Kneecap
CURZON
In a time of cultural and political eradication of culture and language, Kneecap could not come out at a better time. With its poignant narrative of battling against Irish culture suppression, all the while having a baseline as a biopic on the group members themselves through the trials and tribulations of their lives living in Derry finding purpose.
Kneecap is a two-pronged layered narrative. The first – and arguably more pressing – thematic is the conversation on heritage, language and cultural assimilation the people of Derry faced and continue to face in the wake of British colonial rule and political instability. This thematic is embedded deep within the roots of Kneecap, entwined with the very nature and discourse of its characters journey and troubles. It forms a beautiful bond with the secondary narrative of how Kneecap the band came to be and gels brilliantly with the characters arcs and thematics of finding voice; thus, the continuation of heritage and language. As said, the two go hand in hand beautifully with terrific poignancy in its writing and adaption with in particular use of language used in its opening as strategically defensive use only to be purposely radicalised in the use of offense mixed with a little offensive for good comedic measure. What helps here is how engaging and creative the whole venture is, yes, the conventional and contrived notions are here in the genre but the comedic embellishment and down to earth tones, and performances, elevate this into its own hemisphere.
What makes this tick to the greater degree it does is the natural and multifaceted talent of its three co-leads: Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvai. All three do a fabulous job of concocting characters with three-dimensional arcs and never fail to evoke the emotive output the scene and feature asks. Regardless if it’s comedic, heartfelt sincerity, each performance genuinely nails the scenario in which they are placed for not just one but three non-trained performers to execute this approach is nothing short of marvellous. Granted, Michael Fassbender, Josie Walker, Jessica Reynolds and Simone Kirby are all here to give the trio company and bounce of in both dialogue and performance with engaging and compelling results. However, the three are primarily left to their own devices for the most part in a trifecta that is constantly and consistently engaging and immersive with compelling results. It’s not just part educational or comedic, but equally evokes a great sense of trauma that goes to a deep and often uncomfortable degree of loss. Not just in death but the loss of time, family, hope and future. An array of elements that the eradication of Irish culture and heritage have caused, not only on a political and social level but personal level with relationships between others and oneself. It is this running theme throughout that feels so devastating and profound in with everything going on politically and the rise to fame for this trio, the devastation and fighting externally and internally is an every day struggle and ramification of said results is an ongoing and painful reality of abuse and devastation caused long before birth.
Equally what sets this apart, and it’s most important trait, is the uniqueness and depth at its core of bringing a disappearing language back to life and, perhaps made more poignantly for someone who lives just a few hours from where this is set and has a personal connection with Irish heritage, the whole notion of why this story is incredibly moving is because it is so close to home. Thus the sheer lack of conversation surrounding it, aside from Kneecap bringing it to the forefront, is so much more sensational and important. Often enough, these conversations on cultural eradication come from parts of the world in which feel lightyears away and out of reach for others to be educated on or in fact act on this knowledge itself. If anything, Kneecap have successfully managed to educate and bring this conversation and dialogue into the mainstream hemisphere that now has a life of its own, and will slowly and surely grow to truly effect change.
