The Banshees of Inisherin
2022 · Directed by Martin McDonagh
Original language: English
- drama
- comedy
The story
Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.
What it’s like
Wide, weathered landscapes on a windswept island: stone walls, grey-green fields and a pale sea shot in steady, composed frames, with a palette of muted greens, peat browns and cold whitewashed cottages. Much of it unfolds in static two-shots and long, unhurried takes, so the awkward silences between characters sit on screen as long as the characters do. The score is sparse and melancholy, built on plaintive strings and near-silence broken by wind, gulls and the clink of a pub glass. Its vibe is bleak, wry and bittersweet, a dark comedy about stubborn pride and the damage of a sudden rift, with the deadpan humour arriving in the same breath as real unease. Pacing is deliberate, with comedy that lands through rhythm and dialogue rather than slapstick. Intensity is moderate and sudden: there is some drinking, a few sharp outbursts of cruelty, and one shocking act of self-harm handled quickly and without gore, plus an intermittent background of violence from the Irish Civil War. Its arc follows two old friends locked in a painful standoff that grows harder to bear. It suits a rainy evening for viewers who enjoy melancholy, sharp literate dialogue and quiet absurdity, though it is not gentle.
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