The timely significance of "The Banshees of Inisherin "

[thepainterdoug]

I was so moved to see this film. It is a metaphor for our present scenario be it personal or universal, but most timely and relative to Ukraine/ Russia in my mind.

It represents a civil war. A same people fighting each other, thru the personal antagonism of two characters's in Ireland with a civil war as the backdrop. One upping the others senseless threats. And all for what?

And I too are playing a part in this as well, we all are in our personal divisions with once friends and family members over these horrid divisions we all are feeling

Its a sad lonely and hard film, yet stunningly beautiful on the backdrop of Irelands beautiful coast, just like life itself. All actors on a stage and the innocents are the victims

I cannot say enough about the nuance of Colin Farrel's acting and facial expressions .
its been playing on HBO

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11813216/

[mountain_jim]

We watched this week - can't say 'enjoyed' as it was sad but really illustrated isolation and loneliness and how it can damage folks I thought.

The scenery and Cinematography is glorious.

The 2 actors/characters playing off each other was an interesting follow up to In Bruges from 2008, which we also rewatched recently in a Colin Farrell catchup period.

Martin McDonagh wrote and directed both, which I suspected while watching this one.

Brendan Gleeson is the other main actor playing opposite him. Recommended as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Banshees_of_Inisherin

The Banshees of Inisherin is a 2022 black tragicomedy film directed, written, and co-produced by Martin McDonagh.[6][7][8] Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, the film stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two lifelong friends who find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them; Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan also star. It reunites Farrell and Gleeson, who previously worked together on McDonagh's directorial debut, In Bruges (2008).[9][10][11]

Another Farrell movie we watched and appreciated recently - Ondine.

Ondine is a 2009 Irish romantic drama film written and directed by Neil Jordan and starring Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda. The film was shot on location in Castletownbere, and it touches upon the possible existence of the mythological selkie bringing hope and love to humans they so much want to become.

[East Sun]

Have not seen it yet, Doug.

It's on my list. Don't watch movies very much these days.
Last movie I saw Colin Farrell in was "Phonebooth" a while back.

Brings back memories of another movie, "Michael Collins" set in the same time period.

[Jaak]

Posted by thepainterdoug (here)
I cannot say enough about the nuance of Colin Farrel's acting and facial expressions .

I started to like him after seeing "The Way Back" . It's a movie about 4 guys escaping from siberian gulag and walking all the way to India . Based on true story ,visually also good,nice landscapes etc.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023114..._flmg_t_31_act

I saw the poster for the movie some weeks ago,was thinking then if it is worthy of checking out . Now i will check it out for sure.

[thepainterdoug]

I didnt fully appreciate the movie until I saw it as a metaphor for the civil war going on in Ireland at the time. And how this relates to Russia and Ukraine and also our personal relationships.

its like, it makes no sense, but were going to do this madness anyway

[Delight]

Posted by thepainterdoug (here)
I didnt fully appreciate the movie until I saw it as a metaphor for the civil war going on in Ireland at the time. And how this relates to Russia and Ukraine and also our personal relationships.

its like, it makes no sense, but were going to do this madness anyway

I don't feel I can watch it right now because I am extremely triggered by that observation. But, I may watch it sometime as the movie has high reviews from my brother.

What is WRONG with people is my latest preoccupation as the world seems to implode and explode at the same time.

Send ALL our equipment and tax dollars (well, probably not the tax dollars,...that is already spent) and let's all send our kids to die in Ukraine. The tranvestite in Khaki MUST be the good guy because Biden like him! The fox will gaurd the hen house and never harm the poultry. Trust the criminals to be fair and balanced. Those with most to gain personally can be counted on to set aside personal gain THIS time though they never did before. This time the scorpion will not sting the frog.

[thepainterdoug]

Delight

I hear you. And the madness takes place on a stunningly beautiful backdrop, with animals grazing and birds coasting on the wind.
And we ask ourselves, how can this backdrop be the backdrop of hell? And yet it is for these people.
Like in the movie, I have a friend i too cannot be friends with anymore. For in order for me to be friends, I have to be untrue to myself, to lie to myself. and then I can no longer be a friend to my own self.
Its has to be something cosmic at play

[Timewaster]

I found the film depressing and grim, so if your a bit down I wouldnt watch it.
But in Bruges was a really good film

[Pam]

I find it fascinating that films seem to give us the message we need to hear. I noticed that years ago. I was leaving a movie theater and I was listening to multiple complaints about what a waste, how horrible the movie was. I left thinking it was profound. I've noticed that a lot since.

I watched the film last night (spoilers) I still haven't received all the meaning as I am still considering it. But consider this aspect. We have 2 life long friends. One decides to abruptly stop speaking to the other, at first no reason given. This is a very rural island in I believe 1923 or 1928. When the man that quits speaking to his befuddled friend finally tells him," I don't want to speak to you any more because you are dull. I want my life to have a legacy I don't want to waste my time with you I want to write music. I want to be known, remembered because I did this tangible thing, I created music with my violin". Not direct but paraphrased.

When the other ex friend refuses to accept this, the musician says he will cut off a finger of his playing hand each time the old friend talks to him. Which eventually he does, he has effectively a hand with no fingers and at the same time he has defeated the reason he quit their friendship in the first place.

It seems to me a commentary on the destructive and self defeating nature of human behavior. The idea that we will cling to a belief, and ideology, a concept even when all logic and common sense indicate that this solution will be far more bitter than what was conceived as the original issue. All happening in a most beautiful setting with only the occasional sounds of battle in the background. It was the musician himself that created his reality of not being able to complete his masterpiece, not the dull friend.

I love this kind of story that doesn't give us any answer. One might think the protagonist set up these conditions because he really didn't believe he could write the master piece and by removing a finger each time he was spoken to by the ex friend he was creating a sort of "victim" status for himself. A reason he could never do what he set out to do, and blame it on something besides himself. After all, it was his ex friend that spoke to him after he set these conditions.

Of course there is the war comparison as well. Set up non probable conditions that will inevitably be breached at some point with the help of lies, opinions and propaganda and then start a senseless war. Eventually, we hardly remember the reason it started, now we are left with the bitterness, the pain, the loss and suffering of those that played no role (Jenny the mule) and the psychic pain of the aftermath. The protagonist has one working hand and no home and no dream of completing his music, yet he shows gratitude to his non friend for watching his dog.

Strange film. Very open to interpretation and beautifully acted and the scenery is breathtaking. Another quick point. Juxtapositioning the beauty against the absurd unnecessary and absurd human drama...

Thanks Doug, would never have watched this without your recommendation. I do understand that many may not like this at all.

[thepainterdoug]

Pam/ a great review and interpretation of this film. Bringing up the shirking responsibility of ones supposed goals by blaming others I did not fully realize. You are correct. There is even a moment when Colm says, hes relieved he can no longer play.
God , humans are truly strange. The animals, the donkey Jenny, play an interesting part as well. and the scene with the young boy and Colms sister side the lake ? wow.
thanks !, glad you liked it.

[Pam]

Thank you, Doug. I would have never found it without you. I wonder if we have a thread that is for that purpose. Movies or even books that we can share what we get out of it. I find that a fascinating part of this reality construct. I now see them as clues. They can be clues anyway.

It's a very interesting thing. I think I am now drawn more to films like this, they don't tie it up at the end with a nice bow in a neat package. In fact, I am going to watch the film "Ondine" which is a Colin Farrell film. I believe if we are open to it we will receive the exact message we need from books, literature, and art.

By the way, I feel so much when I look at your self portrait. The way you chose to see yourself in that painting is very, very heartfelt. Not meant to be cheap flattery, a very sincere observation.

[mountain_jim]

Posted by Pam (here)
Thank you, Doug. I would have never found it without you. I wonder if we have a thread that is for that purpose. Movies or even books that we can share what we get out of it. I find that a fascinating part of this reality construct. I now see them as clues. They can be clues anyway.

It's a very interesting thing. I think I am now drawn more to films like this, they don't tie it up at the end with a nice bow in a neat package. In fact, I am going to watch the film "Ondine" which is a Colin Farrell film. I believe if we are open to it we will receive the exact message we need from books, literature, and art.

By the way, I feel so much when I look at your self portrait. The way you chose to see yourself in that painting is very, very heartfelt. Not meant to be cheap flattery, a very sincere observation.

I think you will enjoy Ondine, Pam.

Here is a movies thread

Thread: Films/Movies with uplifting/inspiring/thought-provoking themes, etc. etc.

[thepainterdoug]

Pam

I just saw again, the scene when Dominick asks the sister if she would possibly have any interest in him. The acting and sensitivity in this is so good its hard to put into words. We talk about great scenes in movie history? i already know this is great, without histories agreement.
this young mans entire hope for his future, ends in this scene. It is heartbreaking. And how many of us be it love, a job or calling, when find out its not good enough, die inside?

thanks about my portrait. i painted it from life from a mirror some years back . i guess its akin to "the thinker" in a way.

[Pam]

Posted by thepainterdoug (here)
Pam

I just saw again, the scene when Dominick asks the sister if she would possibly have any interest in him. The acting and sensitivity in this is so good its hard to put into words. We talk about great scenes in movie history? i already know this is great, without histories agreement.
this young mans entire hope for his future, ends in this scene. It is heartbreaking. And how many of us be it love, a job or calling, when find out its not good enough, die inside?

thanks about my portrait. i painted it from life from a mirror some years back . i guess its akin to "the thinker" in a way.

Yet, she was as kind as I believe she could be by honestly being direct with the young man. A very, very touching scene.

Another thought I had about the movie. When our protagonist dismisses his friendship with his lifelong friend because he "dull", did you notice that he then chose to sit at the pup with that young man's father, who regularly beat his son and was a himself the quintessential definition (the young mans father) of dullness and cruelty. Did you notice that most or all the time the young man had cuts and bruises on his face from his fathers drunken beatings, that were so common he seemed to take them in stride.

I don't know the name of the young man but he is a wonderful actor. He and Colin Farrell were in a very strange movie entitled "The killing of a Sacred Deer", based loosely on a myth. That is another film that is very strange and doesn't give any easy answers.. Another film along these lines, this one based on a very old poem, I believe is The Green Knight. So if you are ever in a contemplative mood these are a couple of thought provoking films.

[thepainterdoug]

Pam/ the boy in the films name is Dominick. His facial expressions are priceless in their sensitivity , perplexity and harbored pain .

yes I noticed that Colm could sit and drink with the violent Cop father of Dominick, clinking beer mugs and all. It points to our collective hypocrisis, how we sight an enemy, focus on him and yet forgive the others around us we seem to accept. Perhaps its all to difficult to accuse all? we'd have no friends left!

many levels here. Thanks I will look into the film you mentioned.Sacred Deer

an afterthought, I have at times blamed external situations for my lack of success with my art/ music etc.
Perhaps I was just not strong enough to push? or perhaps it was just not the golden
ring I believed it was.
One needs to fully buy into this illusion, in order to fully participate in the success game.

[mountain_jim]

The killing of a Sacred Deer and The Lobster, both directed by Yorgos Lanthimos are strange and interesting.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a 2017 psychological horror thriller film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic, Alicia Silverstone, and Bill Camp. The screenplay by Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou was inspired by the ancient Greek tragedy Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides,[3][4] and follows a cardiac surgeon who introduces his family to a teenage boy with a connection to his past, after which they mysteriously begin to fall ill.

///
The Lobster is a 2015 absurdist black comedy drama film directed and co-produced by Yorgos Lanthimos, from a screenplay by Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou.[5][6][7] It stars Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen, Ariane Labed, Angeliki Papoulia, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Michael Smiley, and Ben Whishaw. In the film, newly single bachelor David moves into a hotel with other singletons, who are all obliged to find a romantic partner in 45 days, or else be transformed into animals.[

[Pam]

Posted by thepainterdoug (here)
Pam/ the boy in the films name is Dominick. His facial expressions are priceless in their sensitivity , perplexity and harbored pain .

yes I noticed that Colm could sit and drink with the violent Cop father of Dominick, clinking beer mugs and all. It points to our collective hypocrisis, how we sight an enemy, focus on him and yet forgive the others around us we seem to accept. Perhaps its all to difficult to accuse all? we'd have no friends left!

many levels here. Thanks I will look into the film you mentioned.Sacred Deer

an afterthought, I have at times blamed external situations for my lack of success with my art/ music etc.
Perhaps I was just not strong enough to push? or perhaps it was just not the golden
ring I believed it was.
One needs to fully buy into this illusion, in order to fully participate in the success game.

That is really quite an accomplishment when we dare to see that it is we ourselves we are looking at. Quite a accomplishment, indeed. We are trained with knowing or certainly out of no ill will by our parents, in most cases to master the art of projection and cognitive dissonance in every day life. When we can see it in ourselves we have taken a huge step towards "knowing thy self". Well done, my friend.

[Pam]

Posted by mountain_jim (here)
The killing of a Sacred Deer and The Lobster, both directed by Yorgos Lanthimos are strange and interesting.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a 2017 psychological horror thriller film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic, Alicia Silverstone, and Bill Camp. The screenplay by Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou was inspired by the ancient Greek tragedy Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides,[3][4] and follows a cardiac surgeon who introduces his family to a teenage boy with a connection to his past, after which they mysteriously begin to fall ill.

///
The Lobster is a 2015 absurdist black comedy drama film directed and co-produced by Yorgos Lanthimos, from a screenplay by Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou.[5][6][7] It stars Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen, Ariane Labed, Angeliki Papoulia, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Michael Smiley, and Ben Whishaw. In the film, newly single bachelor David moves into a hotel with other singletons, who are all obliged to find a romantic partner in 45 days, or else be transformed into animals.[

I have seen them both and they are very , very strange films, but as I said. I don't want easy answers and solutions in films or what I read. Particularly in this current culture. I am finding comfort and great interest in some of the old writings. It's a comforting form of time travel as my mind is carried off to different places and times before drifting off to sleep. I love that part of my day. I am so grateful to have a warm place to sleep and a good story for time travel.