Naoise,” “JJ,” and “Liam Óg from the real rap group Kneecap took a crash course in acting to get ready for the film. and whether it’s their raw energy, the banging tunes, the powerful story of a fight for identity, or the very funny jokes, Kneecap delivers a rollercoaster rip-roaring ride, as we watch the group develop from two drug dealing best friends and an aimless teacher, to a musical powerhouse and champions of the Irish language. The film has been a hit at every festival it has played at since it premiered at Sundance, where it won the NEXt Audience Award.
While some storyline liberties have been taken, it’s apparently very close to the actual origin story of the band. Rich Peppiat the writer and director persisted in trying to get in touch with the band for 6 months before they agreed to meet, they hit it off, and then Kneecap came in to co-write the script.
Not only do the guys in the band seem to be natural actors, there are great performances from Simone Kirby and Michael Fassbender as Dolores and Arlo, the parents of Móglaí Bap, whose own stormy relationship intersects with the movements for Irish nationalism, the rejection of British imperialism, and key to the film, the restoration of the Irish language as both a political vehicle and an everyday language available to everyone. There’s even a cameo from Gerry Adams in one of the more psychedelic sequences, and throughout the film Ryan Kernaghan’s cinematography is broad enough to encompass delightful cartoon ad-ons and full-on racy chases.
Written and Directed by Rich Peppiat of One Rogue Reporter and Grounded. Produced by Trevor Birney of Let The Canary Sing and The Go-Go’s, Jack Tarling of God’s Own Country and Await Further Instructions and Co-Produced by Patrick O’Neill of Wildcard Distribution.
Starring Naoise Ó Cairealláin “Móglaí Bap”, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh “Mo Chara”, JJ Ó Dochartaigh “Dj Provaí”, Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds, Adam Best, with Simone Kirby and Michael Fassbender
In U.S. Theatres Aug 2nd, Irish Theatres Aug 8th, UK Theatres Aug 23rd and Australian Theatres Aug 29.
Won the NEXT Audience Award at Sundance, Offical Selection for SXSW and Tribeca and Sydney Film Festival, where it was Runner Up in the GIO AUDIENCE AWARD for Best International Feature. and a triple win at Galway Film Fleadh with Best Irish Film, Best Irish Language Film and the Audience Award.
As it states in the films press release, “In a few short years the artistry and offstage antics of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí have built them a notoriety never before seen in Irish music. What’s more, Irish music has never heard Irish music like it.”
The band meanwhile have this year already toured North America and rocked out Glastonbury, with more big festivals to come, are midway through a European tour and have a load more dates booked across Ireland, North America, and the U.K. They’ve just dropped their debut album, Fine Art, produced by Toddla T. Their shows are often sold out, so while already approaching cult status back home, now the rest of the world is rocking out to their charged Irish and English language mixed-up hits in the concert venue, or streaming the tunes in their millions.
In real life and on the screen it is not hard for this enigmatic trio to take their audiences with them, simultaneously deeply serious and political, cheeky, iconoclastic, loyal, funny, punchy, proud, sarcastic and satirical, taking in the full and poetic sweep of Irish history, and capable of delivering a banging tune to which you can’t sit still. They couldn’t be any more Irish.
