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The Wind That Shakes the Barley
The Wind That Shakes the Barley
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The Wind That Shakes the Barley

The Wind That Shakes the Barley

2006
Drama, War
2h 7m
A sympathetic look at Republicans in early 20th century Ireland, and two brothers who are torn apart by anti-Brit rebellion. (imdb)

Directed by:

Ken Loach

Screenwriter:

Paul Laverty

Starring:

Liam Cunningham, Cillian Murphy, William Ruane, Roger Allam, Padraic Delaney, Gerard Kearney, Orla Fitzgerald, Mary O'Riordan, Laurence Barry, Damien Kearney, Aidan O'Hare, Máirtín de Cógáin

Genres:

Drama, War

Countries:

France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, UK

Languages:

English, Latin, Irish Gaelic
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The Wind That Shakes the Barley

2006
Drama, War
2h 7m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 64.03% from 1380 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

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doctor7doctor7
Rated 01 Apr 2007
76
64th
Very well acted, I especially loved how people who make mistakes with their speech and correct themselves so you didn't have every single person making perfect monologues all the time. The conversations felt real. The movie itself was good although the ending drops any sense of subtlety in making it's moral point which felt it was completely unnecessary as it was far more subtle and effective prior to that. Shame as it finishes the movie on a poor note.
Rated 01 Apr 2007
jimmynmujimmynmu
Rated 05 Mar 2007
71
60th
Not nearly as "one sided" as everyone makes it out to be, well done film overall, it's quite entertaining.
Rated 05 Mar 2007
billythekydbillythekyd
Rated 20 Sep 2007
85
37th
A good film, but over-praised by critics for whom politics is as important as film-making in assessing the merit of a film. Parts of the film looked like rehearsals for a much better, more polished, film; interior shots were "stage-bound" in terms of lighting, sound, and editing. Overall, "The Wind.. " was a disappointment, although it contained individual scenes of undeniable power. It left me sadder, but no wiser.
Rated 20 Sep 2007
mikeparasolmikeparasol
Rated 21 Mar 2007
95
96th
Beautiful cinematography and acting, the complex relations and changing positions of the characters is what makes it so compelling.
Rated 21 Mar 2007
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 16 Dec 2016
87
87th
In typical Loach fashion this is a starkly political film, but one which focuses on the characters first, showing them as agents of the politics and particularly giving a very personal view of the events of the film. "A film about the Irish civil war" may be the easiest way to describe it, but it's really more about the people and their passions and frustrations, and successes and failures, within that context. Really well done and some of it really lingers with you.
Rated 16 Dec 2016
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 21 Dec 2010
25
61st
"As a document of the shape of political thought, the film is successful; but as a living, beating heart about a populace living through a time of upheaval and confusion, it's mediocre." - Jeremiah Kipp
Rated 21 Dec 2010
omgfridgeomgfridge
Rated 18 Nov 2010
6
51st
Not as powerful as I thought it would be. Cillian Murphy is excellent.
Rated 18 Nov 2010
tathieltathiel
Rated 07 Feb 2010
82
76th
It's very obvious that the two brothers represent the today divided Ireland and all the notions according to that, especially at the end are too unsubtle and pressed for emotions. However, I think this movie is a good start into the topic of the Irish oppression and the beginning of a divided island. At times its scenes are very harsh and brutal but I guess this is what those films need because otherwise the audience cannot in any way imagine how it was. Good acting, great dialects.
Rated 07 Feb 2010
stflyst_fly
Rated 30 Dec 2009
60
55th
Good. A revealing look at the origins of the I.R.A. and how a rift amongst its founders rendered it into various factions. Though the cinematography is beautiful as well as good performances, I found it a bit dry. Still quite a treat for history buffs and those interested in the Irish regional issues or who just like period pieces. Recommended.
Rated 30 Dec 2009
wicheWiche
Rated 09 Dec 2009
39
15th
You need a lot of background information to fully appreciate this film. It's a strong movie in many ways, but overall it's not much more than politics - shooting - politics - shooting - extremely bad ending.
Rated 09 Dec 2009
hahaHaha
Rated 09 Apr 2009
74
51st
Great film with bad technicals. Story and acting are top notch.
Rated 09 Apr 2009
jarmannJarmann
Rated 06 Oct 2008
84
81st
Looked very onesided in the beginning but evened nicely out. The outdoor shots are some of the most beautiful I've seen since Barton Fink.
Rated 06 Oct 2008
davidkahaneDavidKahane
Rated 29 Jan 2008
74
54th
The film catches the fervor of political debates about independence when idealism and pragmatism may not be able to comfortably coexist. When Loach devotes considerable time to backroom discussions and fierce arguments about the workings of a nascent government, the film reaches impressive peaks of gripping drama of intellectualism. When the film settles on its brothers torn asunder plot, it suffers from over familiarity. At its core, though, it's tough, like a history lesson with teeth.
Rated 29 Jan 2008
big_lemonsBig Lemons
Rated 24 Sep 2007
88
83rd
Brilliant, tight film about the Irish fighting the British and themselves for that elusive concept: "freedom". Some scenes are shattering, albeit melodramatic. The source material kind of dictates it though.
Rated 24 Sep 2007
bownBown
Rated 21 Sep 2023
80
53rd
Extremely evocative and rage-inducing with stellar cinematography and one of Murphy’s best performances. Fuck you Teddy you traitor!!!!!
Rated 21 Sep 2023
mattorama12mattorama12
Rated 20 Feb 2023
73
71st
Very powerfully acted. I thought it did an excellent job at portraying some of the conflicts and different people's perspectives. One knock is that there were times when things were done with (excellent) subtlety and times where it was anything but. While I preferred the subtle bits, either would have been fine but to have them both made some things clash.
Rated 20 Feb 2023
calexicoCalexico
Rated 08 Nov 2020
80
66th
Tells an important and inspiring story well.
Rated 08 Nov 2020
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 02 Sep 2019
70
56th
Wish more war pics dived into individual political motivations behind revolutions like this one. Would need to read up more on historical context to properly dissect how it toes the line and never really properly sides with anyone toward the end. Cillian Murphy please work with more people besides Nolan.
Rated 02 Sep 2019
timelesstimeless
Rated 11 May 2018
65
23rd
A heart-breaking brother-killing-brother story, if only it wasn't so boring.
Rated 11 May 2018
ericamblerericambler
Rated 09 Sep 2017
75
61st
Set against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence (and the subsequent civil war), THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY constructs a conventional familial melodrama around a framework of political monologues. In other words, it's a Ken Loach film. This one stands out primarily due to the fascinating historical setting which, to be frank, allows for easier digestion of the more radical concepts in Loach's immersive agitprop.
Rated 09 Sep 2017
karamazovkaramazov.
Rated 14 Aug 2016
37
48th
Certainly of varied quality, but if politically you think this should have been less "one-sided" and "not so black-and-white," fuck off.
Rated 14 Aug 2016
dyannethorneDyanneThorne
Rated 26 Jul 2016
35
17th
So at one point the movie looks like it coming to an end and I'm thinking "these were some of the longest two hours of my life" and then I looked at the timer and realized it had only been a little more than one hour.
Rated 26 Jul 2016
perrystroikaPerryStroika
Rated 25 Mar 2015
71
87th
(spoilers) A powerful, tightly written drama about the traumatic splintering of a community and a family over political disagreements. Thge film making is tough, sinewy without being showy-every scene crackles with motion and energy-and the writing keeps the character motivations in clear focus. The way Damien's execution near then end of the film is made to echo Chris Reilly's near the beginning is particularly effective.
Rated 25 Mar 2015
lonewolf2003Lonewolf2003
Rated 03 Dec 2014
78
71st
(2nd viewing)
Rated 03 Dec 2014
thehynesthehynes
Rated 22 May 2014
45
19th
What a vile, overly simplified, bit of historical revisionism lacking any nuance or believability.Strictly for those who need black hat/white hat characters lest they get confused. Ken Loach is an arse.
Rated 22 May 2014
glm01glm01
Rated 16 Oct 2013
81
68th
81.000
Rated 16 Oct 2013
stuie299stuie299
Rated 23 Apr 2013
75
45th
This seems like the kind of movie I should really like. Political storyline, great acting and directing, and beautiful cinematography. Yet it was just good. Nothing amazing. I will admit that much of what was lost on me though, was a lack of historical reference/significance. In order to get the most out of this film, I recommend you buff up your background knowledge if you're not to familiar with the Irish rebellion.
Rated 23 Apr 2013
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 05 Nov 2012
70
70th
Interesting story about the history of the Irish rebellion. The Irish men who struggle to overthrow the English invaders win a hollow victory, so many keep on fighting. It is full of heroism and idealism. I had some difficulty in understanding some of the Irish accents. Also, the story has some pacing issues, being fast in parts and very slow in other scenes. I really did not like the ending, even if it may have been historically accurate. I have some complaints about the storytelling as well.
Rated 05 Nov 2012
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 30 Oct 2012
58
49th
Loach is essentially a realist, but he's also a political radical, and Laverty's writing has added sentimentality to Loach's cinema. It's unsurprising, then, that their film about an Irish Republican uprising, while trying for authenticity, is a bit hotheaded. The revolutionaries are painted as steely, conscientious and savvy Marxists, in other words as Loach and Laverty want to imagine them. The best parts of the film are when internal debate erupts. Otherwise it's thinly disguised romanticism.
Rated 30 Oct 2012
mkellinsmkellins
Rated 27 Jun 2012
65
65th
It was a good film, not brilliant, but definitely worth watching. I liked the little touches of realism it had. You rarely see people in films randomly stumbling while walking etc. Murphy was really good in it. Still, a little bit more editing could have done the film a favor. Slightly too long.
Rated 27 Jun 2012
bo_berryBo Berry
Rated 09 Apr 2012
87
85th
This story deals with very large issues in a very personal manner. We see ideas about revolution and independence played out between brothers, neighbors, friends. The ideals that the characters fight for are admirable and so are the characters, thanks in part to some very good acting. The quest for true independence and peace isn't one that has an easy answer, and there's no clear right choice. A very emotional examination of the personal havoc war can cause. Highly recommended.
Rated 09 Apr 2012
wayofthegunwayofthegun
Rated 26 Feb 2012
70
41st
The Wind That Shakes the Barley is an engaging film with an interesting story, but it really feels like a knock-off of Braveheart, just set in a different time.
Rated 26 Feb 2012
closedmouthclosedmouth
Rated 10 Sep 2011
70
42nd
Pretty good, but it has a lot of problems. The screenplay is relentlessly jingoistic and romanticised, and the scope of the direction is weirdly limited, with repeated scenes in the same setting (the same house gets raided like seven times) and a lack of extras, making the whole thing seem insular and unaffecting. But that's politics I guess.
Rated 10 Sep 2011
rufamRufam
Rated 16 Aug 2011
70
57th
"The Wind That Shakes the Barley" is clean, lean, authentic filmmaking. Loach skillfully helms this well-crafted, often staggering film, whose realistic depiction of the Irish revolution can be piercingly poignant. It's not without its flaws, but Murphy's finely restrained performance, Loach's naturalistic approach as well as the sheer power of the material, more than compensate.
Rated 16 Aug 2011
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 28 Apr 2011
64
58th
A good all-rounder. Good performances, solid direction and engaging. It does nothing extraordinary, but will more than hold your attention.
Rated 28 Apr 2011
sieghardtSieghardt
Rated 26 Jan 2011
95
98th
It lays it on a little thick at times but the story and performances are all rock solid. This powerful and occasionally painful epic portrays the history of brutal oppression and inside fighting better than any other attempt I've seen.
Rated 26 Jan 2011
robertaRoberta
Rated 22 Jan 2011
76
54th
It is a moving piece about some battles that are destined to be lost, unfortunalely.
Rated 22 Jan 2011
pimpim
Rated 09 Apr 2010
80
67th
A good movie that feels very thruthfull and makes you wondering about the dilemmas faced by every rebellion. The strength of the story lies in its focus on a group of people united by their fight for independence of Ireland, but thorn apart when this goal is almost achieved and they have to decide what they're really fighting for.
Rated 09 Apr 2010
meckleycp1meckleycp1
Rated 19 Feb 2010
97
98th
Ken Loach's film about the trials of normal Irishmen during the Irish War of Independence is deeply moving as the characters (especially brothers Damien and Teddy) get more and more involved in the conflict and eventually move in different directions politically. The Irish countryside is absolutely beautiful and it is a great film, even if it doesn't look fairly at both sides of the conflict.
Rated 19 Feb 2010
rthornhillrthornhill
Rated 13 Dec 2009
89
67th
historical dramatization of the events leading up to Irish independence from Britain, and the beginning of the subsequent Irish Civil War.
Rated 13 Dec 2009
totoroTotoro.
Rated 08 Sep 2009
85
82nd
Great story, great acting.
Rated 08 Sep 2009
anselmi86Anselmi86
Rated 14 Aug 2009
82
75th
Made great by fantastic cinematography b Barry Akroyd and a magnificent portrayal by Cillian Murphy.
Rated 14 Aug 2009
pigletPiglet
Rated 26 Jul 2009
80
91st
The British-Irish war separated families as well as friends, TWTSTB is a story about two brothers on either side.
Rated 26 Jul 2009
snowgraysnowgray
Rated 16 Jun 2009
69
56th
A little long, with the best parts skewed toward the beginning.
Rated 16 Jun 2009
lawrencelawrence
Rated 09 Jun 2009
98
76th
Stunning.
Rated 09 Jun 2009
djrossdjross
Rated 06 Jun 2009
45
34th
Some debate of the relation between Irish Republicanism and Socialism. Many scenes come across like a bunch of grown-up kids playing at being soldiers (which, perhaps, is not a bad definition of war anyway), but somehow it is all too stagey, contrived and didactic to really involve the spectator.
Rated 06 Jun 2009
dst7175dst7175
Rated 16 Apr 2009
74
73rd
GOOD MOVIE BUT I HATED THE ENDING.
Rated 16 Apr 2009
willofgaiawillofgaia
Rated 18 Mar 2009
90
72nd
Nothing incredibly special, but still a very engaging, fair, and unapologetic film.
Rated 18 Mar 2009
thmertensth_mertens
Rated 09 Feb 2009
73
62nd
I won't consider it a fair depiction of the English oppression. But it can be an accurate observation of the internal troubles of the Irish people. ... Loach keeps on filming sensitive subjects and still feels no restraint of compromising, maybe in some parts a bit too subjective, nevertheless quite pleasing.
Rated 09 Feb 2009
optimusmikeOptimus_mike
Rated 17 Nov 2008
75
59th
Admirably shows two sides to a war fought with no "right" side.
Rated 17 Nov 2008
cowmanCowman
Rated 14 Jun 2008
70
56th
The ending is a little bit too much of a tearjerker, but all the rest was pretty good.
Rated 14 Jun 2008
ktappektappe
Rated 11 Dec 2007
80
53rd
This is propaganda to be sure, but it's well done propaganda. I can fully understand why someone closely involved in this struggle might find this film enraging or the greatest thing they've ever seen, but for those of us who are 3rd parties to the Irish situation it was informative and moving.
Rated 11 Dec 2007
runtrunt
Rated 31 Oct 2007
98
90th
A brilliant piece of cinematography, outstanding acting.
Rated 31 Oct 2007
mojopinmojopin
Rated 11 Sep 2007
25
33rd
For some reason I hated this. Too simplistic
Rated 11 Sep 2007
davidnottmdavidnottm
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
61st
Well acted, looks nice, good theme and story, but presented in a slightly patronising way.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
parcalihamparcaliham
Rated 17 Apr 2007
95
95th
2007 Yazi
Rated 17 Apr 2007
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 06 Mar 2007
80
95th
An excellent film,One that should be watched and listened to carefully.The truth will set you free.
Rated 06 Mar 2007

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