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The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) DVD Review
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) DVD Credits:
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) Directed by:
Ken Loach
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) Written by:
Paul Laverty
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) Cast:
Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham, Gerard Kearney, William Ruane
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) DVD Release Date:
3rd September 2007
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The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) Synopsis:

This time, Loach's focus is the lead-up to the Irish Civil War of 1922 and the complexities of Ireland's struggle for independence at a grass-roots level. Once again, the director is showing concern for ordinary people who organise themselves to fight against foreign or oppressive rule.

The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) DVD Review:

When Damien (Cillian Murphy), an Irish doctor just recently out of school, witnesses a friend brutally murdered by the British soldiers when he refused to say his name in English he still refuses to fight. Although Damien’s brother, Teddy, is eager to become a member of the Irish Republic in order to fight against the British soldiers, Damien is unconvinced that they stand a chance. His opinions change suddenly when he watches an elderly man accosted by soldiers at the train station he is meant to take back to his new practice. Instead Damien returns to his brother and together they begin training and preparing, even using wooden guns along the green hills as they work tactics and planning long before preparing their first tasks.

Although they have a few successful plans work to their advantage it does not take long before the men are all picked up by the British soldiers and brought in for interrogations. This begins a series of escalating moments of violence as the British dig up the resistance fighters and the rebels plan acts of sabotage where they can. As a result much of the film seems to emphasize torture and cruel behavior, an unsavory depiction of war which is worsened yet again once the British finally do come to a treaty with the Irish. The news comes to them quite unexpectedly and after suffering a major blow, which makes the end of war nearly unsatisfying despite the fact that they have gotten what they hoped for. Then comes the even more difficult task of rebuilding the country, which quickly begins a disagreement between the very men who had just banded together to earn the freedom they argue over.

The separation begins when the disillusioned men of Ireland are faced with the realities of the treaty with the British. It is a compromise and Northern Ireland will remain under the United Kingdom’s control under the treaty, a fact which is extremely upsetting to those who have already sacrificed so much. Allowing the audience to experience the outcome of the treaty as many would have, watching a news reel the audience is brought into the situation of feeling detached and helpless. As events spiral out of control all that really matters are the men who have known each other growing up, brothers even, and they begin to turn against each other.

Ken Loach as well as historical advisor Professor Donal O’Driscoll, are on a commentary track on the DVD, giving even more details about the background and context of the story. What Ken Loach fans may feel is taken away in sharing a commentary track is somewhat regained by the one featurette on the DVD. The featurette is a all about the films of Loach.


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The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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