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The Wind That Shakes the Barley
- Debuted:
- 2006
- Directed by:
- Ken Loach
- Written by:
- Paul Laverty
- Cillian plays:
- Damien O'Donovan
- (a doctor turned Irish Republican)
- The CillianSite Rating:
- 9
- Cillian's Performance:
- 9.6
- Fan Must-See Rating:
- 9.6
Synopsis:
In this naturalistic Irish ensemble piece set in 1920, young doctor Damien O'Donovan (Cillian Murphy) has grand plans to finish his medical training in London, much to the disappointment of his family and friends, who are deeply committed to fighting independence from Britain. On the day of his departure, heretofore armchair socialist Damien witnesses shocking violence at the hands of British soldiers and decides to join the local volunteer army, ably led by his brother Teddy (Pádraic Delaney). Damien soon enters into a tender romance with fellow freedom fighter Sinead (Orla Fitzgerald), but the escalating bloodshed forces them to question whether they can ever have a normal life together. When a treaty is proposed, an even bloodier civil war erupts between those Irish Republicans who want to keep fighting for complete independence and those willing to exchange Northern Ireland for a ceasefire, setting the stage for a bitter conflict between idealistic Damien and pragmatic Teddy.
Cast also includes Liam Cunningham, Gerard Kearney, and William Ruane.
Of Note:
This winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival was shot in sequence, with the actors getting portions of the script as filming progressed, not knowing their characters' fates. Because it was shot in Cork, Ireland, Cillian was able to stay with his parents while filming.
