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The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) Dir. Martin McDonagh

Where do I start with this one?  

Again I don't want to give too much away, but this is a film that will stay with me for a very long time, a very, very long time. 

I do not go to the movies very much, and for someone with a BA  double majoring in Media and Screen Culture, I know the irony.  I love watching films, I especially love movies that are about the human experience.  And this one is certainly about the human experience.  




Now, before I go forward I want to warn spoilers may be lurking ahead.

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)  is set in 1923 and from the island of Inisherin, you can see the impact of the civil war across the bay. (which the film narrative is a metaphor for). The film starts as a comedy, albeit a dark comedy. But to me, this film at about the halfway point turns into a horror film, with Colm (Brendan Gleeson) as the chief protagonist in the storyline. From about the halfway point I was sitting on the edge of my seat just dreading what was to come next.  And I was right to be.  

It is beautifully filmed, with a stirring score, and strong direction. The design is amazing with all the main buildings actually built for the movie itself. So sadly no going for a pint at JJ Devines's Pub.(https://www.timeout.com/news/where-was-the-banshees-of-inisherin-filmed-011323)  The actors are all brilliant, I knew of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson beforehand but I hadn't heard of the actor that played Dominic in the film, Barry Keoghan, but his performance was so touching and a real standout. Kerry Condon's performance as Siobhan too rings so true.   

Was it an easy film to watch?  No, not at all.  Would I watch it again, yes, but probably not for a little while yet.  I did once overhear a conversation where two women were discussing having just seen the film and the word they used to describe it stuck with me yep that got it right they call it devasting. 

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