Today North America will get a chance to check out 71-year-old
Ken Loach's penultimate film, and
Palm d'Or winner
The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Like all of Loach's films it's a dark dose of social medicine set against a rural backdrop. Unlike Loach's other films, the Emerald hues of Ireland produce a film that's not only dark and violent, but beautiful.
It's odd that the DVD release of this film was held until now. The film did very well at the international box-office and was recorded as the highest grossing independent film from Ireland. It's also one of the highest-rated films in recent times receiving an 88% freshness rating on rottentomatoes.com.
The film follows two brothers played by
Cillian Murphy and
Padriac Delaney first brought together in resistance of the British occupation, then torn apart after a peace treaty is signed plummeting the country into civil war. The film is based on true events and screenwriter
Paul Laverty has stated that many of the characters are based on individuals involved with the conflict.
Although a few conservative critics attacked the film for being anti-British, the film really takes no side and offers no "answers."
The Wind that Shakes the Barley is about how war brings out the worst in all of us, a message more filmmakers are attempting to communicate (
Munich, Letters from Iwo Jima) and a message that the American viewing audience would do well to remember.
The DVD was produced through
IFC which (thankfully) has been releasing some of the most interesting titles this year. The transfer is striking and if your friend has one of those nice, big, tricked-out TVs that film journalists can only dream of affording, make sure you take it over there. The extras include a commentary track from Loach and a featurette examining his criterion. The retail price is $19.95 which isn't bad for what you're getting so if you have the cash this is one for the collection, if not, it's definite rent.
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# posted by Benjamin Crossley-Marra @ 9/04/2007 12:28:00 PM
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