The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, this film follows the relationship between a pair of friends.

On the small Irish island of Inisherin, Pádraic and Colm have been friends for years. They shared a love of music and poetry, spending whole afternoons talking and playing the accordion.

But one day, without explanation, Colm tells Pádraic that he no longer wants to be his friend.

Pádraic cannot believe it, tries to insist and find out what he did wrong, but Colm flatly refuses to continue the friendship. This refusal deeply hurts Pádraic, who is emotionally dependent on his bond with Colm.

While Pádraic desperately seeks to solve the mystery and make things right, Colm becomes obsessed with severing all ties.

He begs Pádraic to stop looking for him and threatens to cut off his finger every time he tries.

The villagers watch in sadness as the once exemplary friendship crumbles, feeling deeply sorry for the fragile Pádraic, who silently suffers the loss of the pillar of his life.

The situation becomes increasingly dark and disturbing. In a heartbreaking twist of fate, rejection turns to tragedy, but in the end, there remains a message about the fragility of human bonds and the gift of companionship in times of loneliness.

The film had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on 5 September 2022, and in cinemas one month later.

It received mostly positive reviews and received multiple nominations and accolades: at the Oscars, it was nominated for Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Lead Actor (Brendan Gleeson), Supporting Actor (Barry Keoghan) and Original Score. It won the statuette for Original Screenplay.