Loach Irish Film Opens in Ireland and Britain
(Read about the American Release of The Wind That Shakes The Barley on March 14, 2007)
As The Wind that Shakes the Barley opens in cinemas throughout Britain and Ireland, there has been quite a bit of reaction - and not all of it predictable. Unlike the furore that erupted in Britain when Loach won with TWTSTB at Cannes, this time criticism in Britain is based on the actual movie by people who have actually wached it.
• In a remarkable piece, David McKittrick in the British Independent talks to 104 year old Dan Keating, a Kerryman who took part in the Tan War and the subsequent Civil War, and attended the Premiere of TWTSTB.
• In a thoughtful and insightful piece in the Guardian, Peter Bradshaw says ultimately that Loach deserves his Cannes award
• The Telegraph says Barley is probably Loach and Laverty’s finest collaboration to date, a historical drama that never preaches, and that trusts the viewer to make as many or as few parallels as they wish between the events on screen and contemporary military occupations
• In the Scottish Daily Record, says the film is a dramatic, thought-provoking, gripping tale that, at the very least, encourages audiences to question what has been passed down in dusty history books
• This tragedy of Ireland’s lost future will stir the blood on both sides of the argument, and if it generates more heat than light then let’s be grateful that Loach still wants to raise the argument at all, says the Belfast Telegraph - which also highlights how today’s Sinn Fein are capitalizing on the movie with a commemorative t-shirt.
• The Scotsman calls the film a human story lost in the wind in a piece that criticizes the movie for its lack of a compelling human drama.
• Cillian Murphy is praised to the hilt in the New Stateman, though in what comes across as a fair piece, Ryan Gilbey says the distinction between right and wrong is little more sophisticated than in a Star Wars movie, and is the only review I’ve read to lambast Loach’s treatment of women.
• The Irish Examiner gives it 5 out of 5, and says it deserves acceptance by mainstream cinema, but it doesn’t say much else.
• Meanwhile back in America, Emmet Meara in Bangor, Maine enjoys the attention Cork’s Ballyvourney receives.
See Also:
• Ken Loach: Movie Making Hero to Irish and British
• Post-Barley Cillian Murphy Interview
• Mairtin de Cogain’s Report From Cannes
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
Hello Eolai…
This is Kevin Kiley in Little Rock Arkansas…
I would just like to say “Thanks” for doing all that work and
assembling all these various reviews into one place. That
was no small task but I ( and I am sure many others )
appreciate it. I still wonder what is going to happen with
regards to a North American release. It will be interesting to
see what happens. Something tells me TWTSTB is going to
become one of those films that ends up winning “Best Foreign
Film” at the ( American ) Acadamy Awards without ever playing
any theatres in America.
Thanks Kevin, an I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re right regarding the American release - perhaps this first week in Ireland and Britain might make a difference.
The film certainly has received tons of press, and will doubtless be very well attended in Ireland, but if it doesn’t do great on general release in Britain I imagine it won’t get much of a release in the U.S.
So is there anyway some living in the U.S. can see this movie?
Yes Susan, it’s getting a same day release as going to cable in the US - I’ll go get the details and do a post on it - I meant to a while ago.