Labouring under the effort of living up to expectation, Ken Loach's Palme d'Or-winning oeuvre comes to screens bearing a weight of plaudits. Were it not for the movie's passionate and brutal honesty, this pre-screening over-exposure could damage its impact, as with recent supposed winners that lacked the eventual oomph. Lucky for Loach, then, that his movie can withstand such omens of failure - not least due to his own talent as a director, but also buttressed by the commanding acting skills of his cast. The Irish love to talk about themselves, and doing so whilst examining our turbulent history is afforded a special honour. General curiosity might attract the first viewers, but excellent word of mouth will give this film staying power.

Comparisons with Michael Collins are inevitable; it certainly plants its feet in the same historical period, but it's more emotional at heart than Jordan's epic. Probing the thoughts and trials of two brothers whose paths diverge on the road to Irish freedom, The Wind… unflinchingly and unceasingly confronts the less noble elements of Irish resistance, as well as highlighting the cruelty of English occupation. Brothers Damien (Cillian Murphy) and Teddy (Pádraic Delaney) struggle to stay afloat in the sea of Irish conflict as it rises, falls, and rises again. Their fellow cast members are just as easy and passionate in their language as the leads, thanks to the excellent script of Paul Laverty – who created the story from detailed research that rings true in the final product.

Central to the story is the closeness and difference between Teddy and Damien, as they band together and fall apart. The opening scenes of Ireland in the 20s shows a united culture, where train drivers support their union, refusing to transport British men or weapons, and old women cook soup on the side of road for the IRA flying columns. As the initial battle gives way to the Treaty, a whole new enemy emerges from within Ireland itself.

Women like Peggy (Mary Riordan), who have lived through famine and eviction, show the indomitable strength of the Irish wish to be free, risking life and limb to harbour the fighters in their homes. Her granddaughter Sinead (Orla Fitzgerald) fights the war alongside the men, as only a woman can - from the shadows – a role no less fraught with danger than attacking barracks or laying ambushes. Each actor is given a full and complete character whose lines seem both natural and honest. They all struggle with their own ideas of a free Ireland - from train driver Dan (Liam Cunningham), who lived through the Dublin Lock-Out, to Micheail (Laurence Barry), who refuses to say his name in English when questioned by the Black and Tans.

Unlike Michael Collins, the movie is historically accurate to an alarming degree. Without coming across as a history lesson, it gives a heart-wrenching tour of our material and emotional roots. It is startling that it has taken an Englishman to so adequately and valiantly bring Ireland's story to the screen. Ken Loach and his amazing cast have taken the Irish War of Independence and brought it into our homes and hearts through their powerful and insightful filmmaking.

Sarah Griffin

Rated 15A (see IFCO website for details)
The Wind that Shakes the Barley is released on 15th Septemeber 2006.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley – Official website