Review #183 - The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006)

THE SCOOP
Director: Ken Loach
Plot: A sympathetic look at Republicans in early 20th century Ireland, and two brothers who are torn apart by anti-Brit rebellion.

Genre: Drama/War
Awards: Won Golden Palm (Cannes Film Festival)
Runtime: 127min
Rating: NC-16 for violence, and coarse language.

TRAILER:

IN RETROSPECT
The Wind That Shakes The Barley doesn't break conventions, and is the primary reason the film fails to succeed. Throughout the two hours of runtime, it stays on the safe route, never deviating, never tries to be extraordinary. Most veteran film-goers will find this a different type of the same. Apart from a few who may rate it highly, The Wind That Shakes The Barley is not a cause for celebration. It moves at snail-pace, monotonous, and rarely excites or titillates. The screenplay is dull, working better as a sleeping pill than a narrative medium. It discusses themes like loyalty, war, and discrimination in a way that isn't appealing.

The cast is mostly unknown, which means there won't be any star distraction. But what's distracting is the sub-par acting. For an independent film, The Wind That Shakes The Barley bucks the trend of having strong and well casted roles. If there's a positive light to the film, it will be the cinematography. Shots of vast grasslands, and beautiful greenery literally give the film a brighter outlook. Occasionally, the photography helps to relieve the poor viewing experience, but it is just unable to shoulder the immense liability as a result of average film construction.

The Wind That Shakes The Barley is a weak war drama, a pale comparison to similar films like Terrence Mallick's The Thin Red Line. The battle sequences are limited, however the opportunity to present dramatic value is wasted due to an imperfect screenplay, which I believe is the root of the problem here. A disappointing offering that consistently fails to emote our feelings, and merely tries to camouflage itself under an 'award-winning' package.

SCORE: 5/10

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