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The Wind That Shakes the Barley

The Wind That Shakes the Barley

Drama · War · 2006

In 1920s Ireland young doctor Damien O'Donovan prepares to depart for a new job in a London hospital. As he says his goodbyes at a friend's farm, British Black and Tans arrive, and a young man is killed. Damien joins his brother Teddy in the Irish Republican Army, but political events are soon set in motion that tear the brothers apart.

Movie details

The Wind That Shakes the Barley

“War has cost them their innocence... Freedom will cost them their blood.”

2006 Drama · War 2h 7m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

In 1920s Ireland young doctor Damien O'Donovan prepares to depart for a new job in a London hospital. As he says his goodbyes at a friend's farm, British Black and Tans arrive, and a young man is killed. Damien joins his brother Teddy in the Irish Republican Army, but political events are soon set in motion that tear the brothers apart.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Wind That Shakes the Barley?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ken Loach

Written by

Paul Laverty

Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy

Damien

Pádraic Delaney

Pádraic Delaney

Teddy

Liam Cunningham

Liam Cunningham

Dan

Orla Fitzgerald

Orla Fitzgerald

Sinead

M

Mary O'Riordan

Peggy

M

Mary Murphy

Bernadette

L

Laurence Barry

Micheail

Court is in session

Put The Wind That Shakes the Barley on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.