The final film I saw as part of EIFF 2025 was Ken Loach’s Irish war epic The Wind That Shakes The Barley. He spoke briefly beforehand about the controversy it sparked when it was released 20 years ago (2005). It was shown in only forty theatres in England, and the press attacked the picture “with gusto.” The filmmakers were accused of hating their country and Loach specifically compared to Nazi director, Leni Riefenstahl. Many thought the unflattering depiction of the British army was offensive. But whitewashing this period of history would also have been an offence to many.
I had never seen the film before, but the War of Independence and the Civil War are a part of historical interest to me, so I thought it would be a good note to end the festival on. It’s a great watch, for both general audiences as well as Irish history enthusiasts. The attention to detail is fantastic, making the film feel like a window into the past. From locations, to clothes, to vehicles, the entire work embodies early 20th century Ireland. The story follows two brothers, Damien (Cillian Murphy, 28 Days Later, Oppenheimer) and Teddy (Pádraic Delaney, Blackthorn, Knightfall), who join the IRA after the Black and Tans kill their friend. Once the War of Independence is over, the two brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the Civil War.
The film does not hold back in terms of its content. It features scenes of violence, torture and goes out of its way not to glorify these elements. Despite its content, the beauty of County Cork is well and truly captured, with plenty of scenes showing the natural splendour of the landscape. The acting is also superb, with Cillian Murphy showing the early promise that would turn him into a global movie star. For fans of this period of history, this feature is a delight. There are references to real-world events which we don’t see on screen, and the film does a good job of representing all the different factions at play during this time. A special mention should be given to Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones, Three Body Problem) whose character, Dan, serves to represent the influence of Trade Unions on the revolutionary movement.
The second half of the film, dedicated to the Irish Civil War, is excellent cinema, but could be considered divisive depending on one’s reading of history. Many may find its characterisations of the two factions to be simplistic and unfair at times. However, there is no understating just how groundbreaking The Wind That Shakes The Barley is in depicting Irish history on the big screen; an easy recommendation for fans of historical epics.
The 78th Edinburgh International Film Festival ran from 14-20 August 2025. The Wind That Shakes The Barley screened as part of the Special Events and Retrospectives strand.
Press image provided by EIFF 2025 for press use.