The Banshees of Inisherin

Venice Film Festival #20 – PalaBiennale

One of the best reactions in a cinema I’ve ever experienced for a film. Period. The ingenious writing of McDonagh is able to take this relatively small-scale story, about two friends whose relationship changes suddenly when one decides to stop their friendship and elevate it to a comedic masterpiece that at the same time is extremely poignant and nuanced. The crowd reaction to this was simply sublime, laughter at all the right times and this palpable joy at watching this story play out. It’s hard to come by a comedy now that provokes such a strong reaction from everyone in the audience, but McDonagh writes with such a smart wit and situational humour that manages to land practically every time. Not all comedy has to be so explicit and, in your face, here it’s simply dialogue that does most of the work, and it does it to hilarious results.

Obviously, this humour wouldn’t work as well as it does were it not for the exceptional performances delivering such great writing. Colin Farrell, what a year he’s having between this, The Batman and After Yang, is sensational here, possibly my favourite performance he’s ever given, which is saying something. The layers he’s able to explore in what is a “simple” character is truly something incredible. He’s able to bring such a charismatic humour to the role that is never not completely delightful, but hidden underneath his charm, there’s such a human heart and a profanity in what he says, that once he’s lowered your guard with his humour, is even more striking than the already powerful dialogue.

The opposition to Farrell’s charming and endearing character is Brendan Gleeson’s sulking and rageful character. While Farrell’s outlook on life is glass half full, Gleeson is half empty, a man who’s contending with the idea that no one will remember him once’s he’s gone, and how this manifests itself as frustrations to the small island he lives on, and the bland friendship he’s invested in. Gleeson is able to unearth something really powerful with this, he’s stoic in his performance but there’s a constant bubbling of fear underneath. Also, a wonderful performance from Kerry Condon that’s just as witty as Farrell and another addition to the weird, quirky roles of Barry Keoghan.

It’s the dichotomy between these two opposing forces of the main characters that creates such a compelling story. Through them it’s explored whether or not one must cast aside the people they love in pursuit of something greater. The idea that one has to be surrounded by interesting people lest their life also become dull. There’s a particular poignant scene that debates the value of kindness in people that I found particularly compelling. Lots of meditative stuff here with a visionary voice behind the camera