Best Ken Loach for ages.

Rating: 8/10 (9 July 2006)

Steeped in controversy of its depictions of British brutality in Ireland 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley' is none the less a great film and certainly the best Ken Loach has done for a while. The backbone of the story is as old as words with two brother who start off on the same side and through various acts end up fighting each other, it is this that gives the film its raw emotion and coupled with the films violent set pieces and a love relationship you have an interesting mix. The movie opens in a very slow and calm way before suddenly becoming quite the opposite and through the mix of an amazing story and some great acting it is quite a ride and when I came out I almost felt like I'd been winded. Cillian Murphy is particularly good as the doctor on his way to London before being brought into the conflict and having to make some exceptionally tough decisions. The film which won this years Palme'Dor will probably divide audiences as it has critics but I do think that it is something you need to see and then make up your own mind.Itis certainly a thought-provoking look at this turbulent time in the 1920's and another lesson to be learnt from the history books.