The Banshees of Inisherin: An Absurd Irish Classic To Be

It was the surprise of the Oscars this year, it was nominated for a total of nine Oscars but didn't win any in the end. This actually made me want to watch it more. I was curious what this movie that had created such high expectations, but didn't have the power to reel in the Oscars.

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The Story

The film is set on an island just off the West Coast of Ireland and we follow Pádraic (played by Colin Farrell) during the 20's of the last century. Pádraic is a farmer living with his sister and donkey and his favorite past time is going to the local pub and drinking some pints. Every day he stops by his friend Colm to pick him up and together they head to the pub. However, one day he goes to pick Colm up and Colm ignores him at the door. Pádraic is very confused and finds out that Colm has decided he no longer wants to be friends and instead focus on his music.

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Pádraic, not the most intelligent Irishman refuses to accept that Colm doesn't want to be his friend anymore and keeps following him around and tries to pester him into staying his friend. Colm gets so fed up with the stalking of his former friend that he says that if Pádraic bothers him again he will cut off a finger. And trust me when I say that this is where the movie turns quite bizarre.

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The Movie Derails

This is the point the movie goes from a calm and at times even boring movie about friendship on this Irish island and it turns into a dark comedy with unexpected plot twists. In this second part the sister of Pádraic, Siobhán takes a more central stage as she is getting fed up with her brother and wants to leave the island. Other characters like Dominic, the not so smart possible friend replacement and his father Peadar, the local policeman also come through more in this second part of the movie.

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As others start to shine in this movie, the events between Colm and Pádraic come to a head, with Colm having to execute his earlier threat and a sad tragedy that befalls Pádraics donkey sets off a chain of events that keeps escalating. I will not spoil the plot for you, but things certainly heat up in the second part of the movie.

The Review

I personally really enjoyed this movie, although the second half really saved the rather slow moving first part of the movie. One of the highlights of the movie for me was the role of Siobhán, the sister who is a total power woman in a rather bleak Irish movie. I also really enjoyed the two faces of this movie and the more and more bizarre turn that events take towards the end of the movie.

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So all in all, I did really enjoy this movie, but I also understand what happened at the Oscars, that even though the setting is beautiful, the plot is suprising and it is great to see a true Irish movie it still does not fully deliver on its promise. At times a bit boring and slow moving.

Have you seen this movie yet, what were your thoughts?