To lose a loved one is an incredibly painful situation. A sudden loss of a loved one is an intense hardship for anyone to take, to immediately realize this person is no longer in your life. But what if you lost a person simply because they didn’t want to be part of your life? That would be a confusing, uncomfortable pain. Especially if you lived in a small community where you two see each other every day.
The Banshees of Inisherin is a new (very) dark comedy about this feeling. The film premiered at TIFF, where it drew tons of acclaim. Pádraic (played by Colin Farrell from the Batman, True Detective, and In Bruges) is walking down to the pub in the small isle off the coast of Ireland he lives on, during the Irish Civil War. When he gets to the pub he sees his best friend Colm (played by Brendan Gleeson from 28 Days Later, Paddington 2, and In Bruges), but Colm doesn’t want to talk to him. Colm calls him dull, and says he wants to live the remainder of his life in quiet peace, composing music and having interesting conversations. Pádraic, who spends his days talking about his donkey’s fecal matter and things of the like, is heartbroken that his seemingly-best friend doesn’t want to be part of his life anymore.
The community is shocked, and many people speak up for Pádraic hoping to help him, or console him. As Colm proceeds to write more music, he notices a weight lessening on his shoulders, and begins to enjoy life. But Pádraic can’t believe his friend would just tell him to leave be like that, and continues to demand an answer. Eventually Colm’s had enough, and he threatens to cut off his fingers he plays the fiddle with every single time Pádraic talks to him.
Written and directed by one of Ireland’s finest writers for the stage and screen, Martin McDonagh reunites with his two starring actors from his first feature film In Bruges. In that film he focused on the Irish sense of purgatory, with two friends stuck in a metaphorical version together. Here, two friends remain stuck in a place of their own choosing, and no matter how hard they try they keep coming back to the other. The problem is that both genuinely don’t want to hurt the other one. But Pádraic wants a friend, and Colm wants to be left alone.
Gleeson’s performance is filled with pride and despair. He portrays a man who’s lived a quiet life but always yearned for more. He’s struggles with existentialist dread, and when he finally decides to take charge of his life it hurts his best friend. As for Farrell, his performance in the beginning is as happy as one can be. But throughout the 2 hour runtime, he slowly descends into his own despair. Both lead performances are amazing, but Farrell truly commands the screen here. With this film, we’re watching two character actors perform some of their trickiest, and most powerful work. As the two characters head down the same road in opposite directions, can a connection be reforged? And with intense supporting performances from Kerry Condon (from Better Call Saul) and Barry Keoghan (re-uniting with Farrell from the Killing of a Sacred Deer), the film is a perfect blend of fantastic writing and even better performances.
What aids the feelings on loneliness and despair in the script is the vast, beautiful shots of the lonely, luscious land. Shot on one of the larger of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, the film constantly shows us lonely roads, and quiet bays. But just across the water is Ireland, where a bloody civil war is playing out. As Pádraic fights his civil war, he frequently see a real war play out across the bay. Conflict and the lack of connection reign supreme.
It’s a heartbreaker of a film, but one that will keep you laughing throughout it. This is an experience many can relate to, even if they don’t own a donkey. We’ve all lost somebody, and we’ve all yearned for them to come back. And whether or not you’re yearning for this experience, you can watch this film in cinemas now.
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