Kneecap

Director: Rich Peppiatt

15 June 2024

See

Gaelic teacher JJ (DJ Provai) discovers Belfast rappers Liam (Mo Chara) and Naoise (Moglai Bap), the son of Irish Republican Army revolutionary Arlo (Michael Fassbender). Together they form gaelic rap group Knee Cap.

Think

Played by the actual band members as themselves, this film is funny and fun. Like the smash cut montage of Moglai Bap and Mo Chara hustling to get scripts and drug dealing, justifying their lifestyle choices as intergenerational trauma, talking so fast and true that the establishment they’re railing against can’t keep up. JJ is inspired by their inspiring use of language, treated by Gaelic speakers like a Dodo behind glass, an artifact, endangered and in decline. Liam and Naoise smash the glass with JJ’s help and set it free. 

Feel

This film is fierce, and so are Kneecap the band. Having never been that into rap, the narrative of language being bullets to fight a revolution with ideas is more compelling than bombs or hunger strikes the IRA are known for. Michael Fassbender himself played Bobby Sands in Steve McQueens Hunger. Knee Cap has just as much conviction, but in a modern way. When they fire their lyrics I’m blown away.