The Movie: Kneecap
The Cinema: The Nova, Carlton
Stars: 4.5
A film, mostly in Irish, about a Hip Hop band that came out of the streets of Belfast. Who knew?
This is brilliant. Thoroughly bonkers, but brilliant. It's got Oscar nomination for best International film all over it. Actually, this is the Republic of Ireland's entry for the 2025 Oscars.
Do you need to know anything about the situation in Northern Ireland before going into this film? It does help, but it's not entirely necessary.
I also reckon that speaking Gaelic would take this to another level, but my Irish runs to 'cheers' (sláinte) and 'up your bum' (póg mo thóin). Still, this is a fantastic film.
The other thing to say. This is a kind of biopic, a bastardised story of how the Hip Hop band Kneecap came about.
Here's a synopsis, pilfered from the pages of imdb.com.
As one of a small number of Irish speakers in Belfast, JJ O Dochartaigh is called into a police meeting as an interpreter, where he meets Liam Og O Hannaidh who is pretending that he only speaks Irish to annoy Detective Ellis (Josie Walker). JJ sees a book of hip-hop lyrics, written in Irish, by Liam and his friend Naoise O Cairaellain. A music teacher, and in a relationship with an advocate for the Irish language, JJ sees the potential for using music to increase awareness. When the trio start to perform, they quickly gain a following, but the content of their lyrics makes them enemies in both the police, and with a dissident Republican organisation that are against the promotion of drug use in the city.
This movie has a cast of unknowns, making this even better. The only big name here is Michael Fassbender, who plays Moglai's father, a paramilitary dissident on the run. He's a hoot. I love when you're watching actors who are obviously having the time of their lives.
DJ Provai plays himself, a teacher who sees potential in the boy's music. DJ Provai is a teacher in real life. This also adds another level to the film.
And the music is pretty good too. Even if you don't understand the Gaelic, there a subtitles to help you along.
A word of warning, there's quite a lot of party drug use and the odd bit of violence in this gem of a film. Thankfully this violence is quick, justified, and often very funny.
I'm very glad I got to see this. It's one of the standouts of the year. Hunt it out.
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