Entertainment

‘Banshees of Inisherin’ brings divine comic tragedy


Irish humor can be quick, tight, and oh, so dark.

Film maker Martin McDonagh (“In Bruges,” “Seven Murders”) brings a masterful level of humor to his culture through “The Banshees of Inisherin.”

The story of the dramatic decline of a friendship brought laughter among those around. The story also revolves around an anti-war message we’ve never seen before, something as unexpected and rich as the rest of this story.

Colin Farrell plays Pádraic, a simple soul who treasures his familiar box with his longtime girlfriend Colm (Brendan Gleeson). They lived on a remote island off the coast of Ireland in the mid-1920s, and life was… bland.

The duo’s pub visits lead to a close friendship, if nothing else, but one day Colm decides he’s no longer interested in their relationship.

Let me be. I have other things that are more important than chit chat, like playing fiddle.

Padraic was confused, then devastated. His loyal sister, Siobhán (Kerry Condon of “Ray Donovan”) tries to lift his spirits, but the middle-aged man cannot end a friendship.

Colm refused his ex-mother’s pleas over and over again. When Pádraic doesn’t let the friendship go, Colm suggests a sombre way to show how serious he is about the subject.

“Banshees” sounds like a simple story, but the beauty of the story lies in its complexity. Island life is cruel and punitive, with the mainland far enough away to make them as isolated as something you can hold in your hand.

A local shopkeeper was so desperate for gossip, any gossip, she pointed her nose at a customer with nothing new to say. The island is so small that any friendship rift is shared in record time, and sometimes the company of a worker donkey can make all the difference.

That proved to be a painful bond for Farrell, clear.

So Padraic’s lament is real and sincere. Farrell’s expression sold anxiety, his face contorted at the thought of losing a friend. Colm is adamant, eager to spend his days writing music, a work of art that can outlast his physical form.

Meanwhile, fighting could be heard from the mainland between the Irish Free State and the IRA. It’s a very small plot point that speaks to a larger problem. Can war be explained, in part, by a desire for conflict, for distraction?

Can this friendship be saved? And, if not, how far will Padraic try?

McDonagh’s script is savage and sweet, brimming with moments of hearty laughter delivered with care and consideration. Condon is the revelation here, a proud woman whose life doesn’t go as expected. She is strong but humble by her daily struggles and her relationship with her brother is showing its limits.

We all expect greatness from Gleeson every time he hits the screen, but this might be Farrell’s most haunting turn. His handsome image has aged, and the pain he brings to the screen is remarkable in its depth.

Barry Keoghan offers more comic relief as Dominic, who some might ruthlessly call the City Fool. His bow provides further examples of cruelty built into the human condition.

“Banshees” could have been a terrible experience without the vibrant humor that permeates every scene. There’s joy in grief, discovery in loss, and McDonagh’s wonderful film reminds us why.

Hit or miss: “Banshees of Inersherin” captivates audiences, deftly blending suffering and isolation in ways we’ve never seen before.

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