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When a filmmaker as fearless as Ken Loach tackles a subject as contentious as the IRA, the dramatic potential is huge. Alas, despite winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes '06, The Wind That Shakes The Barley isn't Loach at his best. Exploring the Republican movement's war against occupying British forces in 1920s Ireland, the film increasingly short-changes the personal for the sake of the political, despite powerful scenes and another impressive performance from Cillian Murphy.

In Breakfast On Pluto, Murphy's cross-dressing Kitten turned away from the Troubles. Here it's very much the opposite: appalled by the brutality of the British troops (the Black and Tans), his would-be doctor Damien signs up with the Republicans, joining brother Teddy (Padraic Delaney). Fighting fire with fire, the guerrillas are united in their cause until a truce is declared and the Anglo-Irish treaty signed.

"MORE A HISTORY LESSON THAN HUMAN DRAMA"

It's here that the film starts to falter, bogging down in dusty debate as divisions within the IRA foster civil war. With the pragmatic Teddy backing the treaty while Damien holds out for full independence, we ought to be in for some brother-vs-brother emotional wallop; but Loach seems more concerned with giving a history lesson than with fleshing out the human drama. The helmer's earlier historical epic Land And Freedom (about the Spanish Civil War) also had its talky stretches, but stayed afloat with involving characters and action. Here, sadly, the focus on big issues hasn't left enough room for the smaller, spontaneous details that make Loach's finest films so intensely engaging.