Cillian Murphy’s “gripping” historical drama is the movie you need to see tonight

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Cillian Murphy is currently receiving a lot of praise, including an Oscar, for his role in Oppenheimer. However, if you explore his past work, you’ll discover many other excellent films he’s been in.

I recently watched The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and it’s a really powerful film. It’s a historical drama directed by Ken Loach, who’s a filmmaking legend, and it came out in 2006. The story takes place between 1919 and 1923, showing both the fight for Irish independence and the civil war that followed. It really gives you a sense of that turbulent time in Irish history.

Cillian Murphy plays Damien O’Donovan, a man who joins his brother, Teddy, in the struggle for Ireland’s independence from the United Kingdom. However, after achieving their initial goal, the brothers end up fighting on opposing sides of the Irish Civil War.

When it first came out, this historical drama was the most successful independent Irish film ever—a record it held for five years until The Guard came along. But beyond that initial success, what’s the story behind this impactful movie?

Who is in The Wind That Shakes the Barley?

The film features Cillian Murphy as Damien, Pádraic Delaney as Teddy, Liam Cunningham as Dan, Orla Fitzgerald as Sinéad, Roger Allam as Sir John Hamilton, and Siobhán McSweeney as Julia.

What did the critics say about The Wind That Shakes the Barley?

The film is receiving rave reviews, with a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This makes it one of the most critically acclaimed movies of director Murphy’s career. It’s scored higher than films like Inception and 28 Days Later, and is equally well-regarded as Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.

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As of today, only a few films—including Kensuke’s Kingdom, Small Things Like These, The Dark Knight, Oppenheimer, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Dunkirk, and A Quiet Place Part II—have received better ratings.

Ken Loach’s film, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, received the Palme d’Or, the top prize, at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. He would later win the award again ten years later for his film, I, Daniel Blake.

Critics praised Loach’s latest film for its exciting action sequences and emotional impact. The Washington Post highlighted the film’s dynamic staging of raids and gunfights, while The Philadelphia Inquirer described it as “gripping, powerful, and heart-breaking,” according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Where can I watch The Wind That Shakes the Barley?

You can currently watch Loach’s historical drama on BFI Player in the UK. They offer a 14-day free trial, and after that, a subscription costs £6.99 monthly or £65 annually.

You can also get BFI Player through Prime Video or Apple TV as an extra channel, and they both offer a free 7-day trial. After the trial, a subscription costs £6.99 a month.

Other Cillian Murphy movies you can stream right now

If you’re a Prime Video subscriber, you can watch films featuring Cillian Murphy, including his work with director Danny Boyle like 28 Days Later and Sunshine. You’ll also find the war drama Anthropoid and the spy thriller Anna available to stream.

You can watch 28 Days Later and its sequel, 28 Years Later, on Sky Cinema, alongside Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and Inception. Nolan’s Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are available on ITVX until the beginning of June.

You can find a variety of movies on streaming services: The Immortal Man, Steve, and Small Things Like These are all available on Netflix. Free Fire is showing on StudioCanal Presents, A Quiet Place Part II is on Paramount+, and In Time is streaming on Disney+.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley is streaming on BFI Player.

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2026-05-12 21:50