Why Kneecap is One of the Most Important Films of 2024
Olivia Thorne
Rich Peppiatt’s fictionalised origin story, Kneecap, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, is as politically charged as it is hilarious. The trio, despite not being professional actors, deliver stand-out performances that rival Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender. The film’s republican sentiments, woven into their lyrics, are powerfully encapsulated in Arlo’s (Fassbender’s) line: ‘every word of Irish spoken is a bullet fired for Irish freedom’. This underscores the film’s central theme that ‘a country without a language is only half a nation’.
Who is Kneecap?
Originating from West Belfast, Kneecap is a hip-hop trio celebrated for its unique blend of Irish and English rapping. The group consists of Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí, who is easily identified by his tricolour balaclava. They gained international attention for their provocative lyrics that advocate for the Irish republican agenda. Their 2019 track Get Your Brits Out sparked significant controversy, featuring lines such as ‘It’s your favourite republican hoods’ and ‘Yous can all stay just don’t be cu***’. The backlash intensified due to the album cover which depicted an unflattering cartoon image of Queen Elizabeth II.
The film’s most compelling element is its exploration of language as a tool for resisting colonisation. In the opening scene, Peppiatt challenges preconceived notions of a Belfast story by showing footage of IRA car bombs alongside Liam’s voiceover: ‘You know what? Every f***ing story about Belfast starts like this’. This sets the tone for a film that subverts expectations and signals that a new generation of republicans has arrived. Rather than resorting to violence, Peppiatt’s ‘republican hoods’ use words instead of weapons.
What Happens in the Film?
Set in West Belfast in 2019, Kneecap portrays the unlikely collaboration between music schoolteacher JJ and self-identified ‘low-life scum’ Naoise and Liam. Fluent in native Irish and united by a shared sense of national pride, they adopt the sardonic name Kneecap and embark on a mission to revive the mother tongue through hip-hop. The film chronicles their rise as they navigate hedonism, family drama and legal troubles, all the while gaining recognition and igniting controversy.
The young ‘hoods’ are significantly influenced by Arlo (Fassbender), who, despite having limited screen time, serves a key narrative function. As Naoise’s father, Arlo represents an older generation of Irish republicanism, clinging to an outdated militant ideology, even going so far as to fake his death to evade British authorities. His arrest at the film's conclusion, intended to protect his son from the ‘Radical Republicans Against Drugs,’ symbolises the decline of this old republicanism, making way for a modern, peaceful approach to the cause.
What Can We Learn?
Peppiatt’s decision to present Kneecap as a fictionalised origin story emphasises the film’s goal of highlighting the trio’s political message rather than their personal histories. In this narrative, speaking Irish becomes an act of rebellion, symbolising a crucial aspect of Irish identity that British efforts could not eradicate. Despite the film’s lively and playful tone, it ultimately delivers a poignant reminder of the alarming decline of indigenous languages worldwide.
Kneecap has made a significant impact in reshaping Irish identity and republicanism. The film celebrates the value of culture and the importance of staying connected to one’s roots. Through Peppiatt’s film and the trio’s music, crucial questions are raised about what it means to be an Irish Republican in 2024, striving to exorcise the term of its violent associations.
