The Banshees of Inisherin — Nearly a Masterclass in Writing
This one is another rare film where I knew nothing about it prior to it’s release other than seeing a random trailer for it when I went to watch another film. For some reason, this one caught the eye and the raving reviews since made me decide I’d check it out.
Set in the backdrop of the Irish Civil War on the island of Inisherin off the coast, this story follows Padraic and Colm, two inseparable best friends. Until one morning Colm decides he no longer wants anything to do with Padraic in order to focus on writing music. Baffled, Padraic tries to get to the bottom of it — unknowingly kickstarting a deadly feud.
Let’s start with the leads. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson carry the film on their shoulders when sharing the screen with witty one liners, clever comebacks and strong and impactful dialogue. They’re very good, but they also shine individually within their very well written characters.
We already know how good Colin Farrell is, but what director Martin McDonagh has done is give him room to have a bit of freedom. Padraic is at the start, a kind hearted, simple man whose nature slowly unravels as the film goes on — ending it almost a shadow of the man we are introduced to. A man initially unaffected by the world around him is ultimately reduced to everything he stands against when the weight of the events (no spoilers) take a toll.
Brendan Gleeson as Colm has an interesting arc. At first, he is the annoying, child like friend that seems to be having a hissy fit. However as we begin to understand what is actually going on the layers start to unpack themselves. He begins to unravel in his own way too, almost sabotaging himself in the process and losing sight of what he initially wanted.
The side characters play an important part too. Barry Keoghan as Dominic plays the village idiot with a dark background and ends up being pivotal to the story, while Kerry Condon as Siobhan, Padraic’s sister has plenty of energy, emotion and has an arc of her own.
The writing for the most part is the biggest strength of the film. Be it the character arcs or the dialogue it always feels impactful and it doesn’t take long for you to be invested and care about the people on screen.
Another strength is how it brings the environment to life. It’s not emphasized, but the setting of Inisherin seems to be it’s own character at times.
Where the film does fall is it’s screenplay. While the characters are interesting and the premise of the film works and keeps you interested, the actual events on screen do not. The set up is good and gets you hooked very quickly, and the climax definitely works as things build up to a crescendo and the film ends on a very open, sombre note. However the middle portion simply didn’t engage me.
The film does well to capture the essence of a rural Irish island and life in the small time village, and it tells a tale of two feuding friends and a conflict that will take them to the extremes of their belief systems, which will see them changed into completely different men.
It’s actually intriguing to watch it unfold — in parts that is. The characters are brilliantly well written, the performances are fantastic and the story does work. If not for a slightly flawed screenplay I may have called this a masterclass in writing.
“The Banshees of Inisherin” is out now in cinemas only.
Rating: 6.5/10
