The War Allegory in The Banshees of Inisherin Explained
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- Опубліковано 2 лют 2023
- The Banshees of Inisherin explained the Irish Civil War through the allegory of Pádraic and Colm. The sudden and severe end to their friendship parallels the conflict that broke out between the Free State and the anti-treaty IRA following the Irish War of Independence. Whilst little was gained from the fighting, the war had devastating consequences, affecting many that weren't directly involved. We see that Siobhán may represent the Irish diaspora, Peadar the British State and Dominic the youth that had their futures ripped up by conflict.
//Featured Media//
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Michael Collins (1996)
The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006)
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I both love and hate when I fail to see the deeper meaning of a film like this and thus don't fully appreciate it, but then watch a video that perfectly explains everything and makes me want to watch it all over again.
I completely agree. I spent weeks thinking about this film. I knew deep down there was something more profound to it than I was seeing. I feel so ignorant when I can't see the allegorical nature for myself, even when I know there is something there to uncover. But at the same time I gain so much and find so much joy in watching or reading someone else's analysis that opens my eyes to it all. Remember though, it is just an interpretation, and the beauty to art is that you are also still free to interpret it as you may
Honestly guy, I too didnt see the deeper meaning, and I'm a retired Irish Army officer! My dad used to see the twists/plot/meaning in movies waaay before they appeared, but it took away from him, and those watching with him, the pleasure of discovery, of being at one with the writer, director, actors. This movie is basically a Play in a form used a lot in Irish theater, in Irish storytelling. It's rawness and simple story is enough at face value to enthrall without the deeper meaning. Me, I watched it three months ago, but still have the last 20 minutes to get through, as I found it so unremmitingly dark, dense and frankly unappealing - the absence of levity being imho unusual in Irish storytelling. But I'll go back now with renewed interest.... Thanks Socio.........:)
You have to feckin’ watch it more than once like
I'm just fuckin retarded then i guess 🥴
@@richardlong5928to be honest I believe realizing there is a deeper meaning to something that you don’t understand is the opposite of ignorance, if anything I think it shows intelligence
I think you could definitely make the claim that Padraic and Colm’s respective animal companions represent the two as characters, or rather, the soul of these two.
Donkeys historically represent ignorance, but there’s a purity in that ignorance - which is fitting because Padraic is repeatedly shown and told to be a “dull” man more concerned with being kind and having a good time than with making history with his artistic contributions. Conversely, border collies are renowned for their intelligence, as the far more academic Colm himself is.
The subtext is, tragically, that Jenny’s death is both a literal loss of Padraic’s beloved companion, but also a metaphorical death of his innocence and ignorance. The feud robs him of everything that makes him Padraic. And only the knowledge of this strife remains. Telling, because for the first time in the film, Padraic is ultimately right in the end: while Colm supposes peace has finally been reached between the two combatants, Padraic correctly deduces that they will resume fighting eventually.
I really like this interpretation!
donkey was the symbol of the Egyptian sun god Ra, a measure of wealth and a symbol of divine providence as the cross-shaped marking present on donkeys' backs and shoulders were seen as symbol of carrying Jesus into Jerusalem, in fact, it was only the Greeks, who revered their very close... connection to, and reverence for, the beauty of Horses, who attempted to disparage the image of the Donkey culturally, and only did so for a brief period of time.
So there's no basis at all to the idea that Donkeys historically represent ignorance.
Just sayin.
Also way down here >>>
if I wasn't clear, the Greeks found Horses more "sexy" than Donkeys, literally. That's the entire basis for this 'historical' representation you just claimed was universal. Well I am here to tell you, what the Greeks did with their horses, wasn't universal.
I’ve never read that donkeys represent ignorance! 🤔
@@ZennExile 🤓aksually
ok then explain the pedo cop next please....
(Answer: lol,its deeper than you sh!te)
As someone who never had much of a grasp on the nature of the Irish Civil War, nor ever really saw many bridges between “Banshees” AND the Civil War except for the whole “two people who are supposed to be friends are instead fighting for the sake of fighting”… I found your analysis and breakdown clear as water, it made WAY too much sense😳 Every time I rewatch “Banshees” I feel like I’m watching a different film each time. There are so many layers and potential interpretations to this story, it’s brilliant 😩
How I agree with you Blanca! Whether this analysis reveals what was consciously in the film creator’s mind or not, as in any brilliant piece of fiction. there’s always more and more and more that will meet the eyes of each viewer and view! I’ll keep watching too, even after twice already. After the second time last night, I was left wanting to believe that Colm & Padraig had choices about how they’d treat each other, just as I think there always will be choices in how “sides” in any serious conflict decide to proceed…violently, or not!! Requires the will to get in each others’ shoes very intentionally, though, to seek the common good!
The film has nothing to do with the Civil War, that's a mere stage prop.
@@GeorgeMcGowan-en8xq not at all. The film maker chose to include the civil war as a *backdrop* to their characters fude. If you think this is coincidental then you are ignoring a lot of things.
@@GeorgeMcGowan-en8xq i respectfully disagree
Its an extremely misguided (wrong) approximation of the civil war, please dont mistake it as otherwise
The emotion that comes with Padraic's last line "Anytime!" summarizes the film - sadness, resentment, and a slight hope of reunion.
i didn’t see any hope of reunion there. just that he respected the dog more than Colm now.
Excellent breakdown. I have to say as an Irish person I am a bit disappointed I didn't pick up on any of this while watching the movie. Now the movie makes more sense. Thank you
That's because you were drunk while watching it like a typical Irishman (kidding of course).
Likewise
I realized it when the policeman Kearney passes on some news by telling a woman "that a certain man, “Protestant, of course,” stabbed someone six times." I immediately thought of the six counties of Northern Ireland becoming its own separate state. then the allegory of the civil war became clear.
@@tedwojtasik8781 literally racist asf just repeating racist stereotypes and saying jk at the end. you should be ashamed
Haha don't kick yourself over it; I feel it's one of those films that alludes to several topics, in this case both historical war events but also about the human psyche.
(I'm not Irish and am still learning about the conflicts that have taken place there.. So for me, the rift between the two protagonists symbolized elements of mental turmoil, artistic expression, loneliness, resistance to change, and just the pain that comes when a loved one decides to end a connection, seemingly without rhyme or reason)
I think we can go further in this. Siobhan also represents the women who were embroiled by the conflict, angered by male pride yet doing some of the fighting themselves. Indeed, male pride is a good explanation for the war. Éamon de Valera, who opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty partly due to the oath Dail members would have to swear, entered the Dail in 1927 after the war saying it was simply an ‘empty political formula’. How could a man start a war over an empty formula without some vanity.
Colm also represents the romantic attachment to Ireland, and the impracticality of the IRA’s republicanism in its romantic view of Ireland. Colm suggests the IRA were part patriots who loved their culture, forgoing Earthly desired and pleasures to create a legacy for Ireland, but also partly vain and self-centred in their unwillingness to consider other points of view as legitimate. Padraig meanwhile is the more pragmatic, but no less Irish, one who just wants a bit of peace, a representation of the Free State. I don’t think Colm saying he wants peace is contradictory either. Whereas Colm wants peace through struggle and so he can craft his magnum opus, Padraig wants peace to mean unity and friendship. Colm’s ‘peace’ is a victory for a new order, like the IRA, while Padraig’s is a victory for the status quo.
In the end, the Free State burns the IRA’s house, the IRA is proscribed as it was in reality, and more IRA men were imprisoned in the Free State during WWII than the UK. But Colm, the embodiment of the spirit (and the film is about spirits after all) lives on in an ambiguous and unfinished ending. Sure, the conflict ceases, but it’s only a ceasing of firing. The war between the two men is left unresolved, because in reality it was too. For decades, the Irish Civil War remained a key division in politics.
Loved this background information, no one else has really explored this. None of this quite recent history is known in the UK. The two films used here for clips, Michael Collins and The Wind That Shakes The Barley are perfect primers for anyone who wants to learn more. These 100 year anniversaries have been honoured beautifully by Martin McDonagh. An amazing film.
Yes, well, now I know that before I spend $15 a ticket I will have to determine which other movies I need to watch in order to understand.
I found the themes on despair, purpose, death, and God's silence the most interesting. I suppose you could see in macro analogies to the war, and in micro analogies to the Christian view of humans having a sin nature, need of salvation, and the curse of death.
My most favorite lines were when the priest asked Colm if he thought God gave a damn about miniature donkeys and when Colm said "I fear he doesn't. And I fear that's where it's all gone wrong." Currently, I am thinking that scene between Colm and the priest was the defining scene for the whole movie.
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
My first interpretation of that scene was that according to Colm things go wrong when God may care about people, but doesn't necessarily care about what people care about. Hence, if the moral authority may care about his "friend" but not about his donkey, the moral authority is flawed.
Ya know... they only mention the Civil War in the film a million times. Not sure how I didn't make the connection. Brilliant. Also, that shot towards the end of Brendan Gleeson playing fiddle in Michael Collins cracked me up.
Best analysis of the film I heard so far. I knew the conflict between the two friends on the island was supposed to parallel the civil war on mainland, based on the escalation and many references they made to that war. I didn’t know all the details though so that was very interesting and educational.
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
Brilliant analysis. Thank you for the hard work you put into this!
This is by far the best commentary I have heard on this subject.
Absolutely wonderful! Thank you for bringing into context a film that made feel so much yet remained to me enigmatic.
Although this is an older video it only came up for me. This is a fantastic and fascinating analysis and so well presented. At only 13 minutes long this achieves so much.
The damage done by this war runs through my own life. My father's family are from a border town and his father was a combatant. My grandmother's family were also involved, losing people to fighting and murder. It effected them both and how they brought up their own children, and how they brought us up. When you think that certain things are just normal it comes as a shock when you discover that those things are not
My family has went through similar issues with the Spanish government regarding Basque Independence.
A thorough and informative analysis of a poignant film. Thank you for your time and effort in creating this. I have seen other readings of this film that managed to go shallow on the allegory and only draw parallels between the war on the mainland and the central feud with the Colm and Padraic.
Without knowing a great deal about the Irish civil war in the 20s, I knew there was a depth to this film's symbolism and allegory. I had an opaque sense of it but thank you for educating us and making the connections clear. It will now allow me to appreciate this film even more upon a second viewing. I'll be watching more of your videos and for what it's worth you have gained a new subscriber.
amazing analysis! was looking for this
Extremely well narrated, thank you!
one of my favorite things about this movie is that everyone i know who saw it got something different out of it. me and my mom bought tickets to see it on the last showing listed (big fans of In Bruges) and then within a week word of mouth had spread and it became a hit. glad to see this team get the recognition they deserve.
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
Best one yet. Thank you!
Wow. I loved the movie, one of my faves of this year. It did feel like an old folk tale, this video made me appreciate it 100x more now. Thanks so much for the vid!
This Monday morning, watching your presentation ,I am very interested in learning more about this period and watching this moving film. Grazie tante for this beautiful presentation 🕊️
Finally. I thought I was the only one who watched this and thought of the war. Great work.
Unreal break down. I had seen some of the tie ins when I watch but it goes so much deeper
Here is why Colm really cut his fingers off:
So, from what we can gather, Colm is already in despair before the story begins, as the final conversation between him and the priest reveals. Most likely he is dying or at least he has been contemplating death a lot, hence his preoccupation with legacy (his music is even about the banshees, the announcer of death). But besides music there are others things he seem interested in, as we see by the objects in his house - puppets (manipulation, narrative, characters) and theater masks (acting, deceiving, shadow self).
Using this information, we can picture two scenarios, one where Colm was acting to be a nice person but in reality was using Pádraic as a puppet friend all along just to to entertain himself. The idea of a coming death created an urgency in him to leave a musical legacy, followed by the decisions to end his distraction play time with Pádraic and to let go the mask of niceness. So what unfolds is the loss of his reputation and the unveiling of his true selfish and manipulative nature.
On a deeper and noble second scenario, his legacy would be to leave behind a free and mature human being. In this case the real manipulation of Pádraic by the puppet master Colm started after he knew he was going to die. And the selfishness and craziness performed was just the acting needed to complete his final play. Here, Colm sacrifices himself in order to provide the means (freedom) for his friend to reach his potential. (This sounds like too much of a philosophical stretch, but the director Martin McDonagh already have done this in his film ‘In Bruges’, with the same pair of actors.)
In the first scenario Colm wants to get some peace before dying to create his musical legacy and to get that needs to set his puppet friend Pádraic go - note that the strings of the puppeteer makes him also tied to his puppet - he is also not free. So, he need to end this co-dependent dynamic fast, and at all costs, even by cutting his own fingers off (giving away his manipulative power as a puppeteer) - a painful action which Colm does without demonstrating it, showing how conscious (and desperate) he is of his intentions regarding setting himself free and in the process, Pádraic too.
Pádraic is just a toy in the hands of a puppeteer and is not in control of his own narrative, at least during the beginning. He also does not know who he really is. By setting Pádraic free of the controlling strings, Colm gives Pádraic his agency back, and as a consequence, allows him to discover other facets of his ‘self’ that would reveal the shadows behind the mask of being nice (note the scene when he puts a mask while visiting Colm’s house and later when he brakes his image on the mirror - the new him). Colm even says that he likes Pádraic better now that he is behaving more freely.
But Pádraic, like a son who doesn’t understands why his father is abruptly cutting ties with him, feels abandoned and angry (growing up, loss of innocence), and still tries to set things back to the old dynamics when his puppeteer had all the power and his life as a puppet was simpler (the scene where Pádraic says that Colm can use whatever powers he has to stop him form burning his house). But when the donkey dies, things get out of plan, and Pádraic burns Colm’s house - a demonstration that now he also has the power to affect the fate of others, even to decide who lives or dies.
There is a real banshee in the story, the old lady that announces the coming of death, she is the one that uses the stick-hook. In old time stage plays the stick-hook was used to get characters out of the stage when their time was up, and it is the same within this story. But here there is another Puppet Master controlling the lives of all characters: GOD. HE is the one really deciding who lives and dies - even the most innocent ones, like the donkey and Dominic (note that Dominic is the one who find the Banshee's hook and asks about its purpose). They (we) are all HIS characters and the island (Earth) is GOD's stage.
Siobhán, the sister, is the one character that can see from a certain distance the ongoing repetitive drama of the play and decides to leave (she was not really participating in it). Different from Colm who now sees Pádraic as a problem and takes a dramatic selfish decision to abandon him (I don’t need you anymore, go away), she also cut ‘ties’ with his brother but in a way that would be good for both to grow up - leaving because there is a higher purpose (I have to go, but still love you). Note the scene in which she is leaving the village in the boat, she is hanging on a rope, her own string that connects her to the sky, wind and sea (Nature is God’s hands) - she is still a puppet in the hands of God’s will, but her character is now needed in a different play.
At the end of this scenario, Colm is just a man, selfish but not an unemphatic sociopath, as he still shows care for Pádraic. Siobhan, is caring but is not a saint, just a down to earth smart woman who just wants better things for her. Colm was using Pádraic as an entertainment (we all use other people to diverge from our own misery) but his planned decision to cut ties created an unplanned opportunity to Pádraic to growth individually. And Pádraic was up to the challenge and responded accordingly, as he was dull but sharp, sensitive but strong. Dominic is the curious naive but annoying child that no one has time to pay attention. The donkey is nature, the innocent collateral in any man's conflict. And the banshee, a reminder that we are all just characters in God's cosmic play.
.....
Sacrificial love.
If in the first scenario Pádraic grows into a more mature man due to the unplanned consequences of selfish decisions made by Colm, in this second one he goes to the same process of individual growth but this time by consequence of a meticulous masterplan idealized by his friend.
Knowing he is about to die Colm wants to "teach" Pádraic a last 'lesson'. Something that would break the dynamics that are set and possibly push Pádraic to grow up and stand for himself. As he knows that Pádraic has this inner potential. Maybe like a father would do to its son if he knows he was about to die and wanted to 'prepare' him for the 'real' world beforehand.
Remember the things that Colm likes: music, puppeteering and acting. And he has lots of time to create his final play. Note that they live in an island, away from the war, protected from conflicts. But conflicts are what make us grow. Within fixed and stable dynamics there are no room for change, and Colm knows that. And so, being a puppet master, a composer, and an actor he initiates a well elaborated conflict with Pádraic which would then create the needed situations that would pushes him to face his shadow sides such as dependence, fear, angriness, jealously, hate, loneliness and others. Colm would become a selfish, rude and egotistical man only preoccupied by his creative musical legacy. Or at least would act as such.
The hardline boundaries and the finger cutting threats made by Colm puts Pádraic in a new challenging position of choices, with new real bloodily cause-consequences dynamics (like in a real war). Colm would rather cut his fingers off (sacrifice his creative power) just to liberate his friend by a means of a lesson of hard consequences as Pádraic's growth (responsibility) and his realization of free will (choice, judgement) was more important than any other thing that he could have use for his hand. Also note that Colm didn’t let himself die in the burning house (he as well could have, as he knew he was about to die anyways), but he didn’t want his death on Pádraic consciousness - that would make him a somber man, and that was not his intention.
His real legacy would be a stronger, more independent and more mature Pádraic.
At the end, loneliness, lost and sadness become part of Pádraic's life. But he still has a good heart - he would still takes care of the dog of his enemy, anytime. And, as Pádraic himself wisely concludes, at the final scene at the beach:
- “Some things there are no moving on from”…”and I think that’s a good thing.”
"So, maybe this is a metaphor about God and mankind - a puppet master whom, for the love for his creation, was willing to cut his connection (sacrifice his existence) in order to give free will to his puppets even though they might use it to hate him in the end - the fall from the paradise tale."
If you like to go even deeper, there is also a christian-catholic mythological theme in this Irish story. Just like Pacraic, Adam and Eve (man) got expelled from paradise (protected place) for eating the forbidden fruit of knowledge. God (the master puppeteer) set an explicit boundary but man crossed and lost his place in heaven - the loss of innocence of man. Now they will have to growth by means of their own choices and consequences. God sacrifices himself in order to give free will to his loved creation. Man gains knowledge (but at the cost of his divine connection) and the power to influence his own life and the life of others (nature is also affected).
Thank you for reading.
Also made a video about this comment: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
Thanks for your perspective. I think the civil war analogy is lazy, laboured and ignores the realities of the actual conflict.
I have a similar interpretation. To sum it up it is one of the greatest love stories told in a movie hidden behind comedy & conflict. Everything Colm did was out of love for Padraic. He did not want him to come to the same demise he came to: a life with nothing to show for it. So he took a drastic approach to try to convince Padraic there’s no reason for him to stay on the island. His friendship with Colm was keeping him content & preventing him from creating a life of his own, a life of purpose & meaning. It was Siobhan that actually saw what was happening & heeded the message Colm was sending. Something Colm knew she would do, which was his intention also, to give Padraic even less reason to stay. On top of that he loses his donkey & even his 2nd hand companion, Dominic.
So here Padraic is on this island with no sister, no donkey, no 2nd hand friend, no promise of Colm being his friend, but he STILL decides to stay: which is the reciprocation of his love for Colm. He knows Colm spent his life up with not much to show for it in terms of accomplishment & he’s willing to do the same for Colm. He’s not dull as many suppose just a person of great love & loyalty which is often misinterpreted by society as being stupid.
The dog living with Padraic was a foreshadowing. I’d like to think Colm & the dog now without home & Padraic with no sister, no donkey & an empty bed moved in with Padraic.
Which brings up a much more sinister scenario: did Colm do all this just to get closer to Padraic in a more twisted kind of romantic obsession for him? And I think not, because we are reassured that the donkey was a genuine accident & the scene with the priest asking if he’s interested in men also assured us he’s not. Great job to have the foresight to shut down that possible scenario. Exactly why the movie didn’t end with Colm moving in because the movie would have definitely taken on a whole different sinister tone even if unintended.
Well said, and you provide the answer to why God lied about death coming to those who eat from the tree of knowledge. Death comes for us all, without that knowledge many may not truly live.
What a brilliant observation. Loved this video!
New subscriber... I'm an aspiring screenwriter and this analysis was a huge help. Cheers for that. Also made me look at the film in a whole new light. I got the references to the Civil War but you put such an amazing detailed and spot on examination of it... amazing work my friend
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
The only breakdown I found that explained the parallels between the Irish Civil War and this movie. Nice work.
Thank you forthis video ! I had this feeling that the movie was more about Irish Civil War than simply a geopolitical context, but I was far from having all the clues, that's an amazing video !
Its kind of love it when a movie just ends with no resolution. I should've realized that the parts about the war had a deeper meaning to the plot and the ending not having much of a resolution between the two is much more telling and explains the utter lack of closure felt between the two.
Thanks, love the analysis, now I have to watch it again!
One of the things that's throwing me about people dismissing the Irish Civil War interpretation is that the clue is literally in the name of the film
Inisherin is a fictional island on the west coast of Ireland whose name is constructed the same way as the other english language names of the western islands: Inis (pronouced: in-ish) meaning island, Erin is the female personification of Ireland (derived fron the Irish word for Ireland: Éireann). The drama literally takes place on the 'island of Ireland'
It’s just a plain fact that it has these intentional parallels with the Irish civil war.
@@BM-qn6fg Which is why I find so many people closing off this line of interpretation so weird to me. Maybe it's because they were expecting something that was tonally closer to 'In Bruges'? I do prefer 'Banshees' to 'In Bruges' myself, but tbh I prefer John Michael McDonagh's film 'Calvary' to both
@@LeavinMyTown I think Calvary was superb and a bit overlooked.
Good catch, @LevinMyTown. Nice etymological point.
well i am back again after viewing your more videos, i wanna applaude/salute your skills you develop/acquired , excellent work
This is very helpful. Thank you.
This was so helpful! Great work
Thank you! I had no idea and now the film makes much more sense!
Thanks for the narrative. Well done.
Very beautifully put my friend. X
excellent work
Brilliant. Thank you for the insight.
This movie is way more deep than I even realized.. but I do feel like this movie says a lot about friendship, outgrowing friendship, depression, spite/malice, grudges, legacy, mid life… it’s a lot!
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
I think you are spot on with your analysis. I was thinking about the parallels with the characters and the Irish civil war as I watched this movie. I kinda got bogged down trying to determine who was representing which side of the conflict. In hindsight I see there was deliberate ambiguity like you point out here. I have to admit, I didn't pick up half of this stuff, will need to watch it again
Thank you. Well done sir
excellent analysis. Thanks!
Very well done brother. Very well done.
Thanks for explaining this to a simple little Puerto Rican girl in California with a love of great movies. ❤️ 🎥 I’ve learned soo much, but after living in Europe I am a little ashamed I didn’t learn more about this. Everyday is an opportunity for growth right? ☺️
Jenny the donkey was precious in every way. 🙏
Great explanation. Makes the film much better than I thought
Super analysis mate.
Wonderful analysis of the film! It’s a beauty.
What a great analysis. Subscribed!
Great breakdown, I think it's also worth noting that it doesn't have to have anything to do with the war to be incredibly impactful on a personal level. But your analysis is spot on.
I thought this was a wonderful video ... thanks for making it,. It has made the experience of seeing the film all the better.
Excellent - many thanks!
Well done man, excellent video, got my sub. Hello from Dublin
Excellent Video! Much Thanks for the nuanced interpretations
Great analysis! Thanks.
My new favorite channel.
Great Video!
Thank you so much for this. I feel like I finally understand that film now.
Thanks ,brought up with this history I know so well
This has been very deep. I've been to Ireland three times, and the conflicts or better said, the divide, there have always saddened me deeply. I think you nailed perfectly what the filmmaker tried to express.
Good heartfelt analysis of the film
Great quality video, thank you.
Great vid!
Really well done.
Slán
It truly was the silent character in the film. Adding tension at the reality of changes the war would bring.
I enjoyed Banshees and the thought provoking social allegories it presented on the surface but admit that despite being a knowledgeable history buff did not properly connect this with the plight of the Irish soul over the last century until watching this. Excellent content that in retrospect added another layer to the source movie and earned you another subscriber. you nailed it! Keep up the great work, it is appreciated.
Great video. That gave me a lot to think about, and taught me quite a bit about an area of history I am pretty ignorant of.
Thank you for this. So far I don't think that film critics have really understood this film, which brilliantly portrays how the conflict and insanity inside our own minds is projected out into the world as war, chaos, and devastation, even when it's across the water. It pertains to the Irish Civil War but is relevant to war now, which makes this film so particularly brilliant. The allegory is universal and it's also a theme that is central to A Course in Miracles, a theme that is simple but tough to master: the more we understand how our minds create our world, the more we will want to cultivate peace in our minds, which we will then see in our relationships and in our outer world. Thank you for explaining the film and the Irish Civil War. I want to watch this video again a couple of times to better understand the Irish Civil War. Most brilliant film ever!
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
Very well done mixing the three great Irish films in Irish history
Phenomenal analysis.
Fascinating analysis! :)
I have thought a lot about this too. This movie is very interesting and if it had a genre it would be something that would include The Lighthouse. You just don't see many intense love stories between two grown men like this in movies often. No matter how I try to stretch this character drama over history, it rips apart. I think the explosions and comments about the civil war invite you to try, but they really do little more for the movie than create even more tension.
Good idea for a video though and good video. cheers.
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
Brilliant analysis ... thanks
Great analogy
Great breakdown!
After your video the movie made sense to me, excellent job buddy....
You gained a sub :)
Brilliant video !
Wow that was very good. The metaphors one wouldn’t understand unless they knew the history. Very good👍🏾
I'll admit I'm wildly uneducated about the Civil War as an an individual with Irish ties. While I watched the movie it did cross my mind that the two were a metaphor for the bloody conflict. I'm glad to have at least understood the hints. This was a great rundown. Thanks for the great video!
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
Thank you for this excellent explanation! While I really enjoyed the movie when I watched it, I didn’t understand the drastic actions of the characters and the story seemed convoluted and made no sense. However your video explained it perfectly and now it all makes sense! Very much appreciated.
The film was heartbreaking and hard to watch at times and that is itself is exactly like the History of Ireland 🇮🇪. Bless her.❤
Brilliantly done mate! Subscribed and looking forward to more
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
I didn’t get it when i was watching. Still enjoyed it but now it is much better. Thanks for explanation
Loved this film. Now I love it even more knowing the allegorical nature of it.
I appreciated this. I didn't really see the film symbolically, mainly because I didn't realize that what was going on in the background was the Irish civil war, which obviously would have clued me in. I thought it was being funny, theatrical, philosophical and so on. It makes a lot more sense to me now.
Loved Wind that shakes the Barley, a perfect early netflix stream I will never forget.
Outstanding insights.
Really nice, thank you. It brought to my mind the film Raise The Red Lantern, another political allegory.
Well done!
I enjoyed this movie, but I never knew about the Free State over the IRA. Thanks for the brief video giving me a basic understanding of the conflict.
I saw the movie yesterday on the plane. Your analysis make a lot of sense. Beautiful movie, incredibly sad. Is a pity it didn’t win anything at the Oscars.
Hi! If you are interested in another take on the reason Colm cut off his fingers: ua-cam.com/video/RADx2N2hHoY/v-deo.html
Another aspect that I think is worth noting. Colm's self-mutilation is at direct odds with what he claims he wants. He wants to spend his time composing and playing music. He says that the tedious interactions with Pádraic stop him from living up to his musical potential, but really having no fingers on one hand is going to be a much larger barrier to his stated goals than having a dull friend around.
Yes. Colm cuts off his fingers as a demonstration that he will sacrifice his music to be a better friend. He pushes his "son" away to make him more independent, to prepare him for his life without his "da".
amazing explanation
bro, that was a fucking awesome video, hell yeah
Thanks for clearing that up 👆
THANK YOU! Unlike the trailers would have you believe, it is NOT a light-hearted comedy. It was deeply haunting and had a small inclination it may be an Irish Civil War allegory but lacked the background. I really liked it the movie and cast was excellent but i haven't been this upset or angry about a story and characters in a long time. Again, thanks for putting it into context.
Amazing. Should’ve take a history course or something before watching this movie, this changes everything.
awesome stuff!
Thank you
Thanks for this. Suscribed