The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin is a darkly comic yet melancholic tale set against the haunting beauty of the Irish countryside. It’s a story about friendship, emotional isolation, stubbornness, and the quiet tragedies of rural life. Featuring powerhouse performances from Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, the film explores the deep wounds that can form even in the most seemingly mundane relationships.

Detailed Summary

A Peaceful Life Shattered

Set in 1923 during the Irish Civil War, the film takes place on the fictional island of Inisherin. Padraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell) is a kind-hearted but simple man who leads a quiet life with his beloved donkey, Jenny, and enjoys daily pints with his best friend, Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson). But the tranquility is suddenly broken when Colm abruptly ends their friendship, telling Padraic he simply “doesn’t like him anymore.”

This baffling declaration sends Padraic into emotional turmoil. He seeks answers, and when Colm doesn’t budge, Padraic grows increasingly desperate and confused. What begins as a breakup between friends slowly turns into something tragic, absurd, and occasionally violent.

Escalation and Ultimatums

Colm, a fiddler and self-proclaimed artist, wants more from life. He believes Padraic is dull and that spending time with him is wasting Colm’s potential legacy. Colm warns that if Padraic speaks to him again, he’ll cut off one of his own fingers.

Padraic, heartbroken and still hoping to salvage the friendship, doesn’t believe Colm is serious—until Colm delivers on his promise. He severs a finger and throws it at Padraic’s door. Padraic’s desperation turns to bitterness. Even his sister Siobhán (Kerry Condon), who has always tried to steer Padraic toward a more meaningful life, begins to see the futility of staying on the island.

Isolation and Loss

Padraic spirals. He loses Jenny in a heartbreaking accident—she chokes on one of Colm’s discarded fingers. That becomes the turning point. Grief overtakes kindness. Padraic, no longer the “nice” man he was once proud to be, tells Colm he’ll burn his house down—with or without him inside.

He does exactly that, after ensuring Colm’s dog is safely out. Whether Colm is inside the burning house remains ambiguous—until we later see him alive, standing on the beach, speaking with Padraic as if nothing had changed.

Movie Ending

In the final scene, Padraic and Colm meet by the shoreline. Colm acknowledges the destruction, seemingly indifferent to his lost home. Padraic tells him that what happened between them is not over—that it may never be. Colm says, “Some things, there’s no moving on from. And I think that’s a good thing.”

Padraic, transformed by grief and the island’s oppressive melancholy, no longer seeks peace or resolution. Siobhán has left the island for a better life, Dominic (Barry Keoghan), a local misfit and tragic figure, has drowned—possibly by suicide—and Padraic has nothing left but anger and a vague, simmering sense of unfinished business.

Their conversation ends with neither reconciliation nor closure—just quiet acceptance that the wounds between them might remain forever open. The film concludes with a wide shot of the two men, fractured but tethered in their solitude, standing on the edge of a land where nothing changes.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Banshees of Inisherin does not have a post-credits scene. The film ends on a definitive, somber note, with no stingers or hidden teases. The story is self-contained and meant to leave the audience with lingering unease and contemplation.

Type of Movie

The Banshees of Inisherin is a tragicomedy and drama, rich in existential themes and dark humor. It reflects on human nature, the fear of insignificance, and the pain of broken relationships—set against the backdrop of a quietly brutal island life.

Cast

• Colin Farrell as Padraic Súilleabháin
• Brendan Gleeson as Colm Doherty
• Kerry Condon as Siobhán Súilleabháin
• Barry Keoghan as Dominic Kearney
• Gary Lydon as Peadar Kearney
• Sheila Flitton as Mrs. McCormick

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Carter Burwell, who masterfully captures the haunting stillness of Inisherin with a score that blends folk simplicity with emotional weight. The music reinforces the film’s tone—quiet, melancholic, and sometimes unnerving.

Filming Locations

The movie was shot on the Aran Islands (Inis Mór) and Achill Island off the west coast of Ireland. These rugged, windswept landscapes are not just a backdrop—they are a character in themselves. The isolation and wild beauty of the islands emphasize the film’s themes of loneliness, entrapment, and natural decay.

Awards and Nominations

The film was a critical darling and garnered several major nominations:

• 9 Academy Award nominations, including:
  • Best Picture
  • Best Director (Martin McDonagh)
  • Best Actor (Colin Farrell)
  • Best Supporting Actor (Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan)
  • Best Supporting Actress (Kerry Condon)
• 3 Golden Globe wins:
  • Best Actor (Colin Farrell)
  • Best Screenplay
  • Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Martin McDonagh reunited Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson after their work on In Bruges (2008).
• The script was written with both actors in mind—McDonagh wouldn’t have made the film without them.
• The miniature house used for Colm’s cottage was burned for the climactic scene; no actual home was harmed.
• The donkey playing Jenny was beloved by the cast, especially Farrell, who reportedly was heartbroken when filming her death scene.
• Farrell suffered a hand injury during filming, adding a touch of realism to scenes involving manual labor.

Inspirations and References

• The Irish Civil War, subtly referenced in the background, mirrors the central conflict: a fraternal bond torn apart by stubborn pride and differing visions of legacy.
• The story is not based on a specific book but borrows themes from Irish folklore and classical tragedy.
• McDonagh’s own background in theater is evident in the dialogue-heavy structure and the symbolic use of setting.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no widely publicized alternate endings. However, some dialogue scenes were reportedly trimmed for pacing. A few of Dominic’s scenes were longer in the original cut, offering more insight into his home life, but were removed to keep the film focused on the central friendship fracture.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a book but is an original screenplay by Martin McDonagh. However, its structure and tone feel heavily influenced by Irish literary traditions—particularly Samuel Beckett’s works and the poetic bleakness of J.M. Synge.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Colm’s shocking finger-cutting scene.
• The heartbreaking discovery of Jenny’s death.
• The burning of Colm’s house, witnessed silently by the townsfolk.
• Padraic’s confrontation with Dominic’s abusive father.
• The final beachside conversation.

Iconic Quotes

• “I just don’t like you no more.” – Colm
• “You used to be nice. Or did you never used to be?” – Siobhán
• “Maybe this whole thing has been about getting you to be not nice.” – Colm
• “Well, there goes that dream.” – Dominic

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The song Colm writes, “The Banshees of Inisherin,” is never heard—emphasizing the irony that his pursuit of artistic legacy may be as hollow as his isolation.
• The banshee-like figure of Mrs. McCormick seems to foreshadow death, acting as a folkloric presence.
• The Civil War’s sounds in the distance parallel the characters’ emotional conflicts, though no direct reference is made.
• Colm’s dog becomes a symbol of loyalty—what Padraic loses in his human relationships, the dog maintains.

Trivia

• Colin Farrell adopted the donkey (Jenny) after filming.
• McDonagh considered making this story into a stage play but realized the Irish landscapes were too essential to leave out.
• Barry Keoghan’s performance as Dominic drew heavy praise despite limited screen time, earning him an Oscar nomination.

Why Watch?

Watch The Banshees of Inisherin if you’re interested in powerful storytelling driven by dialogue, character, and mood rather than action. It’s a meditation on how small wounds become lifelong scars—and how isolation can hollow out the human spirit. It’s funny, it’s sad, and it lingers in your mind long after the credits roll.

Director’s Other Movies

• In Bruges (2008)
• Seven Psychopaths (2012)
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Recommended Films for Fans

• In Bruges (2008)
• The Lighthouse (2019)
• Calvary (2014)
• The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
• The Death of Stalin (2017)
• The Guard (2011)
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)