Customer Rating:      Summary: great but sad Comment: I enjoyed this movie very much and felt that it pulled at the heart strings of Ireland's sad history. Events very much like this took place at the early part of the 1900's and was condoned by the British government. Well acted and portrayed
Customer Rating:      Summary: Brother Against Brother Comment: Set in the early 1920s, "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" tells the story of two Irish brothers at first united in the struggle for independence from England, but ultimately torn apart by the civil strife that followed. Damien (Cillian Murphy) is a bright medical student who, on his way to study in London, witnesses British atrocities and chooses instead to stay home and join the resistance group led by his brother Teddy (Padraic Delaney). Despite his initial reluctance to get involved in the fighting, Damien grows increasingly steadfast and unyielding in his Republican (and Marxist) convictions. Damien's unwavering allegiance to his ideals places him in a heartbreaking position--at one wrenching point in the film, making him the executioner of a lifelong friend.
The deepest tragedy comes after the IRA signs a truce with England, splitting former comrades into opposing camps. Some, like Teddy, hail the truce as a victory they do not want to jeopardize with continued violence. However, the agreement falls short of granting Ireland full independence, and in Damien's eyes, accepting it means "selling out" the martyrs who died for true autonomy. In the ensuing turmoil, brother turns against brother with heartrending results.
Powerful performances by Murphy, Delaney, and Orla Fitzgerald (Sinead, a participant in the resistance who falls in love with Damien) make "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" an affecting film. The movie shows the very personal consequences of the political rift in Ireland, while imparting the positions of both sides in a nuanced manner. A beautiful soundtrack and enchanting scenery create a haunting backdrop.
Customer Rating:      Summary: The Wind That Shakes the Barley Comment: A beautiful film. I love being able to find things on Amazon that are just plain hard to find anywhere else. The seller provided it as promised and well within the shipment window promised.
Customer Rating:      Summary: A powerful and amazing film Comment: This is a fine piece of drama. It's sad, moving, stirring, involving and thought provoking. It has some very harrowing presentations of the two wars involved, and it can stand against the best war films ever made.
A truly excellent film.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Powerful and deep Comment: A powerful film based in the brutal reality of early 20th century Ireland and the struggle for independence. The major problem? Without a good background in the struggle for Irish independence,the major players of the time, and the prevailing attitudes of the period, it may be difficult to grasp the fuill meaning of the film.
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