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The Wind That Shakes the Barley

Cillian Murphy (Actor), Padraic Delaney (Actor), Ken Loach (Director) Rated:
Unrated
Format: DVD
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,556 ratings
IMDb7.5/10.0
$26.44
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The Wind That Shakes the Barley — —
Genre Drama
Format NTSC, Widescreen, Closed-captioned, Multiple Formats, Color
Contributor Padraic Delaney, Orla Fitzgerald, Myles Horgan, Mary Murphy, Damien Kearney, Liam Cunningham, Frank Bourke, Laurence Barry, Paul Laverty, Ken Loach, Mary O'Riordan, Aidan O'Hare, Cillian Murphy, Martin Lucey See more
Language English
Runtime 2 hours and 7 minutes

Product Description

Product Description

In this historical drama, two brothers find themselves on opposing sides in Ireland's struggle for freedom from Britain.

Amazon.com

Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, this gripping drama by Ken Loach (Raining Stones) is set during the early days of the Irish Republican Army, when British occupation of the Irish radicalized many a citizen and caused some to take up arms. Cillian Murphy plays Damien, a medical student on his way to London when he witnesses a couple of atrocities committed by British troops. Instead of becoming a doctor, he turns into a leading and respected figure in an IRA division led by his brother, Teddy (Padraic Delaney). The film provides some fascinating historical insight into the nascent resistance movement as it was in 1920, and Loach brilliantly conveys the profound emotional transition young men had to make to become saboteurs and killers. Loach's realistic style is absolutely mesmerizing, with many scenes built around the dynamics of large groups: contentious meetings, torture sessions, battles, celebrations, and the like. One has the sense of history as a pool of energy, and one also develops a kind of Renoiresque appreciation for the fact that different people on opposing sides of a life-or-death issue have their reasons for believing what they believe. As the story moves along, subtle shifts in the perspectives of men and women who had once agreed to be absolute in their fight for freedom results in a tragic yet understandable schism among Irish patriots. The final half-hour of The Wind That Shakes the Barley says a lot about how the Irish, including people who had known one another all their lives, turned their wrath on one another for so many decades. This is an outstanding film, featuring the best performance yet by Murphy (Red Eye). --Tom Keogh

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.78:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.59 x 5.32 x 7.56 inches; 4 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ IFC80252DVD
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Ken Loach
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Widescreen, Closed-captioned, Multiple Formats, Color
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 7 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ September 4, 2007
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham, Orla Fitzgerald, Mary O'Riordan
  • Language ‏ : ‎ Unqualified
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Weinstein Company
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000OCY7JO
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ Paul Laverty
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 2,556 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,556 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this Irish war film powerful and well-acted, following the true story of the Irish revolution and civil war. Moreover, the movie receives praise for its beautiful cinematography and realistic portrayal of historical events. However, customers disagree on the level of violence depicted in the film. Additionally, the writing style receives mixed reactions, with some finding it well-written while others struggle to understand the Irish accents.

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Movie qualityStory qualityIrish historyActing qualityBeautyHistorical accuracyViolence levelDifficulty to understand
104 customers mention "Movie quality"104 positive0 negative

Customers describe this film as a great and powerful war movie that is worth watching.

"...Overall a good movie about a formative period in Ireland's history." Read more

"...It is a gritty tale and captures you right from the start. great movie" Read more

"Excellent movie if you’re interested in this time period of Irish history...." Read more

"Great movie, great acting. This is drama at it's best, I highly recommend this." Read more

56 customers mention "Story quality"51 positive5 negative

Customers find the movie's story compelling and well-told, with one customer noting it is fairly true to history for a piece of fiction.

"...The acting is very good and it is a great story. Some scenes are a bit tough due to the brutality shown by both sides...." Read more

"...Very dramatic and riveting." Read more

"...The acting is good and the story line is well paced to keep the viewers attention." Read more

"...I love it. It runs the gauntlet of emotions and causes you to think." Read more

37 customers mention "Irish history"32 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the film's portrayal of Irish history, particularly its coverage of the Irish revolution and civil war.

"This is a great film for Irish history buffs. Beautifully filmed, it covers the Irish revolution and civil war...." Read more

"This was an excellent film, providing a view into Ireland's history and the painful ravages of war...." Read more

"...feat when trying to convey the complex, impactful story of the Irish War of Independence, and the multi-layered drama facing nations as well as two..." Read more

"...It was well done, by an all Irish cast, filmed on location, or close to it, and fairly true to history for a piece of fiction...." Read more

35 customers mention "Acting quality"35 positive0 negative

Customers praise the acting in the film, describing it as extraordinarily well performed with a brilliant cast, and one customer notes how viewers connect strongly with the protagonists.

"...It's a good script, imho, and well acted." Read more

"...Very well done with great acting." Read more

"...The acting is very good and it is a great story. Some scenes are a bit tough due to the brutality shown by both sides...." Read more

"Well produced movie depicting the Irish civil war of 1920. The acting is good and the story line is well paced to keep the viewers attention." Read more

31 customers mention "Beauty"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie visually appealing, with beautiful cinematography and realistic scenes, with one customer noting its authentic portrayal of life in Ireland.

"...I enjoyed mostly the beautiful scenery & the fact that the actors/actresses were largely unknown so celebs could not detract...." Read more

"This is an excellent depiction of the "boys from Cork who saved Ireland". That is a quote from my father-in-law who's name was O'Donovan...." Read more

"realistic and historical" Read more

"This film is beautifully done and gives you an insight into the time period as no other film has. Captivating!" Read more

31 customers mention "Historical accuracy"31 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the movie's historical accuracy, noting it provides insight into the time period, with one customer specifically praising the detailed portrayal of the Black & Tans.

"...Given its superior artistic, entertaining, and educational achievements, I can't recommend this film highly enough...." Read more

"...What "Michael Collins" attempts to explain, "...Barley" simply, movingly, showed with the interwoven story of two brothers gripped in the whirlwind..." Read more

"...The film has risen to become one of the most honest and clear-cut versions of war that could ever be reenacted...." Read more

"...It's a powerful film, and seems to follow the real historical facts quite well while showing the real human tragedy and suffering that took place...." Read more

21 customers mention "Violence level"12 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the movie's depiction of violence, with some appreciating its realistic portrayal of war, while others find it too graphic and painful to watch.

"...Painful, thought-provoking story-telling at its best, the topic can spark great discussions, particularly over pints in pubs, to this day...." Read more

"Couldn't finish watching it - too real, too graphic. Awful chapter in history..." Read more

"Fantastic movie! Gut wrenching, amazingly acted, gorgeous cinematography. I absolutely loved it!" Read more

"...I think this fact alone is why you would love it. War is horrific, but this movie tells it like it should be told-truthfully." Read more

17 customers mention "Difficulty to understand"8 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the movie's clarity, with some finding it well written and well done, while others report difficulty understanding the dialogue, particularly noting the accents as challenging to follow.

"Really good movie. Accents difficult to follow...needed closed caption." Read more

"Very well done, though Americans may need subtitles to catch the dialogue in certain scenes." Read more

"...The heavy Irish accents were, at times, a bit difficult for me to understand, but the gist of the movie still came through...." Read more

"...It's a good script, imho, and well acted." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Karen from Davis
    5.0 out of 5 stars An intense movie
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This was an excellent film, providing a view into Ireland's history and the painful ravages of war. I was pleased that my DVD player, designed to recognize all regions, was able to successfully play this Region 2 DVD. The heavy Irish accents were, at times, a bit difficult for me to understand, but the gist of the movie still came through. It was painful to watch but honored the struggles of the time. The scenery and depiction of the lifestyle of the times were beautiful and authentic.
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  • cineKate
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historically and creatively
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Even if you just watch this SIMPLY because you adore Cillian Murphy, or are interested/nostalgic when it comes to Ireland, this film is SO worth watching!! Over a few decades I studied, taught and worked in filmmaking. I also lived in Ireland for more than ten years. Given its superior artistic, entertaining, and educational achievements, I can't recommend this film highly enough. It's also enjoyable to watch multiple times, so well worth purchasing.
    The piece is historically accurate, from a perspective that's not of the same old/same old category. This is an especially challenging feat when trying to convey the complex, impactful story of the Irish War of Independence, and the multi-layered drama facing nations as well as two young brothers. Painful, thought-provoking story-telling at its best, the topic can spark great discussions, particularly over pints in pubs, to this day. Brexit must surely be helping to ramp them up.
    Its title from an old Irish ballad of the same name, 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley' is beautifully shot and edited, winning many awards including the Palme d'Or. The West Cork area of Ireland can look gorgeous in any media, but Ken Loach's eye here takes it to exceptional heights. You can see and feel the love and sadness.
    Neil Jordan's 'Michael Collins' (Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Julia Roberts) deals with the same subject and time period. Both films map out a critical piece of world history within the last century that's often misunderstood, if known about at all. It comes from a different angle, but it's a fantastic film and companion piece.
    I encourage cinephiles as well as history buffs to watch and learn from 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley.' If you've never been to Ireland, it's a wonderful first step to see and understand a small but essential bit of her... and did I mention that stunningly gorgeous and talented Cork lad Cillian Murphy????
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Katherine McCarthy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ireland, Ireland, When Will You Be Free?
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    My birthday is St. Patrick's Day. Family and friends' grandparents lived through all this. I was looking for a film that wasn't "The Quiet Man" to celebrate my lineage. I was thinking of "Michael Collins," a good, solid film covering the same time period as this film.

    While re-visiting the reviews of "Michael Collins" a reviewer suggested renting "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" instead. I didn't even know the film existed so I rented it online from Amazon.

    I was held completely in sway for all 2.07 hours of it. What "Michael Collins" attempts to explain, "...Barley" simply, movingly, showed with the interwoven story of two brothers gripped in the whirlwind of a country attempting to throw off the shackles of 700 years of occupation and oppression. Only to wind up in civil war. Like any drama involving a civil war, the analogy of two brothers who wind up on opposite sides of the conflict is cliche.

    But this story is so directly and straight forwardly told, the acting so natural and unadorned, that the complex politics and history of Irish history is emotionally gripping. There are no big name Hollywood stars here. There are few folks who look like the local gentry. It is unmistakably Ireland (county Cork.) But it achieves the nearly impossible - as the viewer, you understand what multiple episodes of "Biography" and umpteenth readings of Wikipedia can't tell you. You don't need "Ireland for Dummies" to understand the conflict. It's all on the screen.

    It grabs you by the throat, with a knock to heart, and by the end you'll have tears in your eyes. To think, nearly 90 years later, the fallout from that armistice and treaty that tore the country apart is still alive. The "troubles" never went away. Ireland is still not a nation once again.

    To quote the Marianne Faithfull song, "Ireland. Ireland. When will you be free?"
    9 people found this helpful
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  • R. Crane
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Birth of the "Troubles" in Ireland
    Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    "The Wind that Shakes the Barley"--the title is derived from an Irish folksong heard during a funeral at the beginning of the film--depicts the naissance of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) back in the early 1920s. It is a tale told on two levels: the political dimensions of what was happening in Ireland at that time under British rule; and the personal--the impact on individuals and their families.

    The personal aspect focuses on two brothers who organize a ragbag guerilla group to launch terrorist attacks on the British army in retaliation for their brutality to the Irish. Ultimately Britain and Ireland reach an accord which is not acceptable to many of the Irish as it does not grant them independence. The Irish who had been united against the British now found themselves turning against each other, some willing to accept the treaty--peace at almost any price--while others believed that the treaty was a sellout to the British. The consequences in human terms were tragic and devastating.

    The film is quite extraordinary and winner of the 2007 Palme d'Or. The movie is so realistic and absorbing that you forget that you are watching a movie.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • cleoline 59
    5.0 out of 5 stars sehenswert
    Reviewed in Germany on March 21, 2025
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    sehenswert
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  • Meg.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ce sacré Cillian Murphy !
    Reviewed in France on January 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    J'ai regardé ce film pour Cillian Murphy, principalement, et c'est réellement un très bon film qui m'a appris énormément de choses. Le jeu de Cillian est incroyable, c'est le premier film de sa filmographie que j'ai vu et je ne regrette pas. L'envie a été très rapide d'ailleurs, je l'ai reçu un jour en avance !
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  • José Antonio
    4.0 out of 5 stars Típica de Ken Loach
    Reviewed in Spain on March 10, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Cine con tintes políticos y sociales muy característico de este director, que en este caso refleja la lucha del pueblo irlandés por obtener su independencia de los ingleses y la posterior guerra civil. Actuaciones convincentes, especialmente la de un joven Cillian Murphy, y paisajes rurales muy bien seleccionados.
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  • JACK THE PEN
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great movie
    Reviewed in Canada on November 13, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Great movie. Arrived on time & perfect condition. All good
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  • Francesco
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un ottimo film!
    Reviewed in Italy on May 18, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Chi come me è appassionato di Storia non può esimersi dal guardare questo bellissimo film: un tocco d'autore nella narrazione della recente storia di Irlanda. Lascia sicuramente attaccati allo schermo fino alla fine, dosando nel modo giusto varie fasi narrative.
    Unica piccola pecca: piuttosto lungo; consiglio di guardarlo tutto di un fiato, evitando di spezzarlo in due e più tranche.

    Per quanto riguarda la spedizione nulla da dire: prodotto arrivato in tempo (addirittura un giorno in anticipo rispetto alle previsioni date dal sito) ed in ottime condizioni
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