The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2007)
85%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 24 nominations
Bleak and uncompromising, but director Ken Loach brightens his film with gorgeous cinematography and tight pacing, and features a fine performance from Cillian Murphy
The Wind That Shakes the Barley” is a gripping and heart-breaking film that tells the story of Ireland’s struggle for independence. Critics have praised the film’s multi-layered story, excellent cast, and powerful cinematography. Cillian Murphy shines in his role as a man torn between his loyalty to his country and his love for his brother. The film’s stark outrage exposes the senseless violence of war and raises hard questions about Ireland’s history. Overall, “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” is a must-see for anyone interested in Irish history or powerful storytelling. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Cillian Murphy performance?
Production Company(ies)
The Weinstein Company, UK Film Council Momentum Pictures,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Kilmainham Jail, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English, Irish, Gaelic, Latin
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Country of origin:United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Sep 4, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Drama, 2h 6m, Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham, Orla Fitzgerald, Mary Riordan, Mary Murphy, Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien, Paul Laverty, $1.8M, 90%, 117 Reviews, 87%, 25,000+ Ratings, reviewed by Cliff Doerksen, Steven Rea, Marta Barber, Jim Emerson, Josh Rosenblatt, Kyle Smith, directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty, produced by Rebecca O’Brien, MPAA rating, Irish Republican Army, British Black and Tans, 1920s Ireland, political events, brothers, cinematography, pacing, tragedy, historical piece, grim realist portrait, muted tones, solemnity, tragedy, hard questions, violence, outrage, political
Worldwide gross: $22,903,165
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $32,810,339
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,515
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,578,009
US/Canada gross: $1,836,089
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,630,322
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,971
US/Canada opening weekend: $135,554
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $194,190
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,675
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Padraic Delaney – Teddy O’Donovan
Liam Cunningham – Dan
Orla Fitzgerald – Sinead
Mary Riordan – Peggy
Mary Murphy – Bernadette
Director(s)
Ken Loach
Writer(s)
Paul Laverty
Producer(s)
Rebecca O’Brien
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 24 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (117) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (105) | Rotten (12)
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Cliff Doerksen
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Gripping, powerful, heart-breaking.
August 4, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
The Wind that Shakes the Barley is a multi-layered story, and the more you see those different aspects, the more you’ll enjoy the film.
May 11, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
While this may be a historical piece, it’s history told in the vivid present tense.
May 11, 2007 | Rating: 4/4
Jim Emerson
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
Loach and his cinematographer, Barry Ackroyd, paint a grim realist portrait in muted tones that captures the solemnity of an Ireland turning on itself and the tragedy of two brothers spiraling away from each other.
April 27, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Josh Rosenblatt
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Raises hard questions about Ireland’s uncanny ability to kneecap itself.
April 27, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Kyle Smith
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
Murphy’s agonized body language conveys the horrible, irreparable damage of war.
May 26, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
The director has an excellent cast, having Cillian Murphy shining with his own light. [Full Review in Spanish]
February 15, 2020
Alberto Abuín
Espinof
I think The Wind That Shakes the Barley is great. [Full Review in Spanish]
February 15, 2020
Beatriz Maldivia
Espinof
The often peaceful but ever present nature reminds of not only what these men are fighting for, but serve as a sharp contrast to the senseless violence.
July 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
The film’s stark outrage exposes the pussyfooting that these days passes for ‘political’
August 27, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
Pickings must have been pretty slim at Cannes last year because Barley isn’t much of a standout piece.
August 28, 2008 | Rating: 5/10
Heather Huntington
ReelzChannel.com…
Plot
In 1920, rural Ireland is the vicious battlefield of republican rebels against the British security forces and Irish Unionist population who oppose them, a recipe for mutual cruelty. Medical graduate Damien O’Donovan always gave priority to his socialist ideals and simply helping people in need. Just when he’s leaving Ireland to work in a highly-reputed London hospital, witnessing gross abuse of commoners changes his mind. He returns and joins the local IRA brigade, commanded by his brother Teddy, and adopts the merciless logic of civil war, while Teddy mellows by experiencing endless suffering first-hand. When IRA leaders negotiate an autonomous Free State under the British crown, Teddy defends the pragmatic best possible deal at this stage. Damien however joins the large seceding faction which holds nothing less than a socialist republic will do. The result is another civil war, bloodily opposing former Irish comrades in arms, even the brothers.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Cillian Murphy delivers a fine performance in The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
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