Kneecap: the rowdy rap movie in the race for an Oscar
“Kneecap”, the rowdy biopic of a Belfast rap group, is not only a contender for an Oscar next year, it is among the favorites in the International Feature Film category. The respected showbiz trade magazine Variety has tipped it as fifth in line behind “Emilia Perez”, “I’m Still Here”, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” and “The Girl with the Needle”.
Despite is relatively small budget, edgy storyline and directing, maybe the film is not such an outsider after all.
"Kneecap" is a mock biopic of a Belfast trio of nationalists that put together a rap group. The inevitable struggle to get noticed is complicated by the background of the civil divisions that are still a part of Northern Ireland.
The movie has the drive of features such as “Trainspotters” and is equally non-PC in its dialogues and scenes. It is as brash and outspoken as the band's social media postings, which could be branded as "cheeky nationalism". Curiosity: for large parts of the movie, the characters are actually speaking in Gaelic.
This is not the first time a Gaelic-language movie is nominated for an Oscar. Two years ago, the very demure “The Quiet Girl/ An Cailín Ciúin” was in the running for a foreign language award.
The shortlist for the International Feature Film Oscar will be announced on December 17 and the final five nominees will be announced on January 17, 2025. The show will be broadcast in March 2025.
(Michael Leahy. Source IrishNews. Photo: