The Civil War Between Friends: Banshees of Inisherin
The Civil War Between Friends: Banshees of Inisherinon
At what cost does friendship come? Should friendships last even if it is holding you back at some point? And where do civility and niceness equate in relating to one another?
The Banshees of Inisherin is a masterpiece of tragi-comic proportion about two friends who had a falling out. Colm, played by Brendan Gleeson suddenly no longer wants to be friends with Padraic (Colin Farrell) who is simple and prefers tending to his cows, and his beloved donkey. Colm on the other hand wants to explore music and the arts and make more from life. Set on a remote island in Ireland in the 1920s where the Irish civil war was going on. The hostilities on the mainland parallel the tension between former friends. A simple premise but soon enough we discover the layers of complexity that touch on important points regarding change, civility, the meaning of life, significance, and contribution amidst the onslaught of time. Colm says, "I do worry sometimes I might just be entertaining myself while staving off the inevitable."
The tension betwee the simple, obstinate Padraic who refuses to acknowledge the world can and is changing, and Colm's agressive and abrupt way of embracing new things is emblematic of how our world can be diametrically poles apart, and therefore civil wars of some sort take place all around us. For Colm it was easy to give up a friendship for a greater purpose of seeking out new things, and of making a contribution. He would even go to extreme measures just to prove his resolve. Padraic however pines for harmony, and letting things go by quietly and simply. Both noble endeavors, both equally important and thus makes for profound tragedy.
I love the way cinematography captures the bewildering beauty and expanse of Ireland, and but also the walls along the fields to better contrast the seeming vastness but constricting structures built to illustrate how closed-off society and people can be. In a tiny, close-knit society where conventions and interrelations can become claustrophobic, is "niceness" a necessary ingredient to sustain it? There's a lot of ugliness in the world, even in a gorgeous island of haunting beauty. Siobhan (Kerry Condon) feels constricted in a world where intellect is not given premium. Dominic's (played brilliantly by Barry Keoghan) plight poignantly underscores humanity's capacity for monstrosity. How can we relate to one another as we look into our own ugliness?
The reunion of Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and writer/director Martin McDonagh is much-anticipated. It’s been a long time since “In Bruges,” and yes, the wait is worth it. The acting is flawless the actors get lost in the characters and become them. You no longer see Colin or Brendan or the rest of the excellent cast as actors playing the role, but the people inhabiting that story. You get drawn in and get invested in the tensions and the way the community relates to one another on the island. While Brendan Fraser is the popular choice for top acting trophies this season of award-giving
for his role in “The Whale,” I daresay Colin is a very strong contender. I hope he gets the Oscar nod. I love the delicate balance of warmth, humanity and humor in the film. There are terribly dark moments in the film, but also laugh out loud moments. Hefty but light, dark but also enlighteniing, this is a beautiful film worth discussing and having long conversation with. Over a pint in a cozy Irish pub set on a beautiful coast, mayhaps?
Wish I can revisit Ireland 😃
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