Kneecap: On the red carpet with Michael Fassbender, Jessica Reynolds, Fionnula Flaherty, Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí at Sundance London 2024

This comedy-drama film Kneecap is a biopic on the Belfast-based hip-hop trio Kneecap and how they rose to prominence creating music featuring their native Irish language. The narrative of their songwriting is anarchic, political and hedonistic, often challenging authorities to get their music heard. The film reflects their personal journey from childhood friends to sell-out gigs, drug-fuelled binges and political conflicts, all shaped for screen by creator Rich Peppiat with cinematography from Ryan Kernaghan.

The musical trio are made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí who all play themselves in the film, whilst award-winning actor Michael Fassbender comes on board in a supporting role to play one of the musician’s dad Arlo Ó Cairealláin. The movie has already garnered success, winning the prestigious Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, being the first-ever Irish language film to premiere there.

The Upcoming had the pleasure of speaking to the writer and director Rich Peppiatt about how he managed to persuade the band to let him bring their story to life and the importance of some of the bigger themes within the story.

We spoke to Michael Fassbender about what drew him to the script, his role in the feature and what it was like being on set with Kneecap.

Kneecap spoke about how they all met, the controversial side to their work but also the importance of keeping the native Irish language alive.

We spoke to Jessica Reynolds and Fionnula Flaherty about heading into this story, what it meant to them and what they liked about the context of the film.

Ezelle Alblas

Kneecap does not have a UK release date yet.

For further information about Sundance London 2024 visit here.

Read more reviews from the festival here.

Watch the trailer for Kneecap here: