British film director Ken Loach yesterday said he was surprised but unperturbed by the personal nature of some of the criticism directed at him by sections of the British press following the success of The Wind that Shakes the Barley.
The Palme d'Or winning film, which had its Irish premiere last night in Cork, has provoked a barrage of criticism from some sections of the British press over its depiction of the role of British forces in oppressing the Irish in the War of Independence.
The Times compared Mr Loach to Hitler's favourite film maker, Leni Riefenstahl, while Ruth Dudley Edwards in the Daily Mail asked why Mr Loach hates England, a charge which was also levelled at the film director by Simon Heffer in the Daily Telegraph.
But speaking before last night's Irish premiere, Mr Loach said while he had never experienced such a level of animosity over any other film of his, he had encountered similar reactions in a play he had directed about Zionism. "I'm not surprised that they attacked it, but I am surprised by the level of personal abuse and viciousness - it's quite extraordinary - and it says far more about the people giving out the abuse than it does about us or about the film," he said.
"I hope those with an open mind will appreciate it, but there is a kind of hysteria if you question the role of the British forces - this is the most savage response I've ever had to a film but I know where they're coming from and why they're trying to destroy the film. I never met them so I can't be personal but when idiots like that abuse you, it's like water off a duck's back. As someone said to me, in a way, it's like a badge of honour, it means you've hurt them where they need to be hurt."
Scottish-born scriptwriter Paul Laverty was equally dismissive of those critics who have slammed The Wind that Shakes the Barley without seeing it, saying such criticism was an attempt to undermine the film and what it portrayed.
Last night Cork actors Cillian Murphy and Orla Fitzgerald were joined by fellow stars Pádraig Delaney and Liam Cunningham for a gala premiere at the Cork Omniplex attended by some 600 guests.
