by Foster Harlfinger, Contributing Writer
“Every word of Irish spoken is a bullet for Irish freedom.” These words are spoken multiple times throughout Kneecap, a film with far more to say than its high-octane, Red-Bull-in-movie-form energy would suggest.
Kneecap is a Northern Irish rap and hip hop trio consisting of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvai, all of whom play themselves in the film. First coming onto the scene in 2017, they have since amassed a sizable audience as a result of their persistence in using the Irish language in their songs. For those outside Ireland and the United Kingdom, this may seem to be nothing more than a novelty, but the significance of the band’s usage of their home language can not be overstated.
After moving to Belfast himself, director Rich Peppiatt quickly found himself drawn to the group. A few months and “a lot of drinks” later, Peppiatt and the trio came up with the screenplay for the film. Despite certain elements being heightened for dramatic or comedic effect, Peppiatt assures us, “Most of the wild stuff in the film is true.”
Kneecap earns a measure of credibility from its inclusion of Michael Fassbender in a supporting role as Arló, the fictional, Irish-speaking father of Móglaí Bap. As a leader in the cause for Irish independence, Arló acts as a symbol for the rebellious spirit of the film, though even with Fassbender’s A-list presence, the central trio undeniably steal the show. Without context, one would assume that the three leads first entered the project as professional actors, and yet the film remains the star-making acting debut for all three. DJ Próvai, in particular, whose character is not revealed to be a member of the band until midway through the film, delivers a terrific comic performance as the unassuming music teacher who soon finds himself donning an Irish flag balaclava on stage.
For all the band’s hilarity and drug-fueled shenanigans, the trio find themselves — both in the film and in real life — as unlikely figures at the center of an increasingly politically charged landscape. It was not until 2022, with the advent of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act, that the Irish language was given official recognition by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and the act was not without its opposition. Given the language’s association with Irish Republicanism, debates surrounding the value of keeping the language alive quickly and inevitably evolve into larger conversations regarding the historical conflict between Northern Ireland and the U.K.
Kneecap has no ambitions of being a “serious” biopic. Quite the opposite, in fact, as the film has as much zest and vibrancy as any movie you’ll find this year. Peppiatt’s direction remains consistently creative, opting for increasingly unique and energetic modes of integrating the band’s soundtrack into the film, whether it be hallucinatory drug trip sequences, subtitle integration, or even stop-motion animation. More than a band, Kneecap is a movement, and it is difficult to imagine a more fitting tribute to their cause than a film as playful, passionate, and irreverent as their music.
Rating: High Side of Liked It
Kneecap is currently playing in theaters
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