Film Rec of the Week: The Banshees of Inisherin

Martin McDonagh’s latest film The Banshees of Inisherin is a nearly perfect film with a most unsettling premise and a chilling, albeit near-perfect final scene. But that’s only half the rub. Set on a fictitious remote island off the coast of Ireland in the early 1920s, Banishees focuses on farmer Padraic (Colin Farrell) and his lifelong friend Colm, a folk musician. (Brendan Gleeson).

When Colm decides he’s ready for a break in their friendship, Padraic Is beside himself and cannot figure out why. What ensues is equal parts humorous, hackneyed and ultimately, quite absorbing. Gorgeously photographed by Ben Davis, expertly acted by all parties and buttressed by a note-perfect score from Carter Burwell, Banshees is McDonagh at his finest. From first to final frame, Banshees is dark, sarcastic and in many ways lyrical, lovelorn and fable-like. As Padraic suddenly tries to make sense of this rift in friendship he turns to his sister (Kerry Condon) and a troubled teen (Barry Keoghan).

Banshees is McDonagh’s first film since the much acclaimed Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and first in Europe since In Bruges. That film is also the last time Farrell and Gleeson shared the screen in a McDonagh film. While that much-acclaimedt film was hilarious, exciting and spellbinding, Banshees is much different. Somber, simple and ultimately quite stirring Banshees is arguably McDonagh’s best film to date.

Banshees debuted in September at the Venice International Film Festival where Farrell won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and McDonag won for Best Screenplay and was notated for a Golden Lion. Whether it has Oscar success remains to be seen but for now it is without a doubt one of the best films we’ve seen this year.