About The Banshees of Inisherin
Post 1281:
I’m a huge fan of “quirky” stories. If you want the guy well-versed on the newest big budget thing, I’m generally not the one to go to. For instance, I appreciate that there are millions of people who will love the new Avatar movie, but I myself tried to watch the first one and couldn't see it through. I attempted to watch the latest superhero thing. Nope. I tend toward the eccentric and niche, and the bigger films can be boilerplate.
There’s nothing wrong with that. Boilerplate can be done well. Sometimes a lot better than the artsy stuff I like. The artsy stuff can be pretentious and pointless and up its own ass. Still, I flock to the off-beat. With that out of the way, I was very interested to see The Banshees of Inisherin, a recent release. It might be playing in theaters. I watched it on the HBO. From the writer/director of In Bruges and starring Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell. This was a must-see for me.
It’s a strange movie, that’s for sure. Not a lot happens. Most of the conflict is internal. The premise is simple enough. At least at first. Then it becomes quite complicated. And weird. A small cast of characters react to what at first seems like a small thing in all different kinds of ways.
You’ll find this out in the first few minutes, so it’s not a spoiler. Basically, one friend says to another friend that he doesn’t want to hang out anymore. Apparently they were super close. That’s all over with, says the elder guy. When the younger guy asks for a reason, it’s not exactly an answer that gives him closure. He doesn’t understand. And he can’t take the hint.
I’ll say a few things about the main narrative. It can be as deep or as silly as you choose to view it. I think the filmmaker wants to show that sometimes things simply run their course. One day you like someone’s company—the next, not at all. We can all relate. There are relationships that keep regenerating, that never get boring, even when they’re hard. Then there’s the ones that run out of steam. You don’t know what happened, and don’t know what to say. The hard part is trying to explain it, to yourself and to the other person. It’s a sad thing that happens between people but it’s very real. When there’s no one to blame, it can be particularly frustrating.
And maybe there is someone to blame when any relationship comes to a close. But unless it’s an overt slight, it can be hard to know. We need our companionship. It validates and comforts us. Tells us that we’re worth being around. If someone rejects you or you reject them, it’s a hard pill, blame or no blame. Friends are some of life’s greatest gifts. A real conversation is something money can’t buy.
Getting back to the film, I’d like to have seen a bit more story. The pace can be tedious. I loved the picturesque setting and the early 20th century Irish language. It’s funny as hell sometimes, sad as hell. The Irish are at war on the mainland and you get some historical context by way of that. Plus I think the fighting is a fairly obvious metaphor for the conflict between the two main characters. I’d recommend it if you are looking for something a little different. The acting is top notch. Especially Colin Farrell and the woman that plays his sister. They work really well together. I thought Brendan Gleeson was written a bit too enigmatic. I didn't get him the way I think I was supposed to. Perhaps on a rewatch.
Later, friends. I hope we never break up. If we do, I hope it’s for a good reason. Cheers and see you after.
