The Banshees of Inisherin
The Banshees of Inisherin is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated R. Common Sense says 15,
STORY: B+
A dim, sweet farmer on the Irish isle of Inisherin wakes up one day to find himself mysteriously and abruptly dumped by his best friend. Inisherin’s cobblestone lined roads bend and twist across its gorgeous green fields. The story doesn’t. It’s fiercely straightforward, yet still possesses a tantalizing ability to surprise.
It’s funny. It’s dark. It’s as charming and inviting as a countryside Irish pub. It’s a spellbinding way to spend a couple of your hours’ time. Is it important? After much thought, I think so. The story is dense and rich enough that you should find something worthwhile to chew on, if that’s your fancy. But it will take some work.
PEOPLE: A+
Colin Farrrell (Penguin from The Batman) and Brendan Gleeson (Knuckles McGinty from Paddington 2) are powerhouses. Farrell’s Pádraic is understated and layered. The place he lives has taken its toll on him, yet it’s also the essential keystone of his identity. Gleeson’s Colm is stoic, stubborn, and subtly but utterly unhinged, which is always the most terrifying type of unhinged-ness.
Kelly Condon (Better Call Saul), Barry Keoghan (Eternals), Gary Lydon (Brooklyn), and Sheila Flitton (The Northman) all deliver phenomenal performances as well. Yet it’s the townies - the barkeeps, the store clerks, the clergy - who transport us, making us believe we’re actually in a place called Inisherin.
Finally, if there were an Academy award for Best Animal Performance, Jenny the donkey would be a lock for a nomination. A poignant and masterful performance from the ass.
FILM GEEK STUFF: A
Most film geeks will gush over the film’s cinematography, and rightfully so. The Irish countryside smothers us in a lush, gorgeous bear hug. The waves sing us a blissful ASMR tune. The cinematography also chips to help with the storytelling. An early shot shows Pádraic at Colm’s window, inviting him for a pint. As Pádraic walks away, his reflection in the window is replaced by the ocean waves, which seem to swallow Colm up in their discontent. It’s a perfect metaphor for the next phase of their relationship.
Right before that shot, Pádraic calmly knocks on Colm’s door. What you see and what you hear don’t match. It’s a normal knock, but it’s way too loud. Is Inisherin a magical island where doors boom like thunder? That would be so cool, but I doubt it. It’s actually the sound editors setting us up for a pivotal scene later on where we need to hear … something … knock against a door that we might not be able to hear in real life.
CIRCLES OF CONTENTMENT (Elective Class): B
Do you know about animal ranges? It’s the idea that every animal travels only as far as necessary to hunt. Some animals can find their food in a small radius, so they don’t travel much. Others need to roam a much larger radius to find enough food for survival. Humans have mostly outgrown the need for a large hunting radius. Mine is only about a mile wide: it contains a Kroger, an IHOP, two Chipotles, and seventeen Starbucks.
But I think humans now have something I call a radius of contentment. Here’s what I mean: some folks are happy enough to never leave their hometown (small radius of contentment). Others need to constantly move, scouring the globe for new adventures (large radius of contentment). No one radius is better than the others. I think each person is wired in a way where one works best for them. Much of the film’s conflict is built by the friction created when people aren’t in their ideal radius. What happens when we’re forced to live outside our ideal radius? What does that do to a person? What ends would you go to in order to live in your ideal radius? How long can relationships last when these radii keep causing chaos?
FINAL COMMENTS:
Raise a pint. The Banshees of Inisherin is film-craft at its highest level. It’s an unbelievably well made film that will delight and enthrall all who dare step upon its sublimely charming shores.