Irish-language rap group Kneecap took the Sundance Film Festival by storm, attending the premiere of their feature film at the opening night of the festival this evening.
Kneecap is a semi-fictionalised story of how the west Belfast rap group formed amid rising demonstrations for Irish language protections in Northern Ireland.
Tá cáil ar an triúr anois ní hamháin mar gheall ar an gceol atá cumtha acu ach mar gheall ar an stíl atá acu, an tslí oscailte a labhrann siad faoi pholaitíocht, faoin tslí a chaitear leis an nGaeilge agus mar gheall ar an meon uirbeach, spéisiúil atá acu i leith na féiniúlachta.
Mar a bheifeá ag súil leis, chaith an triúr éadaí nach bhfuil muid cleachtaithe leo ag an bpremiere ach a oireann dóibh féin.
It is the first Irish-language film to debut at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival and stars A-list actor Michael Fassbender alongside the group, which is made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí. Filming took place in Belfast and Dundalk and is set in 2019.
Director Rich Peppiatt invited the group to be hands-on with creating the film, and signed up to Irish classes within days of his first meeting with Kneecap. He received his fáinne badge, signifying his degree of proficiency as Gaeilge, after two years.
👀A wee sneak peek of Kneecap the movie. 👇
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) December 6, 2023
🎥 The first ever Irish language movie at @sundanceorg - this snippet in the language of the oppressor.
"The Troubles?!" 💥 pic.twitter.com/QoGdFdMqC9
Speaking to the BBC ahead of the premiere, DJ Próvaí referred to the outfits the band wears, such as tracksuits and hoodies, as being "associated with a kind of scumbaggery", a choice the trio made to subvert and question those associations.
On the Sundance red carpet, Kneecap continued that subversion, making their entrance in looks by Fred Perry.
They wore full tracksuits on the red carpet, with Móglaí Bap layering a North Face hooded jacket over his and DJ Próvaí wearing his trademark balaclava and a fur-trimmed hat.
