Movie Review - The Banshees of Inisherin

Director: Martin McDonagh
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan
 
Description: Two lifelong friends (Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson) find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.

Review: If there is one movie you need to put on you viewing list this year, let it be “The Banshees of Inisherin”. For me, the pairing of director Martin McDonagh and his two leads Colin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson, was enough reason for me to check it out. This trio teams up a second time after “In Bruges”, which is one of my all-time favorite movies. Although they once again provide a top shelf film, “The Banshees of Inisherin” has become a very different movie.

The story is set in 1923 during the Irish Civil War. most Irish people wonder with great anxiety what the future will rbing them, except for Pádriac who lives on the fictional island Inisherin. Like his sister Siobhan who is known in the village as an old spinster, he is content with what he has. Pádriac spends almost all his time with his animals and his best friend Colm, with whom he spends numerous hours in the local pub. It is a friendship that the Irishman suspects will never end, until one day Colm announces that from now on he want to devote his life to more meaningful conversations and composing music. In that new life, there is no place for Pádriac.

A parable about friendship that shows above all its fragility. It’s a very special kind of film you rarely see. McDonagh returns to his British-Irish roots after the downright fantastic “Thee Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri” (also a favorite of mine), and tells an intriguing, deeply human story about mortals for whom the world is no bigger than their village.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is a cinematic gem not to be missed. The wonderfully beautiful film is touchingly funny, the cast is outstanding. Colin Farrell gets better with age and the role of Colm is right up Brendan Gleeson’s alley. Although the year has only just begun, it seems that with this title, I already have a candidate for my favorite film of 2023.

Rating: 5/ 5