Golden Globes – won Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.
Mrs. Q says: WHAT?? Are you kidding me Golden Globes? This movie is under musical/comedy best picture category.
Q-tips say: We did enjoy this movie. Mrs. Q says: If you don’t mind a slow, sad story, The Banshees of Inisherin is worth watching thanks to gorgeous scenery and some terrific acting. Wonderful cast and glorious scenery (and animals!)
At the tail end of the Irish Civil War in 1923, on the fictional Irish isle of Inisherin, folk musician Colm Doherty abruptly begins ignoring his lifelong friend and drinking buddy Pádraic Súilleabháin. Pádraic, though nice and well liked by the islanders, is too “dull” for Colm, who wishes to spend the remainder of his life composing music and doing things for which he will be remembered. Pádraic’s life is destabilized by the loss of one of his few friends; as Pádraic grows increasingly distressed at the rejection, Colm becomes more resistant to his old friend’s attempts to speak to him. Colm eventually gives Pádraic an ultimatum: every time Pádraic bothers him or tries to talk with him, Colm will cut off one of his own left fingers with a pair of sheep shears.
Though Pádraic’s caring sister Siobhán and troubled local boy Dominic attempt to defuse the pair’s escalating battle, their efforts prove fruitless. After a drunken Pádraic confronts him in the pub and then attempts to apologise, Colm cuts off one of his fingers and throws it on Pádraic’s door. After Pádraic sees Colm meeting with a fiddler from the mainland, Pádraic tricks the fiddler into returning home by lying about his father’s death. As the tensions worsen, local elder Mrs. McCormick warns Pádraic that death will come to the island soon. Meanwhile, Siobhán gently rejects Dominic’s earnest romantic advances.
Pádraic visits Colm to reprimand him for behaving so badly. Colm reveals that he has finished composing his song, which he calls “The Banshees of Inisherin”. Pádraic suggests that he should go ahead to the pub and order them a couple of pints. Colm says that would be fine. Pádraic tells Colm about lying to the fiddler to run him off the island, and that perhaps all three of them could have drinks. Colm cuts off his remaining left fingers with the shears and throws them at the door of Padraic’s cottage.
Sick of life on the island, Siobhán moves to the mainland for a job in a library. Pádraic comes home to find his pet donkey Jenny has choked on one of the fingers and died. A heartbroken Pádraic blames Colm for Jenny’s death. He confronts Colm to tell him he will burn his house down the next day. Pádraic sets the house on fire, taking Colm’s dog to safety. As Pádraic leaves, he sees Colm sitting inside the burning building. The local policeman, Dominic’s abusive father Peadar, goes to Pádraic’s house. He is diverted away by Mrs. McCormick, who wordlessly leads him to Dominic’s corpse floating in the nearby lake.
The next morning, Pádraic, with the dog, finds Colm standing on the beach beside his burnt-out house. Colm apologizes for Jenny’s death and suggests destroying the house has ended their feud, but Pádraic informs him that it only would have ended if he’d stayed inside the house. When Colm wonders if the Civil War has ended, Pádraic states he believes it may be a good thing that there are some things that can’t be moved on from. As Pádraic turns to leave, Colm thanks him for looking after his dog; “Any time,” Pádraic replies. Unbeknownst to them, Mrs. McCormick had been watching them from afar.
