The Banshees of Inisherin (15) |Close-Up Film Review

Although not quite as magic as their collaboration on In Bruges, Farrell and Gleeson still work beautifully together in this latest from the prolific Martin McDonagh, who gives us here a bleak yet often comic view of the immature, poetic and violent soul of the Irish male. 

The story is set on an island off the coast of Ireland in 1923, – a simple world comprising a spread out community of stone cottages with no mod cons and what looks like very chilly weather.  Padreic (Colin Farrell) shares one such cottage with his sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) with Padreic’s pet donkey constantly trying to get indoors as well.

Padreic and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) have been best friends like forever with a resident table at the island’s one pub.  Until one day Colm unexpectedly puts an end to their friendship.   When a shattered Padreic asks why, the only reason Colm can give is “you’re dull”. 

He’s right of course.   As Siobhan puts it “you’re all boring.  What do expect.  We live in an island off the coast of Ireland”! 

But baffled Padreic – who sees himself as “a nice guy, a good guy” – won’t take no for an answer and the situation escalates in a typically blackly comic McDonagh way, involving a spot or two of violence, a traditional Irish folk band, the sad tale of Padriec’s donkey and few rather bloody severed fingers, which might prove rather strong meat for some.

Farrell, making like a bewildered jilted lover, is very good and rather touching in his dumbness and stubborn refusal to accept rejection, while Gleeson matches him in his level of frustration with Padreic’s mulish refusal to accept the situation.   The only person with any sense at all is the spirited Siobhan, on whom Padreic totally depends. 

There’s also a touching performance from Barry Keoghan as young Dominic who carries a hopeless torch for Siobhan and is bullied and abused by his abusive father, who is the island’s copper and bullies everyone. 

Bonus Features*

Featurette

• Creating The Banshees of Inisherin – Go into the inimitable mind of director-writer Martin McDonagh as he delves into The Banshees of Inisherin, from story inception and reunion of its gifted actors, to searching the islands of Ireland for the perfect, evocative locations.

Deleted Scenes

• Chasing Colm
• Colm Can’t Compose
• Parents’ Grave and Peadar
• Siobhan Crying Too Loud
• Stoic Equals Boring

*Bonus features vary by product and retailer