When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed ‘low life scum’ Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip-hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.
Growing up in Dublin in the 1970s and ’80s, The Troubles were my unsettling reality. This wasn’t just some distant conflict in Northern Ireland – the violence had a habit of spilling over the border, a chilling reminder that no one was truly safe. Even though the Good Friday Agreement brought an official end to the 30-year ethno-nationalist conflict in 1998, its legacy of division and sporadic violence still lingers.
Fast-forward to 2019, the setting of the film “Kneecap.” Northern Ireland might have had two decades of peace, but the wounds of the past run deep. The country remains sharply divided, with religion and politics still dangerously intertwined. It’s against this fraught backdrop that our story unfolds.
In the heart of West Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter, where Irish is the language of the streets, we meet Liam (Liam Óg “Mo Chara” Ó hAnnaidh) and Naoise (Naoise “Móglaí Bap” Ó Cairealláin). These two childhood friends are struggling to make a name for themselves as musicians, their future prospects as bleak as the city’s troubled history. But when Liam gets hauled in by English authorities for dealing drugs, claiming he can only speak Irish, everything changes. Enter JJ (JJ “DJ Próvaí” Ó Dochartaigh), their savior and a local music teacher, who translates for Liam and spots the potential in his lyric book.
Before long, JJ has taken the lads under his wing, transforming his garage into a makeshift recording studio. They pour their hearts and souls into their music, and against all odds, it resonates. They call themselves KNEECAP, a provocative name that nods to the brutal kneecapping punishments of The Troubles. Their music is a raw mix of Republican themes, dark humor, and unapologetic lyrics that both captivate the youth and outrage the establishment.
“Kneecap” isn’t just a work of fiction – it’s based on the true story of the real-life band of the same name, starring as themselves. The performances are authentic and riveting, with a memorable (albeit brief) appearance from Michael Fassbender as Naoise’s paramilitary father on the run. Liam and Naoise are the descendants of bombers and fighters, but they’re determined to make their mark through music, not mayhem.
The film doesn’t neatly wrap everything up. KNEECAP’s story is ongoing, and their futures are as uncertain as the country they call home. But there’s a glimmer of hope—in 2022, Irish was finally recognized as an official language in Northern Ireland, centuries after it was banned. As KNEECAP’s music continues to resonate across Europe and the US, they stand as a testament to the power of art to challenge the past and shape the future.
In Theaters Friday, August 2nd
3.4k
20k
1.5k
1.3k