The Banshees of Inisherin
This wickedly funny, beautifully shot tale of male friendship soured is a fitting addition to McDonagh’s already stacked oeuvre.
Paedraic Suilleabhain (Colin Farrell) is a simple, good man. Living on the island of Inisherin off the coast of Ireland, he lives a simple life with his sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) - despite the civil war raging on the mainland, the explosions of which can be heard on their tiny slice of paradise. Paedraic’s world is turned upside down, however, when he goes to collect his drinking buddy Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) for a pint at the pub, only to find that Colm has taken an unexplainable and immovable dislike of him. As Paedraic tries to understand why he is suddenly repulsive to Colm, Colm takes increasingly drastic measures to enforce a distance and a silence between them.
Martin McDonagh, director of The Banshees of Inisherin, has only directed four feature films. There was the inimitable classic In Bruges, the much loved Seven Psychopaths, and the Oscar-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It isn’t much of a stretch, then, to say that with The Banshees of Inisherin, he had quite a bit to live up to.
It is with great pleasure, therefore, that we confirm that The Banshees of Inisherin is not only a fitting addition to his body of work, but perhaps even the best of it.
The film is beautifully written, full of incredibly intricate dark humor that has you thinking, laughing and crying all at the same time. It’s heartfelt, with fleshed out relationships that feel lived in, but still maintain a sense of whimsy. It’s also a very poignant and engaging film, one which starts as a predominantly humorous piece but eventually descends into a sort of accepting brutality.
McDonagh paces the film to perfection. It starts without preamble, immediately coming across the sudden impasse between Paedraic and Colm. It’s funny and confusing to start, with a hint of whimsy. Then it starts to progress through emotions, as the inexplicable feud between the characters loses some of its light hearted sheen and takes a darker edge. The pair, as the film, move into desperation, resentment, violence, and ultimately revenge.
Gleeson has the lesser role here, effectively as a semi-depressed gentleman who is concerned about his legacy. He of course delivers in spades, bringing warmth and heart to a role that could have come across as cold and callous. We feel sorry for him, rather than hate him for what he is doing for Paedraic, and a lot of that is down to the performance from Gleeson (along with some choice redemptive moments that elicit laughs and cheers from the audience).
It’s Farrell’s movie though. Paedraic’s character development is flawlessly delivered by the Irish actor, whose facial expressions are likely to launch a thousand memes. The character is so incredibly written - a man who comes to grips with his own simplicity, and fully accepts it by the films end. Farrell starts the piece as entirely sympathetic, but predominately a pitying character, but eventually brings that around to a fierce, supportable protagonist on the verge of terrible deeds. There’s a scene in the pub where a drunken Paedraic berates Colm, telling him he was never nice, that is a true tour de force from the actor; a moment where the facial expressions that have been so humorous in reactive moments throughout are dropped, and the still face is the perfect setting for eyes that convey all of the hurt, betrayal and anger that Paedraic feels for his lost compatriot. It’s stunning, stunning acting, that will have Farrell at the forefront of the Oscar conversation.
Visually, the film is an impressive spectacle. Those looking for country Ireland vibes will be delighted to find them in spades here, and the set decoration and costuming brings a level of authenticity to the piece that again feels very lived in. But the beauty of the landscapes and setting can never match the beauty of the script writing and performance on display here; The Banshees of Inisherin is truly a gorgeous and glorious film, that will have you laughing your ass off while also meditating on the performances and themes of the film for weeks after.
