#51: KNEECAP

 

STARRING: Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, JJ Ó Dochartaigh, Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds, Adam Best, Simone Kirby and Michael Fassbender. Story by Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, JJ Ó Dochartaigh and Rich Peppiatt. Screenplay and directed by Rich Peppiatt. Running time 105 minutes.

The true story of three drug-loving young men who form a Gaelic speaking hip-hop band in Belfast incurring the wrath of not just the establishment but also a paramilitary gang. 

Saw this as part of one of Cineworld's 'Secret Screenings', where you have no idea what you're going to see, hence the title. I was hoping for Alien Romulus, as was audience, judging by how many turned up and the audible groan that rose when the title card came up. Luckily I'd read about it in the film mags and was pleasantly surprised and stayed. It's the first time I'd seen a full-length Gaelic spoken film and it occurred to me that listening to a new language while watching a film is quite challenging, the sound of it was so different from anything you've heard before that you find yourself trying to find the rhythm of it. 

The story follows two life-long Catholic friends growing up in Belfast in the 2010s, who spend their hedonistic days dealing and taking drugs and partying hard, they're both champions of the Gaelic language and defiantly refuse to speak English. When Liam is arrested at a party and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, a Gaelic speaker, is brought in help the interrogation. JJ who is also a music teacher at a local school ends up with Liam's note book which is filled with his poetry and lyrics. JJ has his own music studio and puts some of the lyrics to music and so is born the band Kneecap.

What follows is a highly enjoyable, raw and frantic movie, the sheer energy of the three lads when performing is intoxicating. There's a sub-plot that features the Arlo, Michael Fassbender, the father of Naoise, an ex Republican paramilitary bomber who faked his own death to avoid the British authorities and is still on the run, which in turn left his wife, Dolores (Simone Kirby) becoming agoraphobic, which gives the film a much needed emotional core. Added to that is a raunchy romance between Liam and Georgia, Jessica Reynolds, a young Protestant girl, whose Aunt, Josie Walker, just so happens to be a Detective searching for Arlo.

Added to that is another paramilitary outfit, RRAD (Radical Replublicans Against Drugs) who are eager to stop Kneecap, and ironically kneecap them in the process.

There's a lot to cram into the tight 105 minute running time, and the film expertly fits it all in without ever feeling like it's being rushed. I knew a little about the film, but had no idea that the three members of Kneecap were the stars of the film, and Liam in particular shines, during the end credits you get to see footage of the band in action and it enhances the whole experience.

Thoroughly entertaining, with a great sense of rawness and some totally banging choones. A very nice surprise. 

8/10