; in many countries they are used to suppress their own people and there have been aspects of this in Britain (miners strike, poll tax etc).
My grandfather joined the Garda in 1922/3 and faced a lot of opposition from within his family. His picture (in his uniform) hung on my parents wall for many years.
John. Posted on Jul 01 2006 09:54

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John said...

Linda
I think you have to recognise the film for what it is. It is not a Hollywood type romp with flashy lights, flashy cars and flashy women.
It is an attempt to portray the reality of the times in all its starkness.
John. Posted on Jul 01 2006 08:49

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Linda (N Ireland) said...

Saw the film tonight and was very disappointed after all the hype. It came across as a play by an amateur drama group instead of a feature film. Brutality portrayed well, and politics of the time, but no emotional oomph. Filmed in my home town in west Cork so enjoyed the film set! Posted on Jun 29 2006 23:06

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Bridget Fitzgerald said...

I have not seen Loach's film yet, but am bemused by critics reporting it to be 'anti-British' and 'targeting the British establishment'. Is their knowledge of Britain's policy towards Ireland during this time that hazy? Surely these misguided individuals should read a history book or two before branding the film as controversial? Posted on Jun 27 2006 15:21

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Dara O' Luain said...

Seen the film in Cambridge on Sunday, It hit the nail on the head ''THE TRUTH''
It's still a shame that the brits have only got a number of cinemas in this country compared to mosques. Meaning again you have failed to broadcast the truth remenber the BBC Ban!!!!
Give Our Land back to our Children!!! Posted on Jun 27 2006 12:36

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