The movie, which follows Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two friends who fall out, features miniature donkey Jenny as a key part of the story. Jenny is the beloved sidekick to Farrell's Pádraic and acts as his companion when Gleeson's Colm ends their friendship.
While hosting this year's 95th Academy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel walked a donkey wearing a sequined emotional support vest onto the Dolby Theatre stage, claiming it was Jenny, the beloved donkey from “Banshees of Inisherin.” But it was an impostor.
In the 2022 film, Jenny, the beloved pet of Farrell's Pádraic, meets her untimely end after choking on one of Colm's (Gleeson) fingers, severed amid the pair's bitter rift that serves as the movie's central story.
It wasn't Jenny, it wasn't even a female donkey," Kimmel explained. "The donkey's name is Dominic, it's a male donkey. We didn't think it was a good idea to fly a donkey over from Ireland, so we hired an L.A. donkey.
What did Colin Farrell say about Jenny the donkey?
He then joked: “Not only is Jenny an actor, she's a certified emotional support donkey. Or, at least, that's what we told the airline to get her on the plane from Ireland. “So, if you're feeling upset that you didn't win, or anxious, or maybe you just love mules – feel free to come up and give her a hug.”
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN | "Just A Man And His Donkey" Featurette | Searchlight Pictures
What was the point of The Banshees of Inisherin?
The message of the film is the downfall of culture and the way loss can destroy someone. With the two leads serving as metaphors for the Irish as a nation, the message of the film can be read as a cautionary tale.
What happened to the donkey in The Banshees of Inisherin?
Pádraic burns Colm's house down in a bid for revenge after his beloved donkey was killed after the animal choked on his former friend's dismembered fingers, not caring if Colm is inside. The next day Pádraic, having rescued Colm's dog, Sammy, spots him beside his burnt-out house on the beach.
While presenting, Kimmel brought out a donkey, in a nod to the animal who acted as a sidekick for Colin Farrell's character Padraic, and joked the animal had been flown over “from Ireland” especially for the awards. “She's one of the stars of The Banshees Of Inisherin,” Kimmel said.
Instead, he was a local donkey. “We didn't think it was a good idea to fly a donkey over from Ireland, so we hired an L.A. donkey,” Kimmel said, before joking of the Hollywood animal. “Maybe you noticed the lip fillers and the implants.” And he apologized for misleading the audience.
Though Dominic breaks the death trend in McDonagh's movies, his death is tragic, as he kills himself off-screen, disillusioned by the depths of Pádraic's cruelty, Siobhán's departure, and his father's abuse. The next morning, Colm meets Pádraic and suggests that their feud has reached an end.
He begins to compose a song, which he titles “The Banshees of Inishiren,” that he hopes will be the beginning of what he leaves behind. This motivates him to stop his friendship with Padraic, as he feels like idle chatting with his old friend will leave him with nothing to leave behind.
While the answer to "what are the banshees of Inisherin?" may remain elusive, many are curious whether the film is based on a true story. Turns out the Golden Globe winner is a complete work of fiction, however, Martin McDonagh did draw from a lot of real-life history to craft its setting.
The Banshees Of Inisherin was filmed on Achill Island. Situated off the west coast of Ireland, the Aran Islands were also used for filming – contrary to the film's single island setting. This compilation of destinations was part of director Martin McDonagh's vision for the film.
How many Oscars did The Banshees of Inisherin win?
The film, which was written, directed and co-produced by Martin McDonagh, is one of only nine films in Oscar history to receive nine or more nominations and wind up with no wins at all.
Jenny: A jenny (or jennet) is a term for a female donkey. Mare: A female donkey. Moke: A moke is a British term for a donkey. Molly: A molly is a term for a female mule.
The red carpet traces its origins back to 458 B.C., when it appeared in the Aeschylus play “Agamemnon.” When the Greek king Agamemnon returns home victorious from the Trojan War, his vengeful wife, Clytemnestra, tries to trick him into arrogance by laying out a red carpet for him to walk on, an action that, undertaken ...
The Dubliner has already made public that sitting next to him in the front seats at the eagerly anticipated ceremony will be one of his two sons, Henry (13), with the pair set to wear matching tuxedos as Colin hopes to win the gong for Best Actor for his role of Pádraic Súilleabháin in The Banshees of Inisherin.
Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Tom Hanks has been honored with numerous awards and nominations, including two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994).
Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump: At an early age, Forrest is deemed to have a below-average IQ of 75. He has an endearing character and shows devotion to his loved ones and duties, character traits that bring him into many life-changing situations.
The Banshees of Inisherin poignantly depicts a tale of despair and friendship in which despair overpowers friendship mostly throughout the film and this despair stands as a metaphor for the collective angst of Irish people during the Irish War of Independence.
It is intended as an allegory for the Irish Civil War ('Inisherin' translates to 'Island Ireland'), which was in full rage at that time. Colin Farrell plays Pádraic Súilleabháin, a small farmer, and Brendan Gleeson plays Colm Doherty, a fiddle player who scores traditional Irish music.
But also, donkeys "represent innocence. By the end, we almost start seeing (the story) through their eyes: how they observe the violence and craziness of this conflict between the two men."
