‘Wind’ Shakes Up Emotions & Traditions

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When Indie veteran Ken Loach steps up to the camera the industry tends to take pause. The outspoken 70 year old director has a proven track record that dates back four decades and includes five Cannes Special Jury awards and now the coveted Palme d’Or award for 2006. This year’s winning film The Wind that Shakes the Barley has reportedly just been picked up for US distribution by IFC’s First Take program. IFC has chosen to promote the film in its controversial “day-and-date” model, with limited theatrical release to coincide with video-on-demand release in spring 2007.

The film is a historical drama, written by Paul Laverty (Cargo, 2006/I) and starring Liam Cunningham, and Padraic Delaney and Cillian Murphy. The film depicts the story of Damien, a young doctor in 1920 Ireland, who abandons his career and joins his brother Teddy in a bloody fight for freedom against the British “Black and Tans”. The efforts of the young brothers and the guerilla tactics they employ finally push the British to the breaking point, but just as victory and peace seem imminent, civil war erupts and those who had formerly fought side by side find each other facing off in the truest test of their loyalty; loyalty to their country, their beliefs, and even to each other.

Though he has traditionally done well in overseas markets, Loach has not garnered such success in the United States. According to IFC Vice President of Marketing Ryan Werner, this lack of stateside success was a consideration in the decision to utilize the controversial distribution model. Werner was quoted in Hollyood Reporter as stating “This film could have gone either way” as either a traditional theatrical release via IFC Films, or as part of the companies new First Take program. “But it’s a great symbol of the kind of prestigious film we want for the program. It shows people that we’re not just putting any film in First Take. We also wanted it to reach the widest possible audience.” Many theater chains across the country are refusing to participate in the concept, which is beginning to grow in popularity among production and distribution companies eager to keep up with a public who has less and less free time and disposable income. Todd Wagner and his 2929 Entertainment group first put forth the concept after a brainstorming session at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. The National Association of Theater Owners has been extremely vocal in their resistance to the concept and has garnered on-the-record support from numerous production executives and directors. John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners, has dubbed the idea “the biggest threat to the viability of the cinema industry today.” Only time will tell if Wagner and IFC’s endeavor to embolden the independent and art industry will ultimately strengthen or self destruct the concept and potentially the industry as a whole.