Almost 15 years on from In Bruges, co-stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson and director/writer Martin McDonagh reunite to create another instant dark tragi-comedy classic in The Banshees Of Inisherin.
As the title suggests, the setting is Inisherin, a timeless island off the west coast of Ireland. It’s a remote, rolling rural idyll that runs on unremarkable routines.
One of these is that, every day at 3pm, Pádraic (a career-best Farrell) calls for his best pal Colm (Gleeson) and they go to the pub.
Until one fateful day, when Colm refuses to come out to play. ‘I just don’t like you no more,’ is his only explanation. ‘What is he, 12?!’ boggles the local young simpleton (Barry Keoghan).
An all-round nice guy, Pádraic is admittedly a stupendous bore, who can literally talk for hours about his donkey’s droppings, as his long-suffering sister (Kerry Condon) can attest.
But is that any excuse for Colm’s behaviour?
From this small story, McDonagh (who also directed Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – he clearly enjoys a verbose title) spins a masterwork.
The two men’s conflict is a microcosm of the Civil War literally rumbling away over on the mainland, but this isn’t a movie that’ll club you over the head with metaphors.
It’s far more subtle and supple work.
And outrageously funny too. In a way, Colm is like a deranged Father Ted to Pádraic’s Father Dougal.
You’ll ponder the boundaries of kindness and gaze into the existential void, all whilst having a laugh.
A movie that approaches big themes with deceptive simplicity. A work of absurdist genius.
The Banshees Of Inisherin is in cinemas from Octtober 21
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