THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY:rebellion dissected
January 28, 2008 by sagefever
Set in 1916 in Ireland, THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY, is a beautifully, tightly filmed tale of rebellion, the fight for Irish independence and the fates of two brothers. Damien ~ (Cillain Murphy) and Teddy ~ (Padraic Delaney) start out as both brothers and comrades in at arms, yet at films end are tragically divided. The film explores the costs of freedom, the many sides of how one can view the path to freedom~ and asks which way to freedom is the least costly.
The core scene to me is the moment when the treaty has been worked out, and Irish court is in session. A woman has borrowed money, and not repaid it. The lender is charging 500% interest (in reality the rate was at 800% but the films director set it lower so people would believe it) and the court orders him to pay the woman, as the rate is exorbitant. He refuses, and while being hauled off to jail, Teddy whisks him off to the pub to work out a compromise. Teddy is asked to come back into court to explain his actions. He says a shipment of guns is expected and he needs the lenders money to buy them. His brother and others feel this is disrespecting the courts and what they fought for, complete independence from England.
That scene brilliantly illustrates the choice many an idealist, for many a cause faces. Does one stick to the ideal or make compromise, take baby steps, to the desired end result? In the end one sides with the purists.
The thick brogue can make the film hard to understand (I watched it twice to catch the rhythm ), and the brutality is harsh. The contrast of the Irish training with hurley bats, against the Black and Tans well armed troops is startling. The scene where an English sergeant uses rusty pliers to pull off the fingernails of one of the freedom fighters or, depending on your side, a terrorist, is vivid. The burning of homes, a senseless deaths because one boy refuse to say his name in English, are somehow balanced by the lovely green scenery, and great performances from the actors and the unknowns. Director Ken Loach deserves the Palme d’Or he won for this film.
It will stir the rebel’s heart in us all; make you voice the rebel yell. Yet feel the cost in your bones.
This sounds like an excellent film Sagefever..thank you SO much for writing about it. It would do us well to watch it..the cost of freedom is high..sometimes people think its too high a price.
Not me..not yet anyway
Thanks Sage! looks like a very good movie. You know, you hear about brother against brother or family against family split by war. I am seeing it more and more right here in America and as the rift between classes continues to widen everyone will see it right here.
Thanks to you both~ the choices one must make are hard,but in the final end all one has is ones self..family or no. I plan on keeping what integrity I have whole..
I liked the phrase “THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY” which could mean a lot of things.