THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN: A Heartbreaking And Hilarious Existential Masterpiece
One of the most prominent characteristics of writer/director Martin McDonagh’s filmography is his penchant for melding mordant, off-kilter humor with striking moments of pitch black severity. It’s a trait that has shaped his entire body of work, but the alchemy arguably worked best in his brilliant feature debut, 2008’s In Bruges. Joined by actors Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, McDonagh successfully spun an ostensible fish-out-of-water comedy about two hitmen hiding out in the eponymous Belgian city into a darker, more sophisticated mediation on sin and death.
That kind of balancing act can be increasingly difficult to pull off, and for his latest film, The Banshees of Inisherin, McDonagh has re-teamed with Farrell and Gleeson for an even trickier subject: the precipitous dissolution of a close friendship and all the grim consequences that follow. McDonagh’s film is packed with moments of emotional devastation, to the point where it could potentially be a borderline unbearable sit…were it not also absolutely hysterical, handily emerging as one of the funniest films of 2022. It’s a considerable achievement that McDonagh accomplishes with aplomb, cementing The Banshees of Inisherin as one of the year’s greatest films. It truly is a sublime motion picture.
Everything was Fine Yesterday
Set nearly a century ago in the quiet, grid-lined isle of Inishmore as the tail end of the Irish Civil War rages on in the mainland, the film follows Pádraic Súilleabháin (Farrell), a man of humble upbringings who desires nothing more than to pursue the simplest pleasures in life. He tends to a farm of animals alongside his sister, Siobhán (Kerry Condon), an educated woman with clear aspirations to put her learning to greater use for a more fruitful career move inland. The indisputable highlight of Pádraic’s day involves an evening trip to the local pub for a couple of pints with his best friend, aspiring musician Colm Doherty (Gleeson).
But one day, without warning, Colm does not join Pádraic at the pub and could not be bothered to give a reason why. This leaves Pádraic confused, dejected, and concerned: he and Colm were not rowing, as it were, so why the sudden cold shoulder? After much prying, Colm reveals the truth: he no longer wishes to be Pádraic’s friend, and does not want to speak with him ever again. Needless to say, Pádraic is devastated by this revelation.
Much like his previous venture to Bruges, McDonagh does a remarkable job of establishing the film’s gorgeous, lived-in island locale, populated by lush green landscape, rock-walled roads that stretch seemingly to infinity, and a small handful of denizens who can spread gossip like wildfire. Regulars in the town include the bartender, an abusive policeman, a combative priest, the cryptic Mrs. McCormick (Sheila Flitton), and there’s even a village idiot in the form of Dominic Kearney, played by a delightfully scene-stealing Barry Keoghan.
While the tranquility of the town’s serene backdrop is intermittently punctuated by bursts of cannon fire in the distance, the true disruption of harmony is Colm’s abrupt cutting of ties with Pádraic, with the former’s steadfast conviction uprooting the latter’s established routine. As Pádraic tries and tries again to reason with his friend, Colm has no choice but to deliver a horrifying ultimatum: Pádraic is to cease speaking to Colm at once, or else Colm will sever a finger from his hand each time Pádraic violates this request.
The Value of A Legacy
As the pair of feuding drinking buddies, Farrell and Gleeson could not be more pitch-perfect in their roles. Farrell turns in one of his finest performances in a career full of them, portraying Pádraic as an affable, well-meaning chap whose cardinal sin is his general inanity. He’s not the brightest star in the sky, but the character exudes warmth and empathetic nature, valuing the inherent good in those he meets. Gleeson’s part is much more reserved, but he wears the musician’s implacable demeanor incredibly well, allowing glimpses of his kinder, earlier self to shine through the moments of intensity.
One of the most potent details of McDonagh’s screenplay is that the crux of Colm’s decision to expel Pádraic from his life is derived from a deep existential crisis. Unsure of how many years he has left in this world, Colm yearns to solidify some sort of legacy through his music, no matter the cost (the title of the film comes from the opus he’s working on). He views Pádraic as a hinderance to his goal, knowing that his former friend takes life one day at a time but does not strive for claims to greatness, pretentious as that may be. When it is time for blood to be spilled, McDonagh does not shy away from Colm’s promise, committing to the film’s central conceit in full.
Rounding out the fantastic pair of leads is extraordinary work from Condon, whose Siobhán remains sharp as Inishmore gradually grows more contentious, offering a voice of level-headed reason amongst a sea misguided madness. And more praise must be given to Keoghan, who offers a lion’s share of the film’s laughs with his off-color remarks and hilarious observations but refuses to let Dominic be reduced to a mere dummy, concealing a reservoir of sadness beneath his veneer of the town punching bag.
(Also, special attention must be paid to the adorable animals on Pádraic’s farm, most notably Jenny, a loyal miniature donkey. They’re some of the more impressive animal performers in recent memory.)
Conclusion: The Banshees of Inisherin
With The Banshees of Inisherin, McDonagh rebounds from his most divisive film to date – 2017’s Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri – with one of his greatest and most assured efforts as a filmmaker yet. An exquisitely Irish tale expressed with an uproarious sense of humor and tender sequences of heartbreak, and brimming with some of the year’s finest performances, it’s a formidable effort told with great care, and easily one of the most gratifying films of 2022.
What are your thoughts on The Banshees of Inisherin? Let us know in the comments below.
The Banshees of Inisherin was released in theaters in the U.S. and UK on October 21st, 2022.
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