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The Wind That Shakes the Barley

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John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 12 2007 01:38 PM

In 1920 Ireland, Irish guys unhappy with unwelcome cruel rulers from London invent guerilla warfare. We rented this based on good reviews but jeez. Nice performances, but violent and depressing. The film wanted me to take sides but not to be insensitive to its messages, I gotta say, I had no interest. I mean, it sure wasn't Braveheart.

metirish Nov 16 2007 10:57 AM

Growing up and hearing stories from my Grandfather about the Blank and Tans I might have viewed this movie with a somewhat different eye than you Bucket, of course I am assuming your Grandfather wasn't there. Certainly the story made for a violent and depressing movie, not sure you would want to butter it up differently though. This movie caused huge controversy in Britain and to a lesser extent in Ireland, Ken Loach though has never shied away form controversial topics . I understand in movies like this the freedom fighters often are portrayed in a romantic way , I think Loach avoided this for the most part. Bucket I would be surprised if you got this movie thinking Braveheart.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 16 2007 11:34 AM

I understand in movies like this the freedom fighters often are portrayed in a romantic way , I think Loach avoided this for the most part. That's for sure. Bucket I would be surprised if you got this movie thinking Braveheart. Oh, I didn't. I was just contrasting it as you said above with the "freedom fighters as heroes" kinda flick. My Mom's side of ther family came from Ireland before the 1920s... I believe they fled in the mid-1800s.