The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Eigentlich ist Damians Laufbahn als Mediziner vorbestimmt und sein Zugticket nach London gelöst. Als er jedoch Zeuge eines feigen Mordes der britischen Armee wird, entschließt sich der junge Ire einer Bewegung anzuschließen, die sein Bruder anführt. Als Revolutionäre ziehen sie in den Krieg um für ihr Land und Gerechtigkeit zu kämpfen. Schonungslos gegenüber sich selbst und dem Feind agieren die ernannten Helden. Dabei erhalten sie Unterstützung durch die verarmte und ausgehungerte Bevölkerung, die mit Rat, Tat und Waffen zur Seite steht. Aber schon bald müssen beide Brüder erkennen das ihr Kampf aussichtslos, und auch ihre Ansichten nicht mehr die Selben sind. Und schon im nächsten Bürgerkrieg stehen sich Beide als erbitterte Feinde gegenüber.
Cillian Murphy
Damien
Pádraic Delaney
Teddy
Liam Cunningham
Dan
Orla Fitzgerald
Sinead
Mary O'Riordan
Peggy
Avis de la communauté (5)
There’s something raw and emotional in The Wind That Shakes the Barley that ends up settling inside you. Ken Loach recreates Ireland’s struggle for independence with a sense of realism that feels almost documentary-like, and the film avoids heroic poses or artificial romanticism. The story has the courage to show the price of rebellion, the doubts, and the bitterness that arise when ideology collides with daily life. What struck me the most is how Loach builds conflict from something intimate and painful. Brothers, neighbors, friends… all trapped between loyalty to their homeland and loyalty to one another. Cillian Murphy gives a performance that is calm on the surface but deeply intense underneath, and it works beautifully with Loach’s minimal, natural direction. Every scene feels lived-in rather than staged, and the land itself becomes part of the emotional atmosphere. The pacing is slow but intentional, which I appreciate. Instead of pushing dramatic peaks, the film settles into quiet conversations, fear, exhaustion, and the exhaustion of a war where no one truly wins. Loach does not ask the viewer for blind patriotism; he asks for empathy. He invites us into rooms where men debate ideology like ordinary people debating how to survive. It’s true that Loach sometimes leans toward moral clarity, and the political position is unmistakable, but I never felt manipulated. The tension between idealism and pragmatism is clearly expressed, and the film holds emotional power even when you think you know where it’s going. The final stretch is heartbreaking, and it lingers. Without needing visual excess or grandiose speeches, The Wind That Shakes the Barley is powerful because it trusts silence, pain, and memory. I finished it shaken, more for its humanity than its violence.
lowkey one of the worst movies i have seen
The treaty that was signed was rubbish.
Excellent storytelling, shows the complexity of the situation at those difficult times.
Somehow, I had never known about this movie. It was nice to go back and see an early career Cillian Murphy in a leading role (that isn't 28 Days Later), which just showcases how great he has always been. The old timey feel is not particularly my cup of tea, but this undeniably a solid war drama. Rating: 3/5 - 75% - Worth Watching