#11. The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)

DVD Synopsis: Driven by a deep sense of duty and a love for his country, Damien (Cillian Murphy) abandons his burgeoning career as a doctor and joins his brother, Teddy in a dangerous and violent fight for freedom. As the Irish freedom fighters bold tactics bring the British to a breaking point, both sides finally agree to a treaty to end the bloodshed. But, despite the apparent victory, civil war erupts and families who fought side by side, find themselves pitted against one another, putting their loyalties to the ultimate test.

Over the years, I’ve read a few books about the Irish Rebellion, and spent a good deal of time trying to imagine what it must have been like to have been a part of it. Well, I don’t have to imagine anymore.
 
The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a tremendous accomplishment, a work that successfully presents the vast tale that is Ireland’s quest for independence. In the capable hands of director Ken Loach, the film never over-extends itself, managing to condense the entire story, from the revolt against the rule of Great Britain to the Civil War that followed independence, into a taut, brisk tour-de-force of just over two hours, leaving its audience wanting for nothing in the end.
 
The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a masterpiece.