"Sometimes change hits like a filthy bass line," we’re told in this fictionalized biopic of the titular Irish hip-hop trio. Underpinned by themes of language and identity, writer/director Rich Peppiatt’s rude, raucous film remixes music-movie clichés to Kneecap’s rebel tune with galvanizing verve. Tearing straight outta Belfast on barrelling beats, Kenneth Branagh it ain’t.
Friends, drug dealers and pro-republicans, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh (stage name: Mo Chara) and Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap) find their calling when the latter is arrested. Tasked to translate Naoise’s Irish for English-speaking cops, teacher JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí) sets Naoise’s notebook rhymes to music. Soon gigging in pubs, the Irish-language rappers scrawl ‘Brits Out’ slogans on their arses, mistake ketamine for coke, call for change – and, inevitably, draw the attention of the ‘Peelers’ and worse.
