The Wind That Shakes the Barley

The early 20th century sees the citizen's of Ireland in an upheaval against the ruling British empire. This struggle is shown through Damian (Cillian Murphy), who gives up a budding career in medicine to join in his brother, Teddy (Padraic Delaney) in the fight against the Irish oppressors. The events careen towards a peace treaty that only implodes the country into a bloody civil war and the IRA we know of today is born. The film tries to put a human spin to its birth though it is rather unclear if the director was a tad too sympathetic or realistic.

Rating: * * +