Just been to the cinema to see The Wind That Shakes The Barley, has anyone else seen it and what did you think? I will leave the political aspect to one side for the moment and just say that it was gritty and uncompromising. The acting, at times, had an amateurish ad lib quality that made it all the more realistic. Not a blockbuster but a very worthy film nonetheless.
You can't really leave politics aside from any of Ken Loache's films, as he's a political film maker and a damn fine one too. I haven't seen it yet as it hasn't come here, but the 'amateurish' and ad-lib quality is characteristic as Loach tries to use ordinary people rather than big stars, to concentrate on the message he's trying to put over. I rate Cathy Come Home as one of his best ever efforts. Glad you liked the film!