The Banshees of Inisherin

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peter
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The Banshees of Inisherin

Post by peter »

If you were a fan of Martin McDonagh's In Bruges then you may well be pleased to see the two lead actors (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) reunited for a second outing, but in a very different film with an entirely different feel.

This time the two actors play a pair of 'friends' on an island off the coast of Ireland (and when one of them complains of his life being dull, this is pointed out with the additional comment, "What do you expect?"). The tale starts off with the relationship between the two erstwhile pals suddenly taking a difficult turn and things go down hill from there. In short Gleeson's older and wiser character suddenly, and for no fathomable reason to the more simple Farrell one, refuses to continue his friendship with the latter. The film charts the decline in their relationship and investigates what might be behind it.

Being set in what, early twentieth century Ireland (or an island there off) it is inevitable that the unrest of the country and the mystical nature of the place should both feature strongly in the tale, but in some ways this is almost a fairy story without the fairies. The one person in it who sits on the border of the different worlds - fairy and real - is a frightening character, malevolent and knowing in equal measure, and not someone you would be pleased to see walking toward you in an Irish lane or anywhere else (come to that).

Now I saw one review of this film where the reviewer said that he had laughed uncontrollably for the first half of the film. I don't know what film he was watching, but it wasn't the same one as I was seeing. To me the film has an almost inevitable quality of tragedy in the waiting about it. I agree with the reviewer that the story is really about the inevitability of our mortality and the fear of passing without having left a trace, but this, while its made pretty plain, is never lingered on with long dissertations or dialectics. The story is told and it is what it is.

And what it is, is very good!

This is an uncompromising film, beautifully played by all of the actors and absolutely nailed to a tee with the settings, and it will stay with you for a long time after you have seen it. The open countryside is matched by a spareness in the dialogue where nothing is wasted, but nothing is left out either. The characters are more complex than they at first seem - especially Farrell and the rapidly rising Barry Keoghan, who's star should be watched very carefully - and they go through changes as the film develops.

But the last word must go to the unnerving 'wise woman' who's brooding presence sits over the film like a malicious vulture, orchestrating (?) from afar, events that will change the lives of the protagonists in ways they cannot imagine. Told that her predictions are "not very nice" by the bewildered Farrell character after he fails to avoid her in aforementioned country lane, she replies, "I'm not trying to be nice. I'm trying to be accurate."
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.

....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'

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Post by wayfriend »

Two movies with the same name? And practically the same plot?
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Post by Fist and Faith »

It's crazy! The companies should have checked with each other.
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Post by StevieG »

:lol:
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Post by peter »

:biggrin:

Yeah, well - Irish init?

;)
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.

....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'

We are the Bloodguard
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Post by peter »

Pleased to see that the film did well at the Golden Globes winning the best musical or comedy award.

I'll buy the black comedy label for the film - but with the reservation that the comedy is so deeply overshadowed by the darkness and almost menace of the story as to be for all intents and purposes irrelevant.

I should add to what I wrote above that the tale has an almost but not quite twist at the end which makes it all the more fascinating.

It's not the kind of film that would usually do well at the Oscars - but in the absence of any real other contenders it may feature here as well.

Generally it has to be admitted,that 2022 does not stand out as a beacon of great film making/releasing. The Banshee's of Inisherin would stand out in any year as a great piece of work however.
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.

....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'

We are the Bloodguard
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Post by Rigel »

Loved this film, and I agree with the reviewer who laughed throughout it. Although I will happily admit that I found it equally disturbing and funny!

Favorite line: "I'm not putting my donkey out when I'm sad!"
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Post by wayfriend »

I can't think of too many movies that are about the heartache of a friend dumping you. I enjoyed it for this reason, among others.

The thing about the donkey is that it exposes the poverty of male friendships. A man can admit to a fondness for his donkey but not for his best friend.

I suppose if I understood anything about the Irish civil war, this movie would have had some additional implications. But it stood well on it's own, so.
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Post by Rigel »

wayfriend wrote:I suppose if I understood anything about the Irish civil war, this movie would have had some additional implications.
After watching it I looked up reviews online, and found a lot of comments saying how heavy handed it was as a metaphor for the civil war, so... probably? But I know nothing about it, and still enjoyed the film.
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Post by peter »

Brother against brother in a pointless exercise from which no-one emerges any the better?
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.

....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'

We are the Bloodguard
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Post by wayfriend »

Maybe. But I'm left wondering if such things as burning down the house or the finger stuff correlated to some specific part of that war.
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Post by peter »

Could be Wayfriend.

I notice that the film has been given some stick for an apparent stereotyping of the Irish as a dim insular people, backward in thinking and crudely simple in action.

While initially minded to view such criticism as silly, giving it a bit more thought.......

:?
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.

....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'

We are the Bloodguard
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The Banshees of Inisherin

Post by Skyweir »

Is there two threads on this movie??
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