The Wind That Shakes the Barley

Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winning tale of two brothers joining the fight for Irish independence in the 1920s, starring Cillian Murphy and Pádraic Delaney

In 1920s Ireland, young doctor Damien prepares to leave for a new job in London. As he says his goodbyes at a friend's farm, British Black and Tans arrive, and a young man is killed. Shaken by the violence, Damien joins his brother Teddy and the local IRA brigade in their fight for independence. But the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, threatens the group’s unity - and tears the brothers apart.

Ken Loach’s film not only won the Palme D’or at Cannes but also sparked significant controversy on release, with some critics - including those who hadn’t seen it – condemning its portrayal of the British. Despite its grim subject matter and a harrowing torture sequence, the film proved an unexpected box-office hit and remains one of Loach’s biggest commercial successes. Its impact owes much to commanding performances from Cillian Murphy and Pádraic Delaney as the two brothers, and to Loach’s unflinching focus on the breathtaking natural beauty of the country for which his characters are fighting.