Shaking more than just Barley
It's movies such as The Wind that Shakes the Barley that make me wish indie/art films got the distribution they deserve. Instead of being released for the masses, they're confined to upscale neighborhoods in metropolitan centers, made ready for those middleaged snobs trying to act cosmopolitan (I was the only person in the theater under 45), yet they're some of the best movies around. Instead, Hollywood weans the public on overdone big budget flicks, often sacrificing quality for simply what can be marketed well and sell tickets. Or maybe most people are just stupid, and the industry caters to them, but I like to believe the former. People should be given the benefit of the doubt; they deserved more credit for smarts than they're receiving. Now that I'm done editorializing, let me break down the movie itself.
The film is shot in an exceptionally well captured and beautiful Irish countryside in the midst of the Irish rebellion against oppressive British occupation in the 1920's. For me, it was both a fascinating history lesson and even more fascinating moral dilemma. It was an effective period piece in which sometimes the Irish accents were so thick you couldn't even understand what the actors were saying.
As for the acting, it was good. Nothing amazing, but above average, especially for a cast whose only notable member was Batman Begin's Cillian Murphy. I'm sure that's generally the case though with a well respected and distinguished director such as Ken Loach.
The movie chronicled the rise of the still infamous IRA (Irish Republican Army) in its battle against the British and the subsequent civil war that followed the partial treaty between the two states. I've known for years about the omnipresence of tensions between two large factions in the land of Éire, I knew that there was something called the IRA, I knew there were issues with Northern Ireland still being part of the British Isles, and I knew there were Protestant/Catholic issues. I never knew though, exactly what the deal was. With nearly all conflicts historical, fictional, or otherwise, I try and analyze the situation, see who is at fault and determine who or what is right. What makes this situation so remarkable though, it that it's the first time I can not only fully understand why both sides have developed the way they have, but also that both may be just as correct in believing what they do. It simply seems to be a very unfortunate turn of events that pitted two former groups of allies steadfastly against one another. They both have very convincing arguments and very solid reasoning to back them up and not give in. The ending thus is tragic, due to what could be considered a combination of stubbornness and loyalty. It's also depressing in its apparent confirmation that one of the only ways to improve conditions or rid oneself of an evil is through violence. In the end, the main lesson I take from this is that all of the factioning could simply be diverted if people were just selfless and caring, but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.
The film is shot in an exceptionally well captured and beautiful Irish countryside in the midst of the Irish rebellion against oppressive British occupation in the 1920's. For me, it was both a fascinating history lesson and even more fascinating moral dilemma. It was an effective period piece in which sometimes the Irish accents were so thick you couldn't even understand what the actors were saying.
As for the acting, it was good. Nothing amazing, but above average, especially for a cast whose only notable member was Batman Begin's Cillian Murphy. I'm sure that's generally the case though with a well respected and distinguished director such as Ken Loach.
The movie chronicled the rise of the still infamous IRA (Irish Republican Army) in its battle against the British and the subsequent civil war that followed the partial treaty between the two states. I've known for years about the omnipresence of tensions between two large factions in the land of Éire, I knew that there was something called the IRA, I knew there were issues with Northern Ireland still being part of the British Isles, and I knew there were Protestant/Catholic issues. I never knew though, exactly what the deal was. With nearly all conflicts historical, fictional, or otherwise, I try and analyze the situation, see who is at fault and determine who or what is right. What makes this situation so remarkable though, it that it's the first time I can not only fully understand why both sides have developed the way they have, but also that both may be just as correct in believing what they do. It simply seems to be a very unfortunate turn of events that pitted two former groups of allies steadfastly against one another. They both have very convincing arguments and very solid reasoning to back them up and not give in. The ending thus is tragic, due to what could be considered a combination of stubbornness and loyalty. It's also depressing in its apparent confirmation that one of the only ways to improve conditions or rid oneself of an evil is through violence. In the end, the main lesson I take from this is that all of the factioning could simply be diverted if people were just selfless and caring, but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.
posted by DJDangerRanger at 10:40 PM
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