Overview
When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed 'low life scum' Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.
Kneecap are an irish hip hop group who rap in a mixture of English and Irish lyrics, with a meld of satire and socially and politically charged messages, that hit the scene in 2017. This film is their story… kind of.
Written and directed by Rich Peppiat, who worked on Channel 4’s satirical consumer affairs show Supershoppers, the film stars the Kneecap trio as themselves, or at least a semi-fictional version of themselves, and tells the story of how two Belfast lads of the “ceasefire generation”, Liam and Naoise (neesha), were taught to speak Irish by Naoise’s father Arlo (Michael Fassbender), a former republican paramilitary who faked his death to evade the British authorities. The pair are rebellious and cross paths with the law on occasion, and on one occasion this results in Liam finds himself arrested and brought in for questioning on drug related issues. Refusing to speak in English, a music teacher, JJ, is brought in to translate, but finds himself impressed by the poems and lyrics the young lad has penned in his notebook and helps get the charges dropped. Setting the lyrics to music, JJ convinces the lads to perform, and thus Kneecap were created.
The film is as sharp, stylish, satirical, and socially aware as the music of Kneecap themselves, set around the time of legal debate over the right to retain the Irish language, and protect the rights inhabitants of Northern Island who are fluent Irish speakers. Politically charged, the film never goes too heavy with the message, and instead plays fun around the band themselves, showing them as part of the spirit of rebellion that pushed back against the authorities that wanted Irish to be banned. All the while the trio find themselves at the center of controversy over their charged lyrics, and confrontations with a dissident republican offshoot, as well as Detective Ellis of the Northern Irish Police force.
There is some aspect of truth within this biopic, but with a fair touch of embellishment, and the slick approach to the film packs it with a fun energy throughout. From the lyrics being translated via stylised writing around the screen, to the drug infused colour palettes, each scene with the band pops with a fiery slickness that pulls you in.
The band themselves are great throughout, showing that they are not just lyrical performers, but have a screen presence as well. Pretty much all biopics play loose with the facts to create entertainment, so why shouldn’t the Kneecap trio do the same with their story? Packing out the cast with able support from people like Jessica Reynolds, Simone Kirby, and especially Fassbender just adds icing to an already tasty cake.
Kneecap is a gem of a film, and a lot of fun, and is definitely worth checking out.