If there’s one movie that really stood out to me, it’s Kneecap.
And honestly, I think it might just be the best movie of the year.
It’s Ireland’s submission for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out.
This film is special.
It’s got that kind of high-energy, pulse-pounding feeling you get from Whiplash or Slumdog Millionaire, but at the same time, it’s completely its own thing.
It follows the Irish rap group Kneecap, a real-life group, and what makes it so unique is that they rap in old Irish Gaelic.
Yeah, you read that right—hip-hop, but in a language that has been historically suppressed.
Kneecap Feels Fresh and Electric
Right from the start, Kneecap pulls you in.
It’s fast-paced, it’s intense, and it’s got something to say.
The movie doesn’t just showcase the group’s music—it dives into the cultural and political tensions surrounding the Irish language.
It highlights the struggle of keeping a language alive in a world where some people would rather see it disappear.
But here’s the thing: This isn’t some slow, overly serious drama.
It’s got energy.
It’s got heart.
It’s fun and meaningful at the same time.
That’s why it works so well.
Why Unique Stories Like Kneecap Break Through
One of the biggest lessons from Kneecap is how powerful unique storytelling can be.
This isn’t just another biopic or a formulaic underdog story.
It’s a film that introduces audiences to a world they might have never seen before—a world where hip-hop and an ancient language collide in a way that feels completely fresh.
This is something filmmakers should pay attention to.
A lot of times, people think they need to follow trends or check certain boxes to get their film noticed.
But the truth is, audiences are hungry for something different.
If you can create a movie that pulls people into a world they’ve never experienced, and do it well, it’s going to stand out.
The Power of Cultural Storytelling
We’ve seen this before with films like Squid Game.
Before that show exploded, most people outside Korea weren’t familiar with a lot of Korean thrillers.
Now, if you log into Netflix, you’ll see Korean dramas, Spanish thrillers, and all kinds of international content getting major attention.
Kneecap proves that this isn’t a fluke.
People love stories that feel real—stories that bring them into a culture, a mindset, a world that they haven’t seen before.
And the best part?
You don’t have to force it.
You don’t have to add diversity to your film just because you feel like you should.
If the story calls for it, and if it’s authentic, people will connect with it.
What Kneecap Teaches Filmmakers
If you’re a filmmaker, there’s a big takeaway here: Don’t just make something different for the sake of it.
Make something genuine.
When you create a film that’s rooted in a specific culture, a unique experience, or a fresh perspective, it has the power to break through in ways you might not expect.
People don’t just want the same old stories over and over again.
They want to be surprised.
They want to be immersed in something they haven’t seen before.
That’s why Kneecap works, and that’s why it’s one of the best movies of the year.
