The Reel Review
Fate brings together a frustrated Irish language teacher with two self-proclaimed “low life ‘hood scum” who deal drugs and make rap music in 2019 Belfast. Together they form the hip-hop group Kneecap, re-introducing the nearly extinct Irish language to an entire generation of young people. The group’s real-life members – Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvai – star in this irreverent, subversive and highly fictionalized musical biopic.
First – Kneecap is not a film for everyone – if you are offended by almost non-stop foul language and illegal drug use – or get frustrated at subtitles and hard to follow dialogue – keep moving. But for everyone else, this raunchy mashup of Trainspotting and Patti Cake$ is a really funny and refreshingly original film. Those from the region will totally get the dark humor in the screenplay from director Rich Peppiatt (Supershoppers) and the three bandmembers, whose real names are Liam Óg, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Dochartaigh. They get across the political complexities around the Irish language and harshness of everyday life and economic oppression in Belfast while injecting their story with loads of humor.
Typically, casting real-life non-actors to play themselves on film is a disaster: Exhibit A: the 2018 Clint Eastwood-directed box office bomb The 15:17 to Paris. But the Kneecap bandmembers prove to be surprisingly good actors, even blending well with two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave, Steve Jobs), as Naoise’s IRA outlaw pa, Arlo. The charming story charts the group’s evolution from tiny, empty pubs to huge, sold out shows with hundreds of young people screaming lyrics to the infectiously catchy Irish rap songs. The editing is at times a bit jerky, but regardless, the immensely charming Kneecap is a good-natured good time with a great message about using music as a tool to educate the masses.
REEL FACTS
• Kneecap is Ireland’s submission for Best International Film for the 2025 Oscars.
• Kneecap is the first Irish language film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, winning the NEXT audience award. Above is the official music video of the song H.O.O.D.
• The Irish language was the island’s first language until the 19th century, when English gradually became dominant. Currently less than 200,000 people say they can speak Irish very well.
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