Review of The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) by Chads. — 20 Oct 2007
Damien(Cillian Murphy) is the one with brains, London-bound, a future doctor. He's educated. He's supposed to be the sanest of the bunch. Alas, Damien is the trigger-man when it's time to execute a young Irish farmhand to an English baron who sold his mates out to the enemy.
Instead of saving lives, he's ending them. Just in case we missed the irony, he tells us. Does the filmmaker show too heavy a hand in exemplifying the horrors of a civil war? That's debatable.
War isn't subtle, and yet, you have to wonder if Damien's transformation from a reluctant soldier to a cold-blooded murderer is entirely organic, or the grand gesture of a radicalized filmmaker.
Nevertheless, this particular scene, and Damien's ensuing comeuppance is riveting stuff. "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" works. At least the filmmaker shows some restraint. The niceties of English culture are largely kept off-screen.
There's no tea-time, no crumpets, no butlers in penguin suits. Also, the most heroic deed is performed by a young English soldier.
This review of The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) was written by Chads. on 20 Oct 2007.
The Wind That Shakes the Barley has generally received very positive reviews.
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