Kneecap

Kneecap is a 2024 comedy-drama film describing the rise of Belfast-based hip-hop trio, Kneecap. The film stars the band members as themselves, as well as Michael Fassbender. The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024, the first film in the Irish language to do so, where it won the NEXT Audience Award. The film had its Irish premiere at the 36th edition of the Galway Film Fleadh where it won Best Irish Film, the Audience Award and the Irish Language Feature Film Award. It was released on August 2, 2024 in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics, and in Ireland on August 8 and in the United Kingdom on August 23, by Wildcard Distribution and Curzon Film respectively. It was selected as the Irish entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
== Plot ==
Liam Ó Hannaidh and Naoise Ó Cairealláin are part of the "ceasefire generation" living in the Gaeltacht Quarter of West Belfast. As children, they learn to speak Irish from Naoise's father, Arlo. Arlo is a former republican paramilitary and fakes his death to evade British authorities. As a result, Naoise's mother Dolores becomes a recluse. Arlo lives in hiding and is disappointed in Naoise's hedonistic lifestyle and lack of initiative.
Liam is arrested at a drug-laden party but refuses to speak English to the police, insisting he can only speak Irish. JJ Ó Dochartaigh, a music teacher at an Irish-language school, arrives to serve as a translator during Liam's interrogation. JJ helps Liam avoid charges and hides a notebook of Liam's by taking it home himself.
JJ realizes that the notebook contains song lyrics in Irish and is impressed when he sets them to music. He approaches Liam and Naoise with the idea of starting an Irish-language hip-hop group. JJ convinces them that the music would be a way to bring the Irish language to a modern audience. Meanwhile, Liam begins a relationship with a Protestant girl named Georgia. Liam names the group "Kneecap", after the infamous punitive torture technique common in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
The trio create a track together during an all-night, drug-fueled recording session. They start to perform live, and their music begins to draw crowds. JJ fears the damage to his teaching career that might result from a public connection with Kneecap's vulgar and blatantly political music. He decides to perform as the anonymous "DJ Próvaí", wearing a balaclava to hide his face during gigs. JJ also conceals his involvement in the band from his girlfriend Caitlin, who is heavily involved in the campaign for an Irish Language Act that would officially recognise the Irish language in Northern Ireland.
As Kneecap grow in popularity, they face controversy for promoting "anti-social behaviour" and outspoken republicanism in their lyrics. Police detective Ellis warns JJ and Dolores that Kneecap's music is attracting dangerous attention. A dissident republican organisation calling themselves "Radical Republicans Against Drugs" (RRAD) threaten and attack Liam and Naoise. The garage containing Kneecap's recording studio and their recorded music is bombed, and the group believe RRAD is responsible.
With a tight deadline to produce a new track for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, the group break into the school where JJ works and record a song overnight. The song is initially banned from the radio due to its lyrical content, but after Dolores organises a protest campaign, the song is allowed to play and becomes a hit. However, with his identity as DJ Próvaí now public, JJ is fired from his teaching job, and Caitlin breaks up with him. After some hesitation, JJ decides to remain a part of Kneecap.
At a major gig, Kneecap publicly humiliate RRAD by playing an audio recording of its members demanding that Liam and Naoise turn their drug money over to RRAD. An RRAD member in the crowd fires a gun, and in the ensuing chaos, Liam is arrested and Naoise is captured by RRAD. Detective Ellis, revealed to be Georgia's aunt, beats Liam and states that she arranged for the recording studio to be blown up. Meanwhile, RRAD prepare to kneecap Naoise when Arlo arrives to kneecap Naoise himself. Arlo instead shoots the three RRAD members and tells Naoise that he is proud of him and his music. Arlo allows himself to be arrested, while Liam is released from police custody.
Kneecap's music becomes ever more popular, Caitlin continues her political campaign for the Irish Language Act, Dolores is shown singing in a pub (having overcome her fear of leaving the house), and Georgia and other students of all ages and backgrounds participate in an Irish language class.
== Cast ==
== Release ==
The film premiered in the Next section at the Sundance Film Festival, the first Irish-language film to do so, on January 18, 2024. Prior to, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights for North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Turkey and Middle East to the film. Sony Pictures Classics later scheduled the film for a theatrical release in the United States on August 2, 2024. The film is also scheduled to be the opening film at Sundance's London edition on June 6, 2024 and is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland in August 2024.
== Reception ==
===Critical response===
 
Carlos Aguilar of Variety gave the film a positive review, writing, "Bursting with unruly energy that practically escapes the confines of the screen, Kneecap is a riotous, drug-laced triumph in the name of freedom that bridges political substance and crowd-pleasing entertainment."
===Accolades===
Award 	Date of ceremony	Category 	Recipient(s)	Result	
Sundance Film Festival	26 January 2024 	NEXT Audience Award 	Kneecap 	 	
Galway Film Fleadh 	14 July 2024 	Best Irish Language Feature Film 	Kneecap 	 	
Galway Film Fleadh 	14 July 2024 	Best Irish Film with Danu Media (presented by Louise Richardson)	Kneecap 	 	
Galway Film Fleadh 	14 July 2024 	Best Audience Award 	Kneecap 	 	
== External links ==
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== References ==
Category:2024 films
Category:2024 comedy-drama films
Category:2024 independent films
Category:British Film Institute films
Category:Biographical films about musicians
Category:Films from Northern Ireland
Category:Irish-language films
Category:2020s musical comedy-drama films
Category:Irish independent films
Category:Irish biographical films
Category:Films set in Belfast
Category:Films shot in Belfast
Category:Irish musical comedy-drama films
Category:Sundance Film Festival award-winning films
Category:Sony Pictures Classics films