[.ca] The Wind That Shakes the Barley

A Poignant Reminder of Where Violence Ends!:
As I watched this latest film on the Irish Civil War of the 1920s, I was once again reminded how easy it is for some to allow politics and the rule of the gun dominate their lives. The story, in this case, is a simple one of a family split over the critical issue of whether Ireland should accept the terms of the 1921 Truce. In typical cinematic fashion, this disagreement will result in the most tragic of circumstances of a brother being compelled to kill his younger sibling. While that kind of drama is always very riveting, the movie offered something else that spoke to my very being: the use of violence on behalf of a political cause has never achieved personal peace or social stability. As Christ admonished Peter in the Garden of Gethsamne, those who persist in taking up the sword will likely die by it. Then why is modern history - especially the Irelands of this world - full of people so intent on pursuing this self-destructive exercise? Is the lust for- and practice of - violence such an opiate for its operators that it dulls those sensibilities that are critical to the preservation of life? The awful and senseless conclusion to this production certainly makes that point in spadefuls.

Amazing!:
In 2006 I got to spend a couple weeks during the summer in Ireland. I kept hearing about this awesome movie that I "absolutely needed to see." So when I had a night to kill before my flight home I checked out the Wind That Shakes the Barley. So good. I enjoyed the acting (and the absence of any big Hollywood names). When I got back to Canada I told all my friends that they had to keep their eyes open for it to come to N. America. Needless to say, when it did come here I got it right away.

A golden Palm well earned!:
I don't think I've seen a movie that touch me more then The Wind that shakes the Barley this year. Ken Loach delivers nothing less than a masterpiece of cinema and history. It's a hard and poignant movie! Great acting, wonderfull picture make this movie (in my opinion) the best golden palm since Elephant without a doubt and maybe more!