The Banshees of Inisherin

The Banshees of Inisherin begins as a tale of inflated ego, but grows into an otherworldly tale of kindness and vanity. Farrell and Gleeson excel again under the direction of McDonagh. The superb dialogue, the search for the reason for it all and the very slowly escalating conflict are absorbing and, apart from a minor slower passage in the middle, it is an excellent piece of work. Burwell's minimalist music fits beautifully. (17/12/2022)

A pleasant, cruel conversational movie about the fact that sometimes you can simply hate your neighbour for no apparent reason. There isn’t anything especially deep about it; it’s just a pleasantly thick stout with white foam in the form of a great central duo and a setting that’s as hearty as its inhabitants. (14/01/2023)

I tell myself that this is exactly how every girl I try in all honesty to make contact with must feel: she'd rather cut off her fingers and throw them on my doorstep than answer me. McDonagh's once again wipes its ass with Hollywood clichés and serves up another searing relationship film about people separated from the "norm" of civilization, alternating funny and bizarre scenes with tragic ones in a balanced rhythm. It is about the boundless loneliness of those people who have chosen such a life for themselves, as well as those who are in it involuntarily, a morally pure and naive versus skeptical view of the world. And the fact that sooner or later they'll converge. There was no twist that grounded me this time, and the character of the old fortune teller seemed a bit unnecessary, but I will definitely be thinking about this film for some time. Only I don't know yet if it's because of the overall message, or just because of some scenes and the performances. (16/12/2022)

A completely unconventional film about friendship that begins with the fact that the friendship suddenly ends unilaterally. Of playwright Martin McDonagh's films to date, The Banshees of Inisherin is by far the most intimate and reminiscent of a stage play, so don't expect any dynamic action. The alternation of humour (often very black) and depressing themes has always been a strength of this British screenwriter and director, but this is a roller coaster of contradictory emotions that, despite the numerous bursts of laughter at the end, will leave you totally depressed. The performances of all involved are superb, especially Colin Farrell's incredible portrayal of the guileless and headstrong Irish misfit. (04/10/2022)

Man is a social creature! However, this does not preclude the possibility that he may at times become overwhelmed by someone's company and therefore, at his own discretion, fair or not, decide not to continue to waste his time with that person. At first glance, this sounds like a simple theme from everyday life, but Martin McDonagh took it in his own distinctive way and served us a powerful story that will entertain the viewer from the heart with its immediacy, only to give them an unpleasant chill down their spine and a bittersweet taste in their mouth in the next moment. Friendship may be eternal, but it certainly should not be taken for granted. The Banshees of Inisherin wouldn't be so effective and precise, though, if it weren't for the excellent cast (with excellent local English), whether it was the endearingly tough Colin Farrell, the chillingly stubborn Brendan Gleeson, the (un)happily goofy Barry Keoghan, or the caring Kerry Condon (all the acting Oscar nominations are spot on here). Last but not least, the unmistakable soundtrack deserves praise, perfectly underlining the beauty, but also the bleakness of the remote island where the banshees still announce an approaching death with their wailing. P.S. "I am not putting my donkey outside when I'm sad, okay?" (30/01/2023)