The meaning of life is hidden within The Banshees of Inisherin, I just know it. How we spend our days – our very limited time on this planet – is the crux of writer/director Martin McDonagh’s buddy comedy that also doubles as a cinematic spiritual awakening. On the surface, this is a forlorn story about a friendship breakup between the well-meaning but dim-witted Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell) and his longtime friend Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), a stoic man a couple of decades his senior. But this isn’t just a story about ex-BFFs. Filmed on location on the idyllic Irish coast, The Banshees of Inisherin is a quiet masterpiece that tackles the rhetorical question of how to live a reverential, more conscious life.
Colm’s sudden ex-communication is a mystery to Pádraic, who cannot comprehend why he would abruptly end their relationship. His stubbornness and refusal to talk only confuses Pádraic further and with no understanding of social cues or personal space, he continues to bother Colm for answers, much like a mosquito buzzing in your ear that you swat at but it still won’t leave you alone. Pádraic’s sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and his acquaintance Dominic Kearney (Barry Keoghan) do the best they can to help Pádraic move on, but he can’t. He needs to know why. And finally, Colm tells him.
As we get older, we realize that we have control over what we choose to tolerate in our lives. The people-pleasing default that many grew up with slowly morphs into making autonomous decisions that may or may not align with other people’s expectations – much like Colm. Seemingly overnight, he has reached a new level of self-awareness and decides to prioritize what matters most in life: time. In an effort to stop wasting what precious time he has left, Colm has decided that he will no longer put up with Pádraic’s small talk, benign chatter, and fleeting thoughts. Colm has found that playing the fiddle – creating something with permanence like music – is a better use of his time. And so he exchanges Pádraic for a fiddle. The fascinating observation here is that both men, confident in their opposing wants, are both right. And, one could argue, both are completely wrong. Colm wants to be left alone; Pádraic wants company. Who deserves to get what they want?
The Banshees of Inisherin caught me completely off guard. I thought I was walking into a standard, period-set drama about a complicated relationship between two grown men, but my premature assumptions were quickly proven to be wrong. What we have here is an unforgettably dazzling achievement – both onscreen and off – with some of the year’s most phenomenal performances, original dialogue, and affecting score. Colin Farrell channels a Larry David-type unawareness that gives this dark comedy a more contemporary feel. His sweet demeanor is at odds with Brendan Gleeson’s boorish ignorance and watching these two celebrated actors play out his dynamic on screen together is something special.
Religion is a looming figure throughout Banshees, both literally and metaphorically. Cinematographer Ben Davis uses his sharp eye for detail to create gorgeous shots that look like renaissance paintings. Even with the breathtaking views of the Irish coast and vibrant hills, some of my favorite shots take place indoors. Many times, we see our protagonists peering into homes through windowpanes that look like a crucifix. Recalling the Catholic belief that “God is always watching,” which Colm knows firsthand as he routinely participates in confessional, this use of framing seems to imply the judgment the characters cast on others.
Off camera, it’s fun to play the six degrees of separation game within the cast. Writer/director Martin McDonagh worked with Colin and Brendan in 2008’s In Bruges and re-teamed with Colin in 2012’s Seven Psychopaths. In 2017, Colin worked with Barry in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Composer Carter Burwell and Cinematographer Ben Davis also return after their work on Martin’s Academy Award-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
The tonal bait and switch from dark comedy to introspective, sensitive drama is what makes The Banshees of Inisherin such a powerful film. It hints at the meaning of life in a delicate way and leaves audiences with some food for thought as the credits roll. It’s also a film that I’m already looking forward to rewatching again, and again.
Distributed by Searchlight Pictures. In theaters Friday, October 21st.
