What Is The Story About?
During the last leg of Irish Civil War in 1923, on a fictional Irish island called Inisherin, two long-time friends folk musician Colm Doherty and Padraic Súilleabháin faces an impasse in their relationship as Colm decides to simply not continue his friendship with Padraic. Padraic’s life balance derails and he begin to transition into mental and emotional instability in retaliation, once Colm begins ignoring him.
Performances?
Collin Farrell stands mighty and high throughout the film with his measured, gut-wrenching and emotional performance as Padraic. His one-liners are terrifyingly funny and equally sad. He portrays the restlessness, distress, pain, ego and self-obsession of Padraic like no one else’s business. Brendan Gleeson‘s Colm is the accurate anchor to a desperate Padraic. His cold demeanor and stubbornness drives Padraic to insanity. The duo share insane chemistry with each other and their face off scenes are magnificent.
Analysis?
The Banshees of Inisherin written and directed by multiple Academy Award winner Martin McDonagh, is yet another revelatory dark comedy much like his previous films. Here, the film also deals with complex metaphors with dialogues foreshadowing one of most complex problems faced by mankind : war.
The Banshees of Inisherin begins with a beautiful landscape view of Ireland, albeit set in the 1920s, when Irish people were at war with themselves. The camera pans towards Padraic, who walks miles to knock at his best friend Colm’s door, inviting him for a pint. Colm, however looks unbothered and unperturbed. Padraic keeps insisting until Colm simply banishes him by showing his disinterest in hanging out with his old drinking buddy for no particular reason.
Padraic, who has a reputation in the island for being always nice apparently seems too dull for Colm, who aspires to leave a legacy of his own by composing music. Padraic’s life turns upside down. Unable to accept that his old friend no longer likes him, he desperately attempts at finding ways to retain his old friendship. This forces Colm to take a drastic retaliatory decision, changing the dynamics of the two once-inseparable friends forever.
Akin to all of Martin McDonagh’s previous works, absurdist dark humour is the highlight of The Banshees of Inisherin as well. Padraic’s lines in particular grant instant belly chuckles and Collin Farrell delivers them with aplomb. One can’t help but chuckle at his desperation while also deep down feel them pierce the gut. When Padraic mourns his pet donkey, when he begs his sister to not leave him and when he does the meanest of things to grab back a place in his ex-best friend’s heart, one can’t help but shed a tear.
The Banshees of Inisherin boasts of some extremely clever writing. What seems like a simple story of two friends who finds themselves in a deadlock as one of them abruptly discontinues their decades long friendship, on detailed inspection reflects the tragedy that is civil-war. The Banshees of Inisherin makes for a metaphorical dissection of self-hate, male ego, civil-war, desperation to be liked and exasperation, to put it concisely.
If you’ve liked McDonagh’s previous works or if you enjoy dark humour in general, The Banshees of Inisherin is definitely worth your time. Not only is it well written and directed, but also is well enacted, shot, composed and is equally unpredictable.
Other Artists?
The Banshees of Inisherin is a perfect example of a perfectly cast film. Besides the two lead protagonists, the writing also fleshes out two important characters, Padraic’s sister Siobhan played by Kerry Condon and Dominic played by Barry Keoghan. Kerry Condon churns out a magnificent act as a strong-willed woman living amongst boring, regressive Irish folks, who also is her brother’s biggest support system. Barry Keoghan is a scene stealer and some of his transitive scenes are monumental to say the least.
Music And Other Departments?
Carter Burwell has beautifully composed and scored music for the film. The soundtrack elevates uncomfortable silences, dreadful aggressions and poignant exchanges with ease, making the film altogether an experience to cherish. Ben Davis’ cinematography is a thing of beauty. Every single frame from the film is a painting. The lighting and colour composition resonates with the mood of the film.
Highlights?
Screenplay
Humour
Collin Farrell
Rest of the Cast
Music
Cinematography
Unpredictability
Drawbacks?
Nothing Much
Did I like it?
Yes
Do I recommend it?
Yes
The Banshees of Inisherin Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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