The Wind That Shakes the Barley



""It's easy to know what you are against, but quite another to know what you are for.""

- Damien O'Donovan

The Wind That Shakes the Barley is an historical Irish film set in early 20th century Cork starring Cillian Murphy, Liam Cunningham and Padraic Delaney, and directed by Ken Loach. The film opens in 1920. Ireland is struggling to find its way out of the British Empire and become an independent nation. All over the country Irish men and women are uniting to resist the ruthless "Black and Tan" squads who have been sent to quell any thought of full scale rebellion. Among those making a stand are Damien and Teddy O'Donovan, two brothers who, driven by love for their country, join the IRA in the hopes of driving the British presence out of their country.

The violent guerrilla tactics of the IRA eventually drive the British to breaking point and a truce is declared, but when negotiations for peace between Ireland and Britain produce less than a full and united Irish Republic, the country is plunged into civil war, causing families who had fought side by side to bring about a free Ireland, finding themselves turned against one another as enemies.

The film won the Palme d'Or in 2006, and despite a number of attacks due to its "controversial" content, was critically acclaimed. It was also praised for its historical accuracy, particularly in comparison with other films set around the same time period, such as Michael Collins.

The cover art you see is now featured on an Irish stamp.


 * Big Brother Complex: Teddy is hinted to be this way towards Damien.
 * Bilingual Bonus: Quite a few phrases as Gaeilge, including:
 * "Teddy O'Donavan is ainm dom." - "Teddy O'Donavan is my name."
 * Dirty Communists: Damien and Dan's Marxist views receive this reaction from some, particularly a vehemently anti-communist parish priest.
 * The film itself does not appear to endorse this sentiment, though.
 * Downer Ending
 * Fingore: The Black and Tans interrogate one of the Irish rebels by pulling out his fingernails one-by-one with a pair of wicked-looking pliers.
 * Grey and Gray Morality: After peace is declared those for and against both believe they have Ireland's best interest at heart.
 * He Who Fights Monsters: To a certain extent; Free State troops conducting the same aggressive searches for weapons the British carried out (less harshly, though.)
 * And the IRA themselves. In particular, the scene in which Damien  comes to mind.
 * I Am Spartacus: At one point in the movie, Teddy, Damien and some other men from the IRA are captured by the Black and Tans. When they go to get Teddy for questioning/torturing, they ask who Teddy O'Donovan is; cue Damien immediately standing up and telling them that he is Teddy O'Donovan..
 * The Irish Question
 * Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: See Fingore above.
 * Mook Face Turn:.
 * Realistic Diction Is Unrealistic: Ken Loach deliberately prevented his actors from rehearsing very much to achieve this, and it worked.
 * The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized
 * The Revolution Will Not Be Vilified
 * Shoot the Dog
 * Tear Jerker: So, so much.
 * Title Drop: At Michael's wake, the song being sung by Peggy is the Irish ballad "The Wind that Shakes the Barley", from which the title of the film is derived.
 * Traumatic Haircut: A particularly disturbing example happens to
 * Title Drop: At Michael's wake, the song being sung by Peggy is the Irish ballad "The Wind that Shakes the Barley", from which the title of the film is derived.
 * Traumatic Haircut: A particularly disturbing example happens to