Weekly DVD Pick - The Wind That Shakes The Barley

This is a couple of days late but if you have not already gone out and purchased a DVD this week then I’ve got a gem of a movie for you. The Wind That Shakes The Barley stars Cillian Murphy and Padraic Delaney as two brothers who are present at the forming of the IRA. The brothers are forced against each other when the freedom is partially gained through a truce with the British.

It has been a while since I’ve seen this movie but I remember it being a very visceral emotional movie. The brothers, and also the rest of the early IRA members are really just normal people who are fighting for their freedom. Because of their actions they are placed in a position of power and this is where the movie truly shines. My favourite scene in the movie involves a court trial where one of the richer Irish citizens is on trial and several of the IRA members want him to be released is he is able to supply them with weapons. This is a character driven movie that looks at the choices that people have to make when they are forced into a corner.

While the movie does focus on character interactions there are several action scenes and they are all filmed very well. Do not expect movie with action scenes like Braveheart or some other large scale battles but action scenes that are suspenseful, brutal and dramatic. Director, Ken Loach has done an excellent job of showing just what the conflict must have been like for these normal men who chose to fight for their freedom.

The Wind That Shakes The Barley did deserve to win Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1996 and it is really worth adding to your DVD collection.