Sunday, 26 February 2023

VOD: The Banshees Of Inisherin (dir: Martin McDonagh, 2022)

"I didn't think we were rowin'..."

Two life-long friends and drinking buddies in a tiny remote coastal village in 1920s Ireland have a sudden and sad falling-out with increasingly drastic consequences in another winner from writer/director Martin McDonagh.  Its simplicity of concept and Beckett-styled dialogue is allied with the depth of feelings in less complicated times, written and delivered with genuine emotion and characteristic streaks of wry humour.  Performances are sublime; Colin Farrell (outstanding here) and Brendan Gleeson are masters of control in finely-matched performances, and Barry Keoghan and Pat Shortt do lovely comedic character work in support (not forgetting the scene-stealing Jenny the donkey!).  With its parallels to the Irish Civil War that is present on the mainland across from this island setting, this seemingly simple fable of an inexplicably fractured friendship digs deep into the characters and their lives beautifully in this whimsical, powerful, moving and hugely entertaining tale that is delivered impeccably.
 

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