Title – Kneecap (2024) 

Director – Rich Peppiatt (One Rogue Reporter) 

Cast – Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, DJ Próvai, Simone Kirby, Michael Fassbender

Plot – A dramatization of the real life Irish music group Kneecap made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvai who here all play themselves in a dramedy of the groups rise through the ranks and notoriety due to much of their music being performed in their native tongue. 

“Every word of Irish spoken is a bullet fired for Irish freedom”

Review by Eddie on 21/11/2024

Ireland’s official submission to the Academy Awards for their Best International Feature Film category, Rich Peppiatt’s adrenaline fuelled dramatization of Irish music group Kneecap is one of 2024’s most surprising success stories that earmarks Peppiatt and the trio from Kneecap as talents ready to explode on the big stage. 

Winning awards across the globe including notable wins at the Sundance Film Festival and the recipient of 14 nominations from the 2024 British Independent Film Awards, Peppiatt’s film calls to mind the early works of British directing icons Danny Boyle and Guy Ritchie with their films Trainspotting and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels respectively and while Kneecap doesn’t meet the grand heights of those films as a whole, there’s a lot to love about this wild Irish infused tale. 

Following the exploits of the native tongue speaking trio as they come together to form a rag-tag hip hop operation that starts to gain traction in the music scene and causes those in authority to grow concerned our devilishly minded lads might be inciting drug use, anti-government and general anarchy, Kneecap is a ball of energy as it charges along its quickfire 100 minute running time following Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvai on a sometimes uneven journey in Belfast. 

Also featuring Hollywood heavyweight Michael Fassbender who plays a small but important role as Bap and Chara’s criminal father Arló Ó Cairealláin, Kneecap is literally played by Kneecap as the Irish hip-hop stars portray themselves in an effort that could have in the wrong hands turned into nothing more than a misguided vanity project but thanks to their energetic performances and Peppiatt’s on-point direction, Kneecap provides one of the most enjoyable and throwaway experiences of the year. 

While there are lots of times it’s hard for us non-Irish viewers to keep up with all the lingo, dialect and subtle intricacies of this very Irish affair, at the core of Kneecap is a generic but nevertheless fun affair that is all about embracing ones heritage and sticking it to the man and while the musicians music not be to everyone’s liking, there’s an undeniable and contagious vibrancy they bring to proceedings which ensures Kneecap is a film not everyone might love but few could hate. 

In a day and age where many bemoan the lack of originality available too them to consume in the feature film landscape, Kneecap is a fresh, fast and fun reminder about what can be done on a shoestring budget with a mostly amateur collection of instigators all driven to achieve the same goal, making it a warts and all success story and a hopeful Oscar player in a few months time. 

Final Say – 

Far from perfect but often undeniably fast-paced and fun, Kneecap is an utterly unique Irish offering that deserves to be on viewers radars. Showcasing stars in the making both in front of and behind the camera, this wild ride is surely just the beginning of something special from the Emerald Isle. 

3 1/2 colourful public transport passengers out of 5