THE Fenian Trainspotting, anyone?
Kneecap is based on the origin story of the riotous and ground-breaking Irish-language rap trio of the same name.
The film stars Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí in their acting debuts alongside Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender in this debauched tale of sex, drugs, paramilitaries, and Irish hip-hop.
Set in West Belfast in 2019, it chronicles how fate brings the rap crew together and how they then go on to “change the sound of Irish music forever”.
Think Some Mother’s Son in a riotous clash with The Young Offenders, 8 Mile, Good Vibrations, and the aforementioned bleak and boisterous nineties Scottish classic, with an equally compelling soundtrack.
The film sees Kneecap become unlikely figureheads of a civil rights movement to save their mother tongue and deliver a profound global rallying cry for the defence of native cultures with their defiant sound and an archaic approach to life and music.
A rambunctious and witty affair, as expected, but it is equally virtuous and turns out to be a much better film than many other self-aggrandising and boastful biopics about traversing the road from rags to riches.
There’s plenty of comedy and drama along the way as these mischievous Taigs, who consider themselves “low life scum”, overcome police, paramilitaries, and politicians all trying to silence their rebellious sound. Often Kneecap are their own worst enemies but they are likeable lads, so we root for them despite their misbehaving ways as they battle against the odds.
The three rappers live it large and to paraphrase the Beastie Boys, it’s very much a case of ‘No Sleep Till West Belfast’. Despite the high jinks though, this semi-autobiographical film comes with a powerful message about identity and modern Ireland.
This is a once in a generation Irish film that serves as an important reminder, North and South of our little isle, that we all have our “troubles”, but by being strong for each other, our day will surely come.
(5/5)
