THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
2022 | Dir. Martin McDonagh | 114 Minutes
"I just don't have a place for dullness in me life anymore."
On the island of Inisherin off the coast of Ireland, kindly and simple Pádraic is confused when his best friend Colm decides to permanently severe ties. Despite his sister's sensible advice to accept the end of relationship, Pádraic continually pesters Colm until the schism between the former friends corrodes into an ever-expanding abyss.
The Banshees of Inisherin presents an entertainingly tragic story about a relationship abruptly ending and the gradual escalation of hostility that follows, sadness and frustration that when left to fester reaches irrationally preposterous and destructive proportions. Setting the narrative against the backdrop of the Irish Civil War, writer/director Martin McDonagh aptly weaves an engaging interpersonal tale with wide-reaching implications regarding the fragile nature of fellowship, how ambition and pride can lead individuals to commit increasingly regretful acts of aggression, how petty circumstances can corrode ostensibly good people until they become spiteful monsters. Courtesy of McDonagh's exceptional screenplay, the relatively low-stakes conflict is made up of emotionally complex components with subtly quirky characters, sharp amusing dialogue, and situations that take surprisingly severe turns. The feature is essentially a comedy examining the questionable causes of human conflict, and McDonagh ultimately encourages viewers to question their grudges and other unnecessary burdens and, if possible, leave them behind for good.
Cinematographer Ben Davis captures the alternately beautiful and severe landscape of the island with a deft hand. Deeply dreary but captivating, the visual aesthetic of the film perfectly complements the feelings of excruciating loneliness and refusal to compromise that run through the narrative. The picture leaves an indelible impression that its island setting may be a nice place to visit but most definitely not a good place to settle.
Colin Farrell is captivating as dull but well-meaning Pádraic, slowly transformed by loneliness into an increasingly petty and pitiful fool. Brendan Gleeson is thoroughly convincing as prideful aspiring composer Colm, fixated on his mortality to the point of mild insanity. The picture also features Kerry Condon hilariously distraught as Pádraic's sister Siobhán, perhaps the only reasonable person in town; and Barry Keoghan stealing his scenes as the local idiot Dominic.
The Banshees of Inisherin is an exceptionally well-written, delightfully dark comedy. Observing an abandoned friendship that gradually declines into an increasingly bitter grudge, the picture's seemingly simple plot escalates in shocking and unpredictable ways. Elevated by brilliant performances from its immensely talented cast, the picture tactfully articulates specific darker aspects of the human experience that are typically difficult to convey.
FRAGMENTS
- The film premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival where it received a 15-minute standing ovation
- Brendan Gleeson is in actuality a skilled fiddle player and he does his own fiddle playing for this film
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Kerry Condon (FRIDAY in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame)
- Barry Keoghan (Druig in Eternals)
