The Wind That Shakes the Barley

The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Name	The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Director	Ken Loach
Producer	Rebecca O'Brien
Writer	Paul Laverty
Starring	Cillian Murphy, Pádraic Delaney, Orla Fitzgerald
Music	George Fenton
Cinematography	Barry Ackroyd
Editing	Jonathan Morris
Studio	Sixteen Films, Film4 Productions, Why Not Productions
Distributor	Pathe Distribution
Released	2006
Runtime	127 minutes
Country	Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Italy
Language	English, Irish

The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a 2006 historical drama film directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty, set during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. The film stars Cillian Murphy and Pádraic Delaney and was produced by Rebecca O'Brien with cinematography by Barry Ackroyd and music by George Fenton. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it won the Palme d'Or, and it has since been the subject of extensive debate among scholars, critics, and political figures across Ireland, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe.

Plot

The narrative follows brothers Danie and Terry O'Donovan—portrayed by Cillian Murphy and Pádraic Delaney—whose lives in County Cork intersect with the activities of the Irish Republican Army (1919–1922), local Black and Tans, and British forces including the Royal Irish Constabulary. After a violent eviction and a killing during an eviction by Auxiliary Division-associated elements, Danie joins the guerrilla campaign led by commanders reminiscent of figures associated with the Munster Republic and actions paralleling operations in the Kilmichael Ambush and the Crossbarry Ambush. The story traces the escalation from guerrilla warfare, ambushes, reprisals, and internments to the controversial Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations and the split that precipitates the Irish Civil War, culminating in moral dilemmas and fratricidal conflict that mirror disputes between pro-Treaty forces under leaders linked to Michael Collins and anti-Treaty republicans aligned with contemporaries of Éamon de Valera.

Historical background and themes

Loach and Laverty situate the film amid the aftermath of the Easter Rising and the struggle that produced the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921), engaging with themes resonant in the histories of Sinn Féin, the Dáil Éireann, and the republican movement. The depiction evokes events involving the Black and Tans, the Auxiliaries, British commanders connected to Winston Churchill's wartime administration and civil policing policies, and local militia actions reminiscent of engagements across Munster, County Cork, and counties affected by the Irish War of Independence. Thematically, the film interrogates loyalty, guerrilla strategy influenced by doctrines traced to figures like Michael Collins and British counterinsurgency precedents, and the ideological rupture that produced the Irish Civil War (1922–1923), affecting later republican developments in Provisional IRA histories and debates in Dáil Éireann and international forums such as League of Nations-era discussions on self-determination.

Production

Production companies included Sixteen Films, Film4 Productions, and Why Not Productions with international co-production partners from France and Italy; distribution involved Pathé. Principal photography employed cinematographer Barry Ackroyd, known for collaborations with Ken Loach and later connections to crews on The Hurt Locker and projects by Paul Greengrass. Filming locations concentrated in County Cork with period sets referencing architecture and rural landscapes present in archives at institutions like the National Library of Ireland and artifacts curated by the Irish Film Institute. Costume and props teams sourced uniforms and weapons reflecting period pieces held in collections associated with the National Museum of Ireland and reenactment groups linked to republican commemorative societies. The production navigated funding frameworks involving BBC Films, IFB (Irish Film Board), and European co-production treaties, while post-production and score work engaged George Fenton and editors who had credits on projects screened at Cannes Film Festival and released by distributors active at the Berlin International Film Festival and Venice Film Festival circuits.

Cast and characters

Principal cast includes Cillian Murphy as Dan O'Donovan, Pádraic Delaney as Teddy O'Donovan, and Orla Fitzgerald in the role of a local woman entwined with the protagonists; supporting performers feature actors linked to Irish cinema and theatre with credits in productions by companies like Royal Shakespeare Company, Druid Theatre Company, and films distributed by Curzon Artificial Eye. Several cast members had prior associations with television productions on RTÉ and BBC dramas and stage roles at venues such as the Abbey Theatre and Gate Theatre. Crew collaborations drew on professionals with histories at institutions including the British Film Institute and unions like Equity.

Reception and critical analysis

The film received polarized responses: it won the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival with backing from juries that included figures associated with European cinema, while critics ranged from praise in outlets like The Guardian, The Irish Times, and Sight & Sound to criticism in The Daily Telegraph and responses from British political commentators in publications such as The Times. Historians from universities including Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Queen's University Belfast, and Oxford University debated historical accuracy, referencing archives at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and collections at the National Archives (UK). Political figures and descendants of historical actors in the Irish War of Independence issued statements in national broadcasts on RTÉ and the BBC, generating discussions in scholarly journals like Irish Historical Studies and international reviews in The New York Times and Le Monde.

Awards and nominations

Notable accolades include the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and nominations and wins at ceremonies such as the European Film Awards, BAFTA Awards, and national awards from the Irish Film & Television Academy. The film featured in year-end lists by institutions including the British Film Institute and received festival screenings at Toronto International Film Festival and retrospectives in festivals such as Belfast Film Festival.

Category:2006 films Category:Films directed by Ken Loach Category:Irish War of Independence in film