Fans are showing resolute support for Martin McDonagh’s tragicomedy film, The Banshees of Inisherin, after Everything Everywhere All at Once triumphed at the Oscars with a major sweep. The elegiac, dark film was nominated for nine categories, including Best Picture and Best Director.
This melancholic tale set in the backdrop of the Irish Civil War follows Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), who suddenly decides to leave the fictional Irish isle of Inisherin. His closest friend, Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell), descends into despondence after a couple of failed attempts to restore their friendship.
Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin Brings A Melancholic Tale Of Loss
The simplicity of the film’s plot packed with emotionally-charged dialogues made The Banshees of Inisherin a strong contender for the Oscars. The ‘banshees’ in the title was not chosen by mistake; in Irish folklore, banshees are female spirits whose shriek is an omen of death. In McDonagh’s screenplay, he used this opportunity to stretch the idea to the pinnacles of trauma and emotions.
In a press conference for critics, McDonagh shared the inspiration behind the movie (via Collider):
“It’s the simplicity of telling a story about a breakup, really, and to be as truthful and to show the pain of that. More than anything, that was it. To capture that juxtaposed with the Irish Civil War helped bring in interesting metaphorical angles to it, and show how a simple falling out can lead to horror, to war, and to unforgivable acts. But the very initial impulse was to capture the sadness of a breakup.”
The bittersweet message told in a depressing tale was a challenge for both the artists and the audiences. In his interview with Deadline, Farrell talked about people’s journey in overcoming the pain of losing someone:
“There’s a certain mental prescribed pain that we share as a community. Some feel it, some try to hold it for others, and unfortunately, some people turn away from dealing with their own pain and inflict it on other people.”
Lesser known fact, The Banshees of Inisherin started as a play and is part of the Aran Islands trilogy. Unfortunately, the stage play did not work, and McDonagh had to rewrite it and only kept the title (the original name was The Banshees of Inisheer).
The Banshees of Inisherin Was Robbed At The Oscars According To Viewers
It seems that fans are disappointed with the results of the Oscars after The Banshees of Inisherin lost out to Everything Everywhere All at Once. Many believe it deserves to win Best Picture, and in the other categories as well. Check out their tweets below:
Fans cried that McDonagh’s film was robbed and should have bagged an award. While many supporters believe Everything Everywhere All at Once was a great film, those who have seen Banshees are not satisfied with the judge’s decision at the Oscars.
The Banshees of Inisherin is available to stream via HBO Max.
