Like most of Martin McDonagh’s films, The Banshees of Inisherin is an odd bird.
A mixture of political and personal, comedy and drama, understated and over-the-top performances, the film balances these different aspects to create an uncomfortable yet cozy tale of two old friends who suddenly, and almost inexplicably, aren’t anymore.
Set on the idyllic Irish island of Inisherin during the 1920s, amidst the backdrop of a civil war on the mainland, Padraic (Farrell) walks to his best friend Colm’s (Gleeson) house for their daily 2 p.m. constitutional to Jonjo’s pub. This day, however, Colm just sits in his house smoking, ignoring Padraic’s calls to him through the window. When the bartender Jonjo asks Padraic if they’re having a row, Padraic says he doesn’t think they are in a row. (“Row” means fight or argument across the pond, but even if you know that, the thickly accented Irishisms come fast and benefit greatly from turning on subtitles.)
Obviously irked by this sudden change of heart from the person he thought to be his best friend, Padraic can’t quite put a finger on it, so he pokes and prods Colm as to why he no longer wants to sit with him at the pub or talk to him in general. The reason is almost a non-answer: a devastating “I just don’t like you anymore.”
Colin Farrell—or more to the point, his glabella—is perfectly suited to the role. Padraic is described as “dull” and “nice” and his pinched-brow befuddlement at such an odd predicament, one probably more common than discussed, is relatable to anyone who has grown distant from a friend. The sudden separation of these two pals is a catalyst for other small island dramas, and leads to some dark and extreme behavior, but these never get bogged down in an overly melancholic tone.
That’s due in no small part to the lively yet bittersweet score by Carter Burwell and the gorgeous Irish countryside captured in all its widescreen magic-hour glory by D.P. Ben Davis. The script handles its dour subject matter with a light touch, often turning what would normally be internal thoughts into spoken dialogue for comedic effect.
Not everyone will find The Banshees of Inisherin funny. It reunites Farrell with his The Killing of a Sacred Deer co-star Barry Keoghan, all mannerisms and affectations, but where I find that director’s work more weird and deadpan than funny (The Favourite being the exception), his style is the closest touchstone to The Banshees that I can think of. The difference, I think—and what makes this depiction of misery such a joy—is that this movie knows it’s a farce.
Kerry Condon’s performance as Siobhan, Padraic’s sister, is a standout. The Banshees of Inisherin has been nominated for Best Picture and is available to stream on HBOmax.
