Kneecap Parent Guide

Centuries of British oppression in Ireland nearly succeeded in stamping out Gaelic, the native Irish language, but it’s not gone yet. Aspiring digital musician JJ Ó Dochartaigh (played by himself) teaches the language in a Belfast primary school, and his girlfriend Caitlin (Fionnula Flaherty) is on a campaign to legally restore Irish language rights. For local boys Mo Chara (himself) and Móglaí Bap (himself), the language was a way to connect with their radical father, Arlo (Michael Fassbender), and now they use it constantly. They’ve been working on some lyrics, but they need music – and that’s when they meet JJ.

The trio are determined to rejuvenate Gaelic, and to give the language a modern footing, they write standard hip-hop tracks, full of drugs, sex, violence, and politics – all described entirely in Gaelic. Their songs are popular – but not with everyone. The anti-drug Republican radicals would be happy to kill them, and the Constabulary isn’t any fonder of the three.

I don’t think I’ve seen a comedy-biopic cast entirely by its own subjects before, and frankly I wouldn’t have expected it. Maybe acting is easier when you’re playing yourself, but what really helps the film along is the clear chemistry between the rambunctious stars. Whether it’s sticking it to the Brits or (once again) confusing their cocaine with ketamine, the lads are going through it together. It’s strangely charming, actually.

I don’t usually give out a D- for a film I don’t hate, but it’s hard to justify the tsunami of negative content. The protagonists are on everything but roller skates, selling the drugs they don’t manage to ingest. There are several graphic sex scenes, and some violent beatings and shootings. The dialogue isn’t much help, either, as it packs a sizeable 141 f-bombs (along with many other profanities) into a 105 minute runtime. True to life, maybe, but not exactly family entertainment.

I’m not sure that Kneecap will find a huge market outside of Ireland (and Irish enclaves in North America), but its high-energy cast and pounding basslines are sure to attract a few new fans. Probably not with people concerned enough about film content to read these reviews, but if you’re already a hip-hop fan, this might be a fun ride. Or if you’re trying to learn any Gaelic more modern than asking the local maiden where you might find some peat to cut.