IRISH language rappers Kneecap have cleaned up at the British Independent Film Awards – much to the chagrin of their critics.
The hip-hop trio won seven awards for their self-titled, semi-fictionalised film about their rise to fame on Sunday night.
The film won the top award – best independent film award – as well as prizes for best debut screenwriter for Rich Peppiatt and best joint lead for trio Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh.
Kneecap dominated the event, with 14 nominations in total.
O Caireallain, known as Moglai Bap, said the story resonated with people who had “suffered under imperialism and colonialism”, the BBC reports.
Og O Hannaidh, stage name Mo Chara, added: “We thought it was a film about the Irish language, but languages that have been oppressed is an international story and a lot of people related to it.”
But not everyone is pleased with the band’s success – to the apparent glee of the people behind the film.
The Daily Mail ran with the headline: “Anti-British Irish-language movie funded by UK public money wins Best British Film gong.”
Peppiatt shared a picture of the headline on social media with the caption: “A thing of beauty.”
Actor Adam Best, who has a supporting role in the picture, replied: “Aah, the unmistakable smell and sound of boiling piss.”
One of the key themes in the film is the battle for the promotion of the Irish language prior to the passage of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.
A key moment sees Og O Hannaidh refuse to speak English to police after he is arrested for possessing drugs, insisting he is provided with an Irish language translator.
The band, named for the IRA’s preferred method of punishment for drug dealers, recently won a case against the UK Government after they were refused public funds for their music.
The band donated the money to community projects on either side of the divide in their home city, Belfast.
