The Banshees of Inisherin

Martin McDonagh writes and directs this very dark comedy, set in 1923 on Inisherin a small Ireland off the Irish coast. Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) are best friends and drinking buddies. Pádraic’s happy world that revolves around his cottage, his sister, his animals and his daily pub trips with Colm is turned upside down when Colm decides he no longer wants to be friends. When Pádraic tries to understand why, Colm makes it very clear he no longer has time in his life for him and if he doesn’t leave him alone he will cut off his own fingers! We follow the impact of Colm’s ultimatum on thier relationship and its impact on those around them.

The Banshees of Inisherin is earning a lot of praise and rightly so. Its deliciously dark, thoughtful, subtle and laugh out loud funny.

There are many layers of story to enjoy, Gleeson brilliantly portrays Colm’s struggles with his own mortality and realisation that he may live a life that nobody remembers. Farrell is just as good, struggling to come to terms with how “being a nice guy” isn’t a good thing and how what grows into pettiness takes a toll on all around them. We see the mundanity of small island life which for some is what they love, for others it feels like a prison killing thier dreams. All of these stories and more add to a rich tapestry of storytelling.

Performances are fabulous, not just Farrell and Gleeson. Kerry Condon as Pádraic’s sister, tries to bring sense to proceedings, while dealing with her own frustrations, and Barry Keoghan turns in a scene stealing performance as Dominic the village “fool”, but who is more wise and perceptive than he’s given credit for.

It looks beautiful, Ben Diavis’s cinematography using it’s sprawling rugged landscape to highlight the often desolate nature of the place and the story.

While superhero and action films more than have their place at the cinema, it’s always a refreshing pleasure to see something that is sharp and intelligent, humorous and touching and Banshees of Inisherin is all of that and more. A darkly comic treat.