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CANNES 2006 Competition / UK

Loach stirs up consciences

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What is the boundary between resistance and terrorism? When is it legitimate to continue to use violence to free one’s own land from a military occupation? UK film veteran Ken Loach has clear ideas: "When you pursue your ideals of justice, independence and freedom, you’ll have to ask yourself many questions and ultimately make choices. The occupation of a country leads to violence".

It is difficult to see The Wind That Shakes the Barley [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ken Loach
interview: Rebecca O’Brien
film profile
]
, a linear and very militant film on the fight of the voluntary army against English troops in Ireland in 1920, without thinking of many other military occupations of our time. "It’s always a good moment to speak of a fight for independence. I don’t need to tell you where the English are right now, and the brutality of their occupation. Just think of the destruction of Fallujah, at the irreparable damage experienced by families and children".

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Unmitigated independence is what Damien (Cillian Murphy), the main character in Loach’s film, is searching for when violence explodes all around him. Profoundly changed by the events, Damien will go against his own brothers-in-arms when he decides not to accept the treaty that the Irish were "forced" to sign in December of 1921. This wound is still open today, with the numerous dead that each person remembers. The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a European co-production that reunited Sixteen Films (UK), EMC Asset (Germany), Element Films (Ireland), Bianca Film/BIM Distribuzione (Italy) and Tornasol (Spain). Pathe International (UK) is handling international sales.

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(Translated from Italian)

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