A good movie that feels very thruthfull and makes you wondering about the dilemmas faced by every rebellion. The strength of the story lies in its focus on a group of people united by their fight for independence of Ireland, but thorn apart when this goal is almost achieved and they have to decide what they're really fighting for.

Noble, but rather dull.

historical dramatization of the events leading up to Irish independence from Britain, and the beginning of the subsequent Irish Civil War.

Good. A revealing look at the origins of the I.R.A. and how a rift amongst its founders rendered it into various factions. Though the cinematography is beautiful as well as good performances, I found it a bit dry. Still quite a treat for history buffs and those interested in the Irish regional issues or who just like period pieces. Recommended.

You need a lot of background information to fully appreciate this film. It's a strong movie in many ways, but overall it's not much more than politics - shooting - politics - shooting - extremely bad ending.

Ken Loach's film about the trials of normal Irishmen during the Irish War of Independence is deeply moving as the characters (especially brothers Damien and Teddy) get more and more involved in the conflict and eventually move in different directions politically. The Irish countryside is absolutely beautiful and it is a great film, even if it doesn't look fairly at both sides of the conflict.

It's very obvious that the two brothers represent the today divided Ireland and all the notions according to that, especially at the end are too unsubtle and pressed for emotions. However, I think this movie is a good start into the topic of the Irish oppression and the beginning of a divided island. At times its scenes are very harsh and brutal but I guess this is what those films need because otherwise the audience cannot in any way imagine how it was. Good acting, great dialects.

Pretty good, but it has a lot of problems. The screenplay is relentlessly jingoistic and romanticised, and the scope of the direction is weirdly limited, with repeated scenes in the same setting (the same house gets raided like seven times) and a lack of extras, making the whole thing seem insular and unaffecting. But that's politics I guess.

"The Wind That Shakes the Barley" is clean, lean, authentic filmmaking. Loach skillfully helms this well-crafted, often staggering film, whose realistic depiction of the Irish revolution can be piercingly poignant. It's not without its flaws, but Murphy's finely restrained performance, Loach's naturalistic approach as well as the sheer power of the material, more than compensate.

"As a document of the shape of political thought, the film is successful; but as a living, beating heart about a populace living through a time of upheaval and confusion, it's mediocre." - Jeremiah Kipp

It lays it on a little thick at times but the story and performances are all rock solid. This powerful and occasionally painful epic portrays the history of brutal oppression and inside fighting better than any other attempt I've seen.

It is a moving piece about some battles that are destined to be lost, unfortunalely.