The Wind that Shakes the Barely
The average film goer has not known the eerie silence that fills the air after that final shot is fired into the chest of a fellow soldier; a comrade of war; a brother. We have not known the reality of being tortured or having our houses burnt to the ground. We have not received a letter from a loved one, written by their own quivering hand in their last moments of life.Set in Ireland in the 1920s, these are realities that The Wind that Shakes the Barely brings to life.
The winner of Best Film at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, The Wind that Shakes the Barely, tells the story of the young Irish men who united in their fight against the British. Driven by love for their country and those within it, these young men band together and employ drastic measures to defend their nation.
Amongst stories of love and loss, of duty and honor, of family, and of betrayal, Ken Loach introduces us to the realities of warfare.
This film is not easy to watch, not only because of the harsh realities of war, but also because Loach so effectively allows them to become reality for the viewer, becoming involved with the central characters Damien and Teddy, their personal conflict, and the fate they face; a relationship mirroring the conflict and turmoil faced by the whole of Ireland.
As a period/docu drama this film is well made. It is long, but you want to pay attention to every moment. The acting, particularly of Cillian Murphy and Orla Fitzgerald was great. The few stumbles over lines were noticable, but real - they seemed to emphasise the personal confusion, fear, and conflict every single character would be feeling at that point. If you have seen this film, please, share your thoughts here too!
Seeing someone kill another man in war is not a rare sight in film. War and conflict throughout history h
as been documented and represented in film for many years.And on the surface, Loach’s film is no different.
However, what The Wind that Shakes the Barely does to make it notably impacting and worthy of a Cannes best film award – in my opinion – is drawing the viewer into the conflict ourselves. We are forced to question why war occurs.
In a similar manor to the way the truce over Christmas on the World War I battle field so beautifully depicted in Joyeux Noël (Christian Carion, 2005), brings to light the stupidity and irony of war, The Wind that Shakes the Barely presents you with the irony of an Irish soldier, once shocked at the behaviour of the British, behaving in exactly the same manor as those he once loathed, blinded – by pride perhaps, by confusion, by desire for freedom, or by utter fear and a total need for all conflict to be over.
There are two moments in this film that really emphasised the stupidity of warfare for me personally – they are the moments when friends are required to kill friends, and brothers. There is no room for forgiveness. There is no room for compassion. A rule has been made and that rule has been betrayed. An objective has been set and nothing, not even love for those dearest to you, will keep you from achieving it.
That is what makes this film so powerful. To be confronted with such a harsh reality that conflict like this - one which far too often overcomes the world - is in actuality just so, so senseless.
5 Comments:
The friend I saw Prada with said he saw this film the night before ans found it awesome but very hard to watch. I was somewhat interested in it but after a few descriptions of what happens I was happy to have missed it.
I think there are only so many times a year you can afford to be traumatised at the movies.
yeah, it is definately hard to watch...
But still worth seeing i think.
Even if it is just to have a slightly better idea of what others went through...
You are right that there are only so many times a year you can be traumatised at the movies.
My favourite films are quality dramas and they more often than not seem to be somewhat disturbing, or at least make you think....
but, having said that, I had planned to stay away from traumatising films for a while haha...
yes, seeing this film kinda ruined that plan, but thats ok...
By the way, I think we saw these films with the same person...
how funny!
Who did you see yours with?
haha Nathan S.
you?
Yeah I thought as much, me too. Small world hey?
He goes to my church and works in the same street as me!
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