It is 1923 and the Irish civil war has not reached the small island of Inisherin. 40-something Padraic lives with his sister, eking out an agricultural living, and spending what appears to be quite a lot of spare time at the pub with his best friend for years, olderman and fiddle player Colm. Then, one day, Colm tells him that he doesn't want to be friends any more, without providing any sort of reason (he does later). Padraic is devastated and confused and persists in bothering Colm for understanding in the face of Colm's blunt statement that we wants Padraic to leave him alone.
I loved Martin McDonough's In Bruges and Three Billboards (Seven Psychopaths had its moments), and Colin Farell and Brendan Gleeson easily find their In Bruges chemistry again. The cinematography, sets and locations, are bleak and beautiful, the acting from all the cast is great, and the script, often funny, thoughtfully ruminates on friendship, loneliness, isolation, mortality, stubbornness, and various other related concepts.
Yes I was disappointed. Why? The synopsis above comes from the trailer, and although the story of these two once-friends does progress further, there are two things it never does.
One, it never explains Colm's decision. Colm gives his reasons but, frankly, they are irrational, as are his subsequent actions. I can understand Padraic'ss frustratiin, because I shared it. None of it made sense unless an external agency was at work - depression, dementia, psychosis, witchcraft...
Two, it never resolves. The two obvious resolutions would have been reconciliation or tragedy, but the film never gets as far as either, which left me dissatisfied.
This film, to me, broke its promises.
I loved Martin McDonough's In Bruges and Three Billboards (Seven Psychopaths had its moments), and Colin Farell and Brendan Gleeson easily find their In Bruges chemistry again. The cinematography, sets and locations, are bleak and beautiful, the acting from all the cast is great, and the script, often funny, thoughtfully ruminates on friendship, loneliness, isolation, mortality, stubbornness, and various other related concepts.
Yes I was disappointed. Why? The synopsis above comes from the trailer, and although the story of these two once-friends does progress further, there are two things it never does.
One, it never explains Colm's decision. Colm gives his reasons but, frankly, they are irrational, as are his subsequent actions. I can understand Padraic'ss frustratiin, because I shared it. None of it made sense unless an external agency was at work - depression, dementia, psychosis, witchcraft...
Two, it never resolves. The two obvious resolutions would have been reconciliation or tragedy, but the film never gets as far as either, which left me dissatisfied.
This film, to me, broke its promises.