Of the 80,000 native Irish speakers, 6,000 live in the North of Ireland and three of them became a rap group called Kneecap. This is the real-life story of how this anarchic Belfast trio became the unlikely figureheads of a civil rights movement to save and reinvigorate their mother tongue.
Rich Peppiatt’s raucous and infectious debut feature is a heightened tale of Kneecap’s origin story. Set in post-troubles Belfast, childhood best friends Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh and Naoise Ó Cairealláin live debaucherously, selling drugs and partying to pass the time, but when they inadvertently cross paths with high school teacher JJ Ó Dochartaigh, things begin down a path none of them saw coming. At the same time, a civil rights movement, led by JJ’s partner, is fighting for the right to have the Irish language instated as an official language of Northern Ireland. With this political backdrop, JJ sees an opportunity to use music to further the cause. Following in the footsteps of Naoise’s father (played by Michael Fassbender), an IRA stalwart who instilled in them the power of language and culture, the three of them form Kneecap, a politically-charged, anti-establishment rap trio who rap in Irish and embody the spirit of defiance.
As they struggle to make their mark, and external pressures threaten to pull the plug on their dreams, the trio weave a narrative that transcends music, and tells the story of how they became an unlikely political symbol of youth culture, national identity and cultural pride.
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Everyone who books a ticket for any of our screenings of Kneecap will automatically be entered into our prize draw to win an exclusive Kneecap merchandise bundle in partnership with Curzon. The merch bundle includes:
- Official KNEECAP bucket hat (black/green, as seen at the London premiere)
- Official KNEECAP tote bag
- Official KNEECAP 'Mind Your Language' and 'British Advisory Irish Language' stickers
Two winners will be chosen at random. You must live in the UK, be over 18 and have an email address attached to your GFT account in order to be eligible for this competition. Prize winners will be contacted by email and the prize will be mailed to the winner by our distributor partner Curzon.
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YEAR OF CELEBRATION
2024 marks 85 years since our cinema (originally the Cosmo) was built, 50 years since GFT was founded and the 20th edition of Glasgow Film Festival.
Whilst our box office and bar sales only cover around 50% of our annual costs and help keep the film reels rolling, we rely on donations and fundraising to run our education and community activities. We need your help!
Celebrate 50 years of GFT by donating £50 at checkout. A £50 donation also secures your seat at our special January screening. Find out more or donate HERE. Your contribution matters.Kneecap showing at: September 1, 2:10 pm
Kneecap
Location: Glasgow Film TheatreBox Office opens 30 minutes before first screening, 12 Rose Street, Glasgow,, G3 6RB9