A country without a language is only half a nation

Starting my trip up Empire's top 20 films of 2024

#20 :  Kneecap

This somewhat-fiction, somewhat-factual musical biopic delivered a slice of pure punk chaos onto the big screen this summer. The members of the real-life titular band star as themselves in this dramatised version of their rise to fame in Belfast, as they fight to preserve their native Irish language in between raves, shags, and dealings with the police. The film’s energy is palpable, hedonism seeping off the screen – but there’s an emotional undertone too, propelled by Michael Fassbender’s terse performance as Naoise’s (aka. Móglaí Bap) absent activist father Arló.

I recently listened to Kneecap's 2024 album - it had impressive elements, but I found the mix of languages confusing. And my suspicion is that I'm going to be in exactly the same place here.

Well, I am, but I'm not, thanks to the magic of subtitles - and they're often particularly fine looking subtitles too. So I managed to follow things pretty well - and I'd have to say I was pretty impressed with what I followed. It's an interesting film which is based in reality (Kneecap are a real Irish language hip-hop group) but you have absolutely no idea how true any of the rest of it is - and you really don't care. As Empire puts it, what we have here is "a slice of pure punk chaos" and it's just a blast as we follow the band from inception to, well, wherever they currently are. It helps if you have some knowledge of the Northern Irish "situation" but it's certainly not crucial - it's fair to say pretty much everyone is against them making their music and you end up rooting for them (although they do make it tricky at times).

The acting situation is also somewhat unusual because the band members (Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí - or to give them their real names, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh) appear as themselves and have absolutely no acting experience yet get to appear alongside slightly better known actors like Michael Fassbender and Josie Walker. But actually their lack of experience works well within the confines of the film. DJ Próvaí in particular has an interesting, surprisingly believable and amusingly honest (if it's true!) journey from music teacher to balaclava wearing DJ - it also helps that he looks exactly like a music teacher!

The film is very much written in the style of the band in that you feel like it's been made up as it goes along and affected by a lot of external influences - but actually, I imagine a load of work has gone in to making it feel so impromptu. It's pretty funny in places, but also surprisingly tense in others, covering a range of situations from "will JJ be found out by the school or his girlfriend?" to "will Naoise get shot in the head?". I should probably also point out that there is some sexual content and an awful lot of drug references (including some quite amusing animated effects) if such things concern you. Wikipedia also amusingly tells me that "Sick In The Head" has been shortlisted for the Best Original Song Academy Award - I'm so hoping it gets nominated so they get to go to the ceremony.

I really enjoyed this - it feels like it probably shouldn't work, but it does on so many levels, it uses the music well and it barrels along and doesn't outstay its welcome. If you fancy something which is patently ridiculous, surprisingly believable and thoroughly entertaining then it's currently on Amazon Prime.

#19 - A most entertaining film