The Banshees of Inisherin is an allegory for what happened in Ireland during the Irish Civil War period. Two friends falling out for hard-to-define reasons and mutilating themselves in the process. In the sister's final letter to Colin in one of the final scenes of the movie in which she laments the strange existence on Inisherin shes mispronounces Inisherin in the voiceover and says InisEireann, InisEireann translates from Irish to island Ireland.
I connected with this movie so much. I have anxiety and as a result have a ton of akward memories involving me and people that make me cringe every time I remember them. In that way, I connect heavily to Padriac in his constant need of knowing what people think of him and his awkwardness.
Spoiler - The line “how’s the despair” really changed my understanding of what was going on. After that line I realized he really just had trouble managing his emotions and was (unfairly imo) taking it out on his friend, and using him as a scarecrow to attack for his lack on contentment
I think why I loved it so much is I’ve never seen a film tackle these subjects, or at least tackle them in this way. The themes of mortality and how you deal with realizing you will die one day. One of the best written films I’ve ever seen.
I was so struck by this movie, and I definitely agree with Jake here. I think the priest asking Colm, "How's the despair?" is the most revealing part of the whole thing; aside from Padraic letter/monologue about things being good while he sobs alone in his bed. By the time the movie ends you can see that the isolation, the sameness, the creeping despair has touched each of the characters, especially the ones who fit into the life and never question it. Their stories all end in grief and loneliness, and the only one who escapes that fate is the one person who leaves the island behind.
This was an absolutely beautiful, funny, and melancholy movie. The writing and acting was so deft, by the end of the movie you feel like you know these characters despite the fact that you’ve only seen them for a few hours. To me the movie was very very current/contemporary in its themes. All the characters are struggling with the seductive pull of nihilism during moments of crisis and the allure of self destruction to give your life meaning. In moments of emotional bleakness, it can feel like “niceness” is pointless, or wasteful, but when the “niceness” is gone, everyone feels alone. The movie made me think about widespread emotional and interpersonal isolation, and how it can feel sometimes that violence or cruelty is the only language people have to connect with each other- pushing people away but still feeling alone, and lashing out just to incite some reaction. It broke my heart seeing everyone constantly shit on padraic (spelling?) for being dull or blandly pleasant to everyone, but when he finally caves and acts just as cynical as the rest of the island, you can see what impact it has on the spirits of the other characters. (Spoilers: Siobhan has to move away to get away from the fucking black hole of despair that Inisherin becomes, Dominic feels so betrayed by Padraic’s casual deception of the other guy)
My interpretation was that Colm was possessed by vanity in the face of death, not a genuine artistic spirit. The movie opened with Padraic smilling under a rainbow, living a fairy tale, content with his life. He then gets mistreated by people who use him as a prop to make themselves feel important, like his sister sometimes does, Colm and the policeman. His sister also understands him, she understands both Padraic and Colm. Padraic doesnt give up, because he cant relate to Colm, he doesnt gaze at death. At one point Padraic gets corrupted by everyone putting him down and then does the same to Dominic. Padraic spent 2 hours talking about his donkeys excrement, he is that fascinated by everyday life, he finds so much meaning in it. He loves animals, because they also are unable to gaze at death. The poster tells it all, Colm staring into the abyss, Padraic staring at his friend. Like a loyal dog that cant understand the existential angst of its owner.
I don't know how much the comedy in this was "Irish" but me and my Irish family all found it absolutely hilarious, in a way most of my British/American friends didn't seem to at all. One of my friends (who enjoyed it) even told me going in that it wasn't funny at all other than a couple of moments. Idk it was the funniest film I've seen in cinemas for a long long time, maybe ever
I'm not Irish but I've just started reading a lot of Irish literature so perhaps this recent exposure made me more attuned to the humor in this film because I also thought it was hilarious. I was cracking up every third line, so many bangers in one movie. Oh, and sorry for the late reply, just realized this video and your comment are over a month old!
I don't know if I see Whiplash fitting in as a double feature, if anything I think the Master would probably better fit the bill because that one is also about like a bitterweet friendship or McCabe & Mrs. Miller where the town in that movie and its coldness reminded me the cruelty of the island Inisherin.
Poor review. It was actually his left hand you silly goose! I found myself wondering why he chose to start with his left hand as that would be more crucial to playing violin. When he later said he felt relief having cut off all his fingers, I thought maybe it was because now there’s less pressure he can put on himself to make his mark and write a piece of music that will be remembered for centuries to come. His despair seemed to be coming from existential dread, but the physical realization of his amputations and what that means for his musical/life ambition (which we’re always chasing) finally having an endpoint seemed to help him grasp the concept of his own inevitable death and come to peace with it. Thanks for the discussion and recommendation. Really enjoyed this one :)
Love love loved this film. At once a ghost story, a political allegory, the supposed burden of creativity, and a religious fable. To me it felt like Padraic was the friend left behind after a friend offs themselves, questioning where and when he might have gone wrong. Inisherin is a purgatory for sure (keeping in line with McDonagh's other film In Bruges)
I had high hopes for this movie. It came out in september but where I live I had to wait til january. At its opening date I went to the cinema and what can I say? I love Three Billboards and In Bruges so I hoped this might live up to that high standard McDonagh set for himself. In my humble opinion its even better and I´ll watch it at least twice as soon as its released on VOD or Bluray or whatever. Although I´m not irish I still grew up in the countryside and had a falling out or two with best friends, so this movie really hit very close to home. All actors - and there´s like only 9 or so mostly on screen - are doing a phenomenal job.
I'll probably check this out, but out of curiosity, have you both watched a movie named In Bruges (if you mention it in this video I'm sorry, I stopped once I reached the spoiler section)? It came out 2008, was also directed by Martin McDonagh and also starred Colin Ferrel and Brendan Gleeson. It's an interesting film that I felt was awkwardly paced, but on purpose. Though, it has been a while since I've seen it. It's a dark comedy as well, and is also about Colin and Brendan's characters having a history together, going to a small town and dealing with a somewhat awkward situation between them. I'm curious how the movie feels thematically in comparison to this film. Anyways, I'm interested in checking this movie out. Since you both liked it, I'll probably bump it up on the list.
Nadia & Jake, can you guys review I Love My Dad on Hulu? it's about a dad that catfishes his son and the main actor / director is the one it happened to. IT IS OFF THE RAILS and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
The Banshees of Inisherin is an allegory for what happened in Ireland during the Irish Civil War period. Two friends falling out for hard-to-define reasons and mutilating themselves in the process. In the sister's final letter to Colin in one of the final scenes of the movie in which she laments the strange existence on Inisherin shes mispronounces Inisherin in the voiceover and says InisEireann, InisEireann translates from Irish to island Ireland.
that's really interesting
Yeah my mom and I realized this when leaving the movie theater and it made me appreciate the movie even more.
I connected with this movie so much. I have anxiety and as a result have a ton of akward memories involving me and people that make me cringe every time I remember them. In that way, I connect heavily to Padriac in his constant need of knowing what people think of him and his awkwardness.
Underrated performance from Kerry Condon as Siobhan. Absolutely sold what it would feel like to be trapped in isolation.
Spoiler
-
The line “how’s the despair” really changed my understanding of what was going on. After that line I realized he really just had trouble managing his emotions and was (unfairly imo) taking it out on his friend, and using him as a scarecrow to attack for his lack on contentment
Although I loved how this movie validates both perspectives, which just makes it tragic all around
I think why I loved it so much is I’ve never seen a film tackle these subjects, or at least tackle them in this way. The themes of mortality and how you deal with realizing you will die one day. One of the best written films I’ve ever seen.
I was so struck by this movie, and I definitely agree with Jake here. I think the priest asking Colm, "How's the despair?" is the most revealing part of the whole thing; aside from Padraic letter/monologue about things being good while he sobs alone in his bed. By the time the movie ends you can see that the isolation, the sameness, the creeping despair has touched each of the characters, especially the ones who fit into the life and never question it. Their stories all end in grief and loneliness, and the only one who escapes that fate is the one person who leaves the island behind.
This was an absolutely beautiful, funny, and melancholy movie. The writing and acting was so deft, by the end of the movie you feel like you know these characters despite the fact that you’ve only seen them for a few hours. To me the movie was very very current/contemporary in its themes. All the characters are struggling with the seductive pull of nihilism during moments of crisis and the allure of self destruction to give your life meaning. In moments of emotional bleakness, it can feel like “niceness” is pointless, or wasteful, but when the “niceness” is gone, everyone feels alone. The movie made me think about widespread emotional and interpersonal isolation, and how it can feel sometimes that violence or cruelty is the only language people have to connect with each other- pushing people away but still feeling alone, and lashing out just to incite some reaction. It broke my heart seeing everyone constantly shit on padraic (spelling?) for being dull or blandly pleasant to everyone, but when he finally caves and acts just as cynical as the rest of the island, you can see what impact it has on the spirits of the other characters. (Spoilers: Siobhan has to move away to get away from the fucking black hole of despair that Inisherin becomes, Dominic feels so betrayed by Padraic’s casual deception of the other guy)
My favorite film of 2022. McDonagh can write dialogue like no other.
My whole family was thoroughly miserable after watching this, but as the days went on, we loved it. Canadians can watch this on Disney Plus
hahaha i think that's the perfect response to the movie
I watched this in the cinema alone which really emphasized the feeling of loneliness!
My interpretation was that Colm was possessed by vanity in the face of death, not a genuine artistic spirit. The movie opened with Padraic smilling under a rainbow, living a fairy tale, content with his life. He then gets mistreated by people who use him as a prop to make themselves feel important, like his sister sometimes does, Colm and the policeman. His sister also understands him, she understands both Padraic and Colm. Padraic doesnt give up, because he cant relate to Colm, he doesnt gaze at death. At one point Padraic gets corrupted by everyone putting him down and then does the same to Dominic. Padraic spent 2 hours talking about his donkeys excrement, he is that fascinated by everyday life, he finds so much meaning in it. He loves animals, because they also are unable to gaze at death. The poster tells it all, Colm staring into the abyss, Padraic staring at his friend. Like a loyal dog that cant understand the existential angst of its owner.
I don't know how much the comedy in this was "Irish" but me and my Irish family all found it absolutely hilarious, in a way most of my British/American friends didn't seem to at all. One of my friends (who enjoyed it) even told me going in that it wasn't funny at all other than a couple of moments. Idk it was the funniest film I've seen in cinemas for a long long time, maybe ever
I'm not Irish but I've just started reading a lot of Irish literature so perhaps this recent exposure made me more attuned to the humor in this film because I also thought it was hilarious. I was cracking up every third line, so many bangers in one movie.
Oh, and sorry for the late reply, just realized this video and your comment are over a month old!
I don't know if I see Whiplash fitting in as a double feature, if anything I think the Master would probably better fit the bill because that one is also about like a bitterweet friendship or McCabe & Mrs. Miller where the town in that movie and its coldness reminded me the cruelty of the island Inisherin.
i see those two with it as well, especially mccabe
Another black comedy movie from Martin McDonagh. While I liked it, I understand that it might not be to everyone's tastes.
I wouldn't call it a comedy but it.has a lot of funny moments in it
Poor review. It was actually his left hand you silly goose!
I found myself wondering why he chose to start with his left hand as that would be more crucial to playing violin. When he later said he felt relief having cut off all his fingers, I thought maybe it was because now there’s less pressure he can put on himself to make his mark and write a piece of music that will be remembered for centuries to come. His despair seemed to be coming from existential dread, but the physical realization of his amputations and what that means for his musical/life ambition (which we’re always chasing) finally having an endpoint seemed to help him grasp the concept of his own inevitable death and come to peace with it.
Thanks for the discussion and recommendation. Really enjoyed this one :)
Love love loved this film. At once a ghost story, a political allegory, the supposed burden of creativity, and a religious fable. To me it felt like Padraic was the friend left behind after a friend offs themselves, questioning where and when he might have gone wrong. Inisherin is a purgatory for sure (keeping in line with McDonagh's other film In Bruges)
Great discussion.
I had high hopes for this movie. It came out in september but where I live I had to wait til january. At its opening date I went to the cinema and what can I say? I love Three Billboards and In Bruges so I hoped this might live up to that high standard McDonagh set for himself. In my humble opinion its even better and I´ll watch it at least twice as soon as its released on VOD or Bluray or whatever. Although I´m not irish I still grew up in the countryside and had a falling out or two with best friends, so this movie really hit very close to home. All actors - and there´s like only 9 or so mostly on screen - are doing a phenomenal job.
I'll probably check this out, but out of curiosity, have you both watched a movie named In Bruges (if you mention it in this video I'm sorry, I stopped once I reached the spoiler section)? It came out 2008, was also directed by Martin McDonagh and also starred Colin Ferrel and Brendan Gleeson. It's an interesting film that I felt was awkwardly paced, but on purpose. Though, it has been a while since I've seen it. It's a dark comedy as well, and is also about Colin and Brendan's characters having a history together, going to a small town and dealing with a somewhat awkward situation between them. I'm curious how the movie feels thematically in comparison to this film.
Anyways, I'm interested in checking this movie out. Since you both liked it, I'll probably bump it up on the list.
Nadia & Jake, can you guys review I Love My Dad on Hulu? it's about a dad that catfishes his son and the main actor / director is the one it happened to. IT IS OFF THE RAILS and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
This movie made me sad! 😢 great review guys
So happy you guys reviewed this!!
I can always trust a Jake and Nadia reccomendation! Watched today and loved it!
I really want to hear your thoughts on 20th Century Irish literature if you liked this!
i luv this fecking movie and Ireland looks amazing
Also review mindhunter. I think it's David Fincher's best work.
I absolutely LOVED this movie!!!
Oh shit, first time I've ever been first, cool. Love y'alls content.
❤❤❤
first :)
I found this movie bloody annoying and stupid. I guess it was too close for comfort.
Nadia just beasted this analysis maybe she should be the one reviewing books lol