It’s counterintuitive to call a film full of sex, drugs, and profanity “delightful,” but here we are. It is.
In Belfast, about 5 or 6 years ago, a school teacher who is among a small group of Northen Irish who speak Irish language got sacked.
At the same time, two brothers whose father (legend Michael Fassbender) left home to run from the authorities for his “connections,” find themselves as losers, drug users, and perhaps reluctant dealers. They, too, refuse to speak English or even acknowledge that they even know it. They are chronic troublemakers.
Now the three come together to form a Hip Hop trio (like vintage Beastie Boys) that no one reading this has likely seen: they rap in their Native Irish language. And you know what? It sounds pretty badass!
But it’s not just about turning the Bronx into Belfast, these rappers and DJ see their mission as a matter of civil rights, and they the leaders of a kind of movement, especially among young people. The language, we learn, has already greatly diminished in the number of speakers- they mean to keep the language alive.
Now here’s the part that knocked me over when I found out.
It turns out that the actors in the film are…the actual dudes the movie is about! They are playing themselves and doing an incredible job of acting, even opposite a skilled character actor like Fassbender, with whom they share a few scenes. I honestly had no idea until after I’d seen the film and read the press notes.
But this movie is far from being just a biography – it plays like great storytelling with multiple plots and memorable characters brought to life by veteran supporting actors. And while there are laughs, to be sure, there are also moments of our lead characters in peril. There will be bloody fights and at least one shooting. Gritty stuff. But…delightful.
I had a great time with Kneecap.
In theaters August 2nd, Rated R, 105 minutes
