The Banshees of Inisherin is not a civil war or battle. The front page is filled with historical information about the battles. And they will be published in the history books. This is an ode to minor grievances and bizarre standoffs that will not be forgotten, but may become a tall tale at a pub. The time when two inseparable pals separated through bizarrely comical means.
The locals of Inisherin see a Civil War on the mainland in 1923, but they do not have an interest in their demands or causes, although they do appreciate a good fight. Padraic attempts to unravel what he has done to his old drinking buddies, but Colm refuses to accept that he should ever touch his finger again. He threatens to cut off a finger on his hand every time Padraic attempts to persuade him otherwise.
Inisherin is a dark comedy, which includes a savage postmaster, a ruthless policeman, and Padraic's well-read sister (Kerry Condon), who lives with him. And although the plot is minor, McDonough has plenty of time to explore his characters' identities.
McDonough maintains Colm's artistic desire as attainable as kindness ends, and music has the potential to become a ritual. Something distant but eternal. Two words I would use to describe the Banshees of Inisherin.
Marriage is a contract between two individuals, but in many ways it's easier to break up and be separated through divorce than for two extremely close friends to avoid each other in a small community. And in some ways we expect our friends to be more persistent, to reassure, to support, to celebrate, and to honor us. There are many kinds of grief groups for every situation, and the rewards are different.
Inisherin is the first film to depict a terrible friendship within a faded friendship. Its something that I personally have been going through for many months now, and this film was shown at the appropriate time (not just a small segment of a third act growing distance that gets repatched). Neither do two friends often remain equal in screen time throughout the film (as an aside, but Girlfriends and Frances Ha both follow a diminishing friendship with comedic notes, but neither have co-leads
Inisherin closes without a definitive resolution because a neat and tidy ending will not work with this story; this is the stretch we get to see; small acquiesces to the injured party can be beneficial, but it's more likely that the same bad blood will recirculate at a different time. History repeats itself.
Despite the men in charge falling into shambles, Farrell depicts the highs and lows of mania when so much of one's happiness is placed in the hands of another. Even Gleeson finds the moments of compassion for his former friend despite his attempts to be firm. Condon is quick and determined, and he is a loose cannon dimwit who eventually rises above Padraics' once solid moral ground.
Inisherin is a film that finds beauty in observation and reflection. While it is emotional serious, it is also compassionate and humorous. Every character except the policeman is held up by McDonough, who says if punching a policeman is a crime, we might as well dispose of it at the pub.
A-F