Must-see film: "The Wind That Shakes the Barley"

Ken Loach's new movie. Too bad FB didn't live in Toronto. I'd ask him out on a date.

http://www.thestar.com/artsentertainment/article/192561

Loach is one of the great political filmmakers and of course has been labelled a "traitor" by some of the English media for this film. (Sound familiar?)

The story of people galvanized into armed resistance (otherwise known as terrorism) by the occupation of their land by a foreign army, the movie has clear and pertinent parallels to the current historical moment. And while the movie has been predictably accused (especially in the outraged British conservative press) of either propagandizing for the Irish republican cause or metaphorically indicting the American presence in Iraq, both of these criticisms are ultimately much simpler than the movie itself.

Far from a film that glorifies violent resistance, it's a movie that struggles to understand the reasons why people will take up arms in the name of freedom. And what becomes of their souls for doing so.

And the title of the film comes a famous Irish song, performed here by the inimitable Lisa Gerrard,

I'm sure it beats the shit out of most of the Hollywood dreck.

 

My folks across the pond say this one a) is a great film, and b) is guaranteed to start fistfights.
Our kind of movie.
I'm wondering if I might have to go to Eaton Centre to see it, though.
"TWTSTB" is a great song, too.

UPDATE -- Damn, that's hair-raising.

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day, FB.

 

Saw it last night.
Tremendous film. Utterly heartbreaking, especially the amateurs in the cast, and I say that as someone who beleives the Free State was the only viable solution in '22.

 

Just saw it today. A remarkably powerful piece of filmmaking.

 

Up the Republic!

Dead Can Dance have a great version of the song in question, BTW.

 

Surely going to see this, and soon.