“The Banshees of Inisherin” is about as unforgiving a film as you could want to, or not want to, experience.

It’s a film about not forgiving. It’s about taking a misunderstanding and a grudge to horrific consequences.

Inisherin is a fictional island off the coast of Ireland.

A banshee is a “woman of the fairies” in Celtic folklore. Banshees are not unlike the sirens of Greek mythology, whereby sailors were tempted by voices. In Celtic folklore, a banshee wailing at night was believed to be an omen of impending death for the person who heard it.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” screenwriter-director Martin McDonagh reteams with Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell, who starred in “In Bruges” (2008), McDonagh’s feature-length theatrical motion picture debut.

McDonagh received Oscar nominations for “In Bruges,” “Seven Psychopaths” (2012) and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (2017), the latter for which McDonagh received an Oscar for best picture.

McDonagh, a British-Irish playwright, is known for the award-winning plays, “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” (1996), “The Cripple of Inishmaan” (1996), “A Skull in Connemara” (1997), “The Lonesome West” (1997), “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” (2001), “A Behanding in Spokane” (2010) and “Hangmen” (2015).

The former Theatre Outlet, Allentown, presented the Lehigth Valley premieres of three of McDonagh’s plays in “The Lenane Trilogy”: “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” “The Lonesome West” and “A Skull in Connemara,” as well as “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” the latter the first play produced at Theatre Outlet, according to Kate Scuffle, who was Theatre Outlet Managing Director. Kate Scuffle’s husband, the late George B. Miller, Theatre Outlet Artistic Director, directed the McDonagh plays at Theatre Outlet.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” was to have been third in the “Aran Islands Trilogy,” which included “The Cripple of Inishmaan” and “The Lieutenant of Inishmore.” McDonagh rewrote the script for the play to become the screenplay for “The Banshees of Inisherin.”

Though McDonagh’s work is often billed as a comedy, “The Banshees of Inisherin” is filled with what could charitably described as gallows humor or dark humor.

“The Banishees of Inisherin” is about the complicated friendship of Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendon Gleeson). They are drinking buddies at the local pub, seemingly the only pub on Inisherin.

The story takes place in 1923 with the not so far-off guns of the Irish Civil War booming across the waves.

For some reason, Gleeson rejects Farrell’s friendship. Farrell doesn’t take “no” for an answer. The friendship grows increasingly fractious, resulting in tragedy.

Observing the disintegration of the friendship between the two men are Farrell’s sister, Siobhán (Kerry Condon), and Dominic Kearney (Barry Keoghan), son of the island’s police chief (Gary Lydon).

The storyline and characters in “The Banshees of Inisherin” are as bleak as the island’s leaden skies, Atlantic Ocean-battered rocky coast and rutted dirt roads.

Despite the film’s dire plot, “The Banshees of Inisherin” is worth seeing for several reasons, not the least of which is that it deserves several Oscar nominations, including for its lead actors.

Colin Farrell (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” 2016; “The Lobster,” 2015) is a revelation as Pádraic. Farrell’s face in the film is that of a quizzical clown, reminiscent of some of the greats of silent film, including Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Farrell’s face shatters at the humiliation in his rejection by longtime friend Colm.

Pádraic’s only remaining friend seems to be his miniature donkey named Jenny. Farrell has truly created one of the most remarkable and compelling characters of the contemporary cinema. He transforms before our eyes from a kindly fellow who maybe drinks one or too many stouts at the pub to one whose drink of choice is revenge. Look for an Oscar actor nomination for Farrell.

Brendan Gleeson (“Calvary,” 2014; Primetime Emmy, “State of the Union,“ 2019; “Into the Storm,” 2009) is a towering figure as Colm. He only wants to be left alone. He’s writing a piece of music, which he practices on the violin. He likes to spend time alone with his pet collie; or sitting in his plain house, smoking a cigarette, or standing on the barren shore and staring at the sea. Look for an Oscar supporting actor nomination for Gleeson.

Kerry Condon (TV’s “Better Call Saul, 2015-2022) is resplendant as Siobhán, Pádraic’s sister. Look for an Oscar supporting actress nomination for Condon.

Barry Keoghan (“Dunkirk,” 2017) is distressingly real as Dominic, a young man apparently on the autism spectrum. Look for an Oscar suppporting actor nomination for Keoghan.

“The Banshees of Inishrin” is populated with many striking figures, not the least of which are Mrs. McCormick (Sheila Flitton), a soothsayer; a priest (David Pearse), and a nosy shopkeeper, Mrs. O’Riordan (Bríd Ní Neachtain).

The cinematography by Director of Photography Benjamin Davis is magnificent and, at times, breathtaking.

The music score by Carter Burwell is spare, pristine and lovely.

Martin McDonagh deserves Oscar screenwriter and director nominatons for “The Banshees of Inisherin” for creating a minimalist yet mythic tale of lost souls. No man is an island.

“The Banshees of Inisherin,”

MPAA rated R (Restricted: Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.) for language throughout, some violent content and brief graphic nudity; Genre: Comedy, Drama; Run time: 1 hour, 54 minutes. Distributed by Searchlight Pictures through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“The Banshees of Inisherin” was filmed on Inishmore, an island off the West Coast of Ireland, and Achill Island, County Mayo, the largest of the islands off Ireland’s west coast.

At The Movies:

“The Banshees of Inisherin” was seen at the AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Box Office,

Nov. 25 - 27: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” made it a three-peat at No. 1 with $45.9 million in 4,258 theaters, $367.6 million, three weeks, easily eclipsing four films opeening and one film going into wider release Nov. 23.

“Strange World,” a Disney animation feature, opened at No. 2 with $11.9 million in 4,174 theaters; $18.6 million, since Nov. 23.

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” the sequel starring Daniel Craig, opened at No. 3 with $9.4 million in 696 theaters, $13.2 million since Nov. 23.

“Devotion,” based on an African-American’s true story as a pilot during the Korean War, opened at No. 4 with $5.9 million in 3,405 theaters, $9 million since Nov. 23.

5. “The Menu” dropped three places, $5.2 million in 3,228 theaters, $18.6 million, two weeks. 6. “Black Adam” dropped two places, $3.3 million in 2,664 theaters, $162.9 million, six weeks. 7. “The Fabelmans,” the Steven Spielberg film about his teen years as a budding young film-maker, $2.2 million in wider release in 638 theaters, $3.4 million, three weeks. 8. “Bones and All” moved up seven places, $2.2 million in 2,727 theaters, $3.7 million, two weeks. 9. “Ticket to Paradise” dropped four places, $1.8 million in 2,238 theaters, $65 million, six weeks. 10. “The Chosen Season 3: Episode 1 & 2” dropped three places, $1.5 million in 1,699 theaters, $13.4 million, two weeks. 15. “The Banshees of Inisherin” dropped five places, $339,000 in 402 theaters, $7.8 million, six weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Nov. 27 is subject to change.

Unreel,

Dec. 2:

“Violent Night,”

R: Tommy Wirkoda directs David Harbour, Beverly D’Angelo and John Leguizamo in the Action Comedy. Santa tries to save the night during a home burglary.

“Savage Salvation,”

R: Randall Emmett directs Robert De Niro, Willa Fitzgerald and John Malkovich in the Action Thriller. A recovering adict seeks revenge on drug dealers.

“Marlow,”

R: Neil Jordan directs Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger and Jessida lange in the Thriller. The movie, set in the 1930s, is based on a Raymond Chandler novel.

Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database as of Nov. 27 are subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes