The Banshees of Inisherin (Film)

The Banshees of Inisherin is a 2022 dramatic black comedy film written and directed by Martin McDonagh. The film is set on Inisherin, a remote and fictional Irish island. The events that unfold after the sudden end of a long-standing friendship are explored within the context of small-town life, loneliness, and the search for identity.

A scene from the film (IMDb)

Plot Summary

The film is set in the early 1920s on the fictional Irish island of Inisherin and centers on the relationship between Pádraic and Colm, two longtime friends. After Colm abruptly ends their friendship, Pádraic struggles to understand why and makes repeated efforts to reconcile. Colm’s unwavering resolve transforms the situation into a tragicomedy. The film examines this conflict through the lens of the island’s limited social interactions, the characters’ inner loneliness, and their quests for identity.

Characters

Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell): The central character of the film. He is bewildered and heartbroken when his longtime friend Colm suddenly ends their friendship. He stands out for his naive and emotionally sensitive nature.

Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson): Pádraic’s former friend. He ends the friendship to make the rest of his life more meaningful. He is a thoughtful and introspective character.

Siobhán Súilleabháin (Kerry Condon): Pádraic’s sister. She shares a home with him. She supports her brother as a rational and emotionally balanced figure.

Dominic Kearney (Barry Keoghan): He emerges as the island’s innocent and marginalized youth. He is a naive character who is not taken seriously by the community.

Garda Peadar Kearney (Gary Lydon): The island’s police officer and Dominic’s father. He maintains a distant relationship with those around him due to his authoritarian and stern demeanor.

Jonjo Devine (Patt Shortt): The owner of the island’s only tavern.

Mrs. McCormick (Sheila Flitton): A mysterious and ominous figure. She becomes the subject of local rumors and adds symbolic depth to the events.

Mrs. O’Riordan (Bríd Ní Neachtain): She runs a shop on the island selling meat and dairy products. She is a watchful secondary character who follows local gossip.

Colm Doherty (IMDb)

Production and Technical Details

The Banshees of Inisherin was shot in English and produced in color. The sound mix was completed in Dolby Digital format. The film’s aspect ratio is 2.39:1. The production used Arri Alexa Mini LF cameras with Arri Signature Prime lenses and Blackmagic Ursa 12K Pro cameras. Laboratory work was carried out at Goldcrest Post in London, United Kingdom. The film’s digital original negative was recorded using the Codex system. The cinematographic process employed ARRIRAW (4.5K) as the source format, digital intermediate processing was done at 4K resolution, and the print film was prepared in D-Cinema format.

Filming took place on locations in County Galway, Ireland, including Inis Mór, Achill Island, Keem Bay, and Atlantic Drive. The shooting period spanned from 22 August 2021 to 23 October 2021.

Themes

The Banshees of Inisherin explores themes of isolation and loneliness on both individual and societal levels. The abrupt rupture between Colm and Pádraic highlights the fragility of human relationships and the challenges of communication. The film examines the characters’ quests for identity and their reevaluation of personal values within the context of a small, insular island community. Social pressure, gossip, and limited social circles intensify personal conflicts.

Ireland’s historical and political context is addressed symbolically in the film. The conflict between Colm and Pádraic can be read as a metaphor for the separatist tensions between Northern and Southern Ireland and the ideological divisions tied to nationalism. The island, in this context, represents both geographic boundaries and social and cultural divisions, reflecting the complexities of community cohesion, conflict, and identity within small societies.

Pádraic Súilleabháin and his donkey Jenny (IMDb)

Critical Reception

The Banshees of Inisherin received generally positive reviews from both critics and audiences. According to IMDb user ratings, the film scored 7.7 out of 10. Based on Rotten Tomatoes data, the film earned a 96% positive rating from critics, with high approval across 377 reviews. The audience score was determined at 75%.

Major Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards (2023)

• Best Picture – Nominated
• Best Director – Martin McDonagh (Nominated)
• Best Actor – Colin Farrell (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actor – Brendan Gleeson (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actor – Barry Keoghan (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actress – Kerry Condon (Nominated)
• Best Original Screenplay – Martin McDonagh (Nominated)
• Best Film Editing – Mikkel E.G. Nielsen (Nominated)
• Best Original Score – Carter Burwell (Nominated)

Golden Globe Awards (2023)

• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy – Won
• Best Actor – Musical or Comedy – Colin Farrell (Won)
• Best Screenplay – Martin McDonagh (Won)
• Best Director – Martin McDonagh (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actor – Brendan Gleeson (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actor – Barry Keoghan (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actress – Kerry Condon (Nominated)
• Best Original Score – Carter Burwell (Nominated)

BAFTA Awards (British Academy Film Awards) (2023)

• Best Supporting Actor – Barry Keoghan (Won)
• Best Supporting Actress – Kerry Condon (Won)
• Best Original Screenplay – Martin McDonagh (Won)
• Best British Film – Martin McDonagh, Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin (Won)
• Best Picture – Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin, Martin McDonagh (Nominated)
• Best Director – Martin McDonagh (Nominated)
• Best Actor – Colin Farrell (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actor – Brendan Gleeson (Nominated)
• Best Editing – Mikkel E.G. Nielsen (Nominated)
• Best Original Music – Carter Burwell (Nominated)

Screen Actors Guild Awards (2023)

• Best Actor – Colin Farrell (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actor – Brendan Gleeson (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actor – Barry Keoghan (Nominated)
• Best Supporting Actress – Kerry Condon (Nominated)
• Best Cast – Kerry Condon, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan (Nominated)

A scene from the film (IMDb)

Additional Information

• During filming, Colin Farrell experienced several mishaps with animals. While feeding the miniature donkey Jenny, he was kicked by the animal. The dog belonging to the character portrayed by Brendan Gleeson bit Farrell. The horse pulling Farrell’s carriage attempted to drag it into the ocean.
• The term “banshee” refers in Irish folklore to a spirit that heralds a family member’s death through wailing, shrieking, or similar means. It is the English adaptation of the Old Irish term “bean sí.”
• Filming concluded with the film’s final scene. Director Martin McDonagh revealed that he decided on the story’s ending only after completing the rest of the film.