Layered, nuanced, full of symbolism and blackly funny, The Banshees of Inisherin is Irish to its core as two life-long friends abruptly cease to be friends.
An island off the coast of Ireland as the 1923 civil war maps its course. Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell – In Bruges, Widows), as is the norm, calls upon Colm (Brendan Gleeson – Calvary, The Guard) on the way to the pub. But Colm, a musician, has decided he no longer wants to spend his time on small talk with Pádraic.
It’s a narrative as simple as that from writer/director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) as the fallout from the change to routine in the isolated community has massive repercussions. Regulars at the pub are bemused, Pádraic’s lonely sister Siobhán (Kerry Condon –Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Dreamland) struggles to come to terms with a lost, aimless brother – and the not-so-bright Pádraic himself fails to understand or heed the warnings. Who else, afterall, can he talk to for two hours about the contents of his pony’s shite?
The stunning, unspoilt sweep of the west coast adds to the emotional depth of this quiet yet deeply cutting, mordantly funny feature as the very cost of friendship is explored.
Nominated for 9 Oscars in 2023 including best film, director, actor, supporting actress, supporting actor, original screenplay.
Rating: 80%
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