‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ Movie Review - Fingers, Family, and Friendship

The Banshees of Inisherin is a movie filled with heart-wrenching and mind-numbing scenes. It involves a whole lot of finger-cutting and friendship-breaking. The film stars Brendon Gleeson and Colin Farrell in a striking Irish coast setting. Martin McDonagh directed and wrote this fictional masterpiece.

In the movie, Colm (played by Brendon Gleeson) tells his lifelong friend Padraic (Colin Farrell) that if Padraic tried to speak a single word to him, then Colm would cut off his musical fingers one by one. If Padraic decides to approach Colm after that, Colm would cut another finger and so forth. Yes, it sounded like an overreaction to me too. However, McDonagh doesn't mess around and neither do his characters. Colm’s threat takes a real form and McDonagh uses gory images and clips to show the violence of friendship and tragedy. Although The Banshees of Inisherin is quite violent physically, the real damage is more emotional and psychological for the viewers.

A movie like this leaves you thinking for hours on end until you have completely absorbed the plot and altered your personality to it. The all-Irish cast was an instant hit among the audience.

The movie is set in the 1920s off the coast of Ireland. The story follows Colm and Padraic who have been close friends for decades. They have a fixed routine where Padraic knocks on Colm’s door at exactly 2 in the afternoon and they both walk towards the local pub to have a drink. One day, Colm decides to up and leave without any explanation whatsoever. He wishes to pursue a career in music and leave behind a legacy as Mozart did. Colm thinks Padraic is dull and wishes to leave Padraic behind while pursuing a more meaningful life. The Banshees of Inisherin follow the life of Colm trying to avoid Padraic at all costs and Padraic doing everything he can to understand why Colm left.

In the process of following their friendship, the audience is acquainted with the simplicity of the Irish coast and the cliched people with their designations. 

In my opinion, this movie is easily one of the best films I’ve ever seen. Heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time is what gets a movie to be 100% good. The beauty of the film lies in it being cut off from reality, i.e. the mainland. There is no need for politics and games but violence always finds a way through it all. McDonagh portrays just that in his Irish film.

The haunting tones of this movie captured my attention. I loved the way the waves crashed the shore and the characters reminded me of times we’ve all had. The lockdown could be our own personal bubble and like Colm, our lives slipped away while we tried to hold on to what we had. 

The innocence and the love we had for each other and the truth was all lost and the Banshees of Inisherin showed exactly that. If you’re looking for a movie that will make you think and break your heart, this movie is perfect for you.

Final Score- [9.5/10]
Reviewed by - Jess Doshi
Follow @JessDoshi on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times