Martin McDonagh’s 2022 film The Banshees of Inisherin quickly distinguished itself as a modern classic, blending dark comedy and tragedy against the bleak beauty of an imaginary Irish island. While the film gained widespread critical acclaim—garnering multiple Oscar nominations—audiences left theaters divided and compelled, prompting a surge of discussion online around its true meaning and symbolism. Beneath its simple premise—two lifelong friends falling out—McDonagh crafts a dense allegory about human frailty, the cost of pride, and the echoing wounds of history.

Core Plot Summary: What Happens in “The Banshees of Inisherin”?

Set in 1923 near the end of the Irish Civil War, The Banshees of Inisherin follows Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell), a simple and kind-hearted man living a routine life on the island of Inisherin. Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), his longtime friend, suddenly breaks off their relationship with chilling bluntness: “I just don’t like you no more.”

This abrupt act puzzles Pádraic and rattles the community. Despite Pádraic’s repeated appeals, Colm’s resolve only hardens—threatening drastic (and self-destructive) consequences if Pádraic refuses to accept the end. As Pádraic seeks understanding from his sister Siobhán (Kerry Condon) and marginal neighbor Dominic (Barry Keoghan), the feud escalates with each encounter, manifesting in loneliness, loss, and increasingly bleak gestures.

What sets the film apart is not just its plot, but its restraint: McDonagh steers clear of melodramatic resolution, instead using silence, landscape, and symbolism to drive home the emotional rift.

Exploring Major Themes: Friendship, Identity, and Futility

The Decay of Friendship and Community

At its surface, the film meticulously dissects the unraveling of friendship. Colm’s decision is motivated by existential dread; fearing his life is slipping by unnoticed, he seeks legacy through music. Pádraic, in contrast, values daily connection and kindness.

This difference illuminates a larger tension: the pull between seeking meaning in extraordinary achievement and finding comfort in ordinary decency. The island’s isolation becomes a microcosm for this push-pull, with other villagers forced to choose sides or recoil in discomfort, amplifying themes of social fracture.

Isolation and Self-Destruction

Colm’s escalating threats—to cut off his own fingers every time Pádraic tries to reconcile—are both darkly comic and deeply unsettling. This masochistic streak has drawn comparisons to the senseless, fratricidal violence of the Civil War happening just across the water.

As Dr. Louise Ryan, Irish Studies scholar, observes:

“McDonagh uses the feud to express both the futility of violence and its contagious, self-perpetuating nature. Inisherin becomes a stand-in for Ireland, showing how personal grudges can mirror and magnify national trauma.”

The Shadow of History: Political Allegory

While the Civil War rumbles in the background, rarely foregrounded, its echoes are unmistakable. The rabbit-hole of pride and stubbornness mirrors the broader historical schism dividing Ireland: friends and neighbors are torn apart by disputes that become irreconcilable, even absurd. The film’s refusal to offer neat explanations or villains only deepens its allegorical power.

Death, Banshees, and Irish Folklore

The titular “banshees” function less as literal entities than as omens. Mrs. McCormick, a mysterious elderwoman, serves as the story’s living banshee, predicting horrors without direct intervention. In Irish mythology, banshees foretell death and sorrow; here, they symbolize the inevitability of loss when communication breaks down.

The implication is clear: doom lingers not as punishment, but as a natural consequence of unaddressed pain and isolation.

The Ending, Explained: What Does It All Mean?

The final scenes don’t tie the narrative in a bow—rather, they leave characters poised between ruin and resilience. After devastating consequences (including the loss of Colm’s fingers and the death of Dominic), Pádraic’s former gentleness has hardened. He attempts to burn Colm’s house and, in their final confrontation, the feud feels irresolvable.

Yet, notably, after the smoke clears, Colm offers a small opening, expressing that perhaps there might be peace. Pádraic, however, simply answers, “Maybe.” The cycle may continue—or perhaps, by reaching rock bottom, the chance for reflection and healing exists.

Critics and film theorists have highlighted this ambiguity as one of the film’s greatest strengths. The story refuses catharsis, suggesting that stubborn pride and silent enmity are often left unresolved, mirroring societal wounds that never truly heal.

Real-World Context: Ireland, War, and Universal Resonance

Though set during a specific moment in Irish history, McDonagh’s fable has resonated globally thanks to its universal themes. Many viewers draw connections to wider social divisions—in families, nations, and politics—where fundamental differences create rifts that logic, persuasion, or even compassion cannot easily bridge.

In fact, several Irish commentators have lauded the film’s ability to balance deep-rooted national trauma with dark humor and empathetic character work. Its success both domestically and abroad shows the enduring power of stories that plumb the depths of human fallibility.

What Sets “The Banshees of Inisherin” Apart

Beyond its rich symbolism and allegory, the film stands out for its performances and atmospheric craft:

• Performance: Farrell and Gleeson, reuniting after In Bruges, deliver layered, nuanced portrayals that anchor the film’s emotional stakes.
• Cinematography: Ben Davis’s stark, windswept visuals evoke both the beauty and brutality of island life, contextualizing characters’ internal states.
• Musical Score: Carter Burwell’s music interpolates haunting, Celtic-inspired themes, reinforcing the film’s mournful tone.

And while its pacing and subtlety may not appeal to all audiences, its place as a conversation starter in film analysis and Irish culture is all but assured.

“Inisherin reminds us that some of the hardest wounds to heal are those inflicted by the quiet choices we make—and refuse to unmake—in the name of pride or self-preservation,” notes critic Maureen McCarthy.

Concluding Insights: Why “Banshees” Endures

The Banshees of Inisherin endures because it transforms a tightly focused story of friendship gone wrong into a mirror for individual and collective pain. Its ambiguity forces viewers to reckon with their own assumptions about blame, forgiveness, and the possibility of change. Rather than tidy resolution, McDonagh grants a hard-won honesty: some rifts last, some will heal, and life in the shadow of both is hauntingly human.

FAQs

What is the main message of “The Banshees of Inisherin”?

At its core, the film explores how pride, stubbornness, and lack of communication can destroy even the most longstanding relationships. It also serves as an understated allegory for broader social and historical conflicts.

Why does Colm cut off his own fingers?

Colm’s self-mutilation is an extreme attempt to assert control and force separation, while also symbolizing the absurdity and destructiveness of personal and political violence.

Is the movie based on real events or a true story?

The narrative is fictional, but it draws strong parallels to the Irish Civil War and the emotional toll social divisions can take on a community.

Who or what are the “banshees” in the film?

The term “banshees” refers to Irish folklore spirits who herald death; in the movie, it’s more a metaphor for inevitable sorrow and the unspoken consequences of broken bonds.

What does the ending of the film mean?

The ending rejects easy answers, leaving the fate of Pádraic and Colm uncertain to underline how some conflicts linger unresolved—but also hinting at the potential for future change.

Why has the film sparked so much discussion?

Its open-ended story and symbolic layers invite multiple interpretations, encouraging viewers to reflect on both personal relationships and larger societal issues mirrored in the narrative.