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The Irish War That Tore Families Apart
Athlone Advertiser
5 July 2006
By Sinead McGovern
Cillian Murphy and Padraic Delaney star in The Wind That Shakes the Barley
How different life could have been for the lead character in Ken Loach's award winning film, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, if he had resisted involvement in Ireland’s bloody and divisive war of Independence.
As we meet young Damien O'Donovan (Cillian Murphy) in the opening minutes of the film, he is in the process of saying his goodbyes to the locals in his Co Cork community, in preparation for his departure to England, where he had earned himself a position as a doctor in a top hospital.
He is chastised by his friends after a hurling match, for taking the position in England, and "licking the King’s arse".
In a dramatic scene the lads' conversation is violently interrupted by the arrival of the Black and Tans, who proceed to interrogate and beat them for holding an illegal meeting (a game of hurling) and refusing to speak in English.
The scene is set—a 1920s Ireland where the savage Black and Tans hold rule over the people of Ireland, maiming and murdering wherever they go.
As a friend of Damien's is killed—the third in the community to die at the hands of the British in a matter of weeks—he succumbs to the fight for independence, and joins his brother Teddy (an excellent Padraic [sic] Delaney) in the fight for independence.
The film, which won the prestigious Palm D'Or at Cannes this month, continues to follow the brothers' involvement in the struggle, and their leadership of local ranks.
Unlike other films about the war of Independence such as Michael Collins, The Wind That Shakes The Barley steers away from political references, focusing instead on the human side of the war—the divisions in family and the necessity to turn against life-long friends and neighbours according to their allegiance.
The picture painted of Ireland is a pathetic one. Under British rule, without democratic rights and in dire poverty, the people revolt.
Bloody warfare follows, and as dedicated to the cause as they all may be, we hear of the desire for a normal life without violence and war on more than one occasion.
The story is well known—a treaty is signed with England which divides the country and enforces an oath of allegiance to the king.
A split occurs in the rebel camp, those for the treaty, and those against. And as was the case country-wide at the time, the O'Donovan brothers were divided in their opinion.
A brotherly union that was subtly close is torn apart by a passion for what each of them believes is the right thing for the country.
This is one film that truly lives up to its own hype. Set in the beautifully wild Cork countryside, with exquisite attention to detail in costumes and set, it seems to transport the viewers back almost 100 years in time, to some of the most formative years of the Irish Republic. It is a sad history, and one that is not easy to watch for some.
It boasts a stellar cast including the already, and deservedly, successful Cillian Murphy (with his finest Cork accent), the impressive newcomer Padraic (sic) Delaney (who strikes an undeniably likeness to Liam Neeson in Michael Collins), and Orla Fitzgerald (as Damien's love interest Sinead).
The best film of the year so far, without a doubt.
