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12th June 2025
10:45am BST
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Thursday, 12 June) is The Banshees of Inisherin, one of the best movies of the decade and one of the best Irish movies ever.
The film is set in 1923, near the end of the Irish Civil War, on a small island off the coast of Ireland.
It follows Pádraic (Colin Farrell), a middle-aged man who is left devastated when his best friend and local musician, Colm (Brendan Gleeson), suddenly says that he does not want to see him anymore and that he'd rather spend his time composing music.
"A stunned Pádraic, aided by his sister Siobhán (Kerry Condon) and troubled young islander Dominic (Barry Keoghan), endeavours to repair the relationship, refusing to take no for an answer," the plot synopsis reads.
"But Pádraic's repeated efforts only strengthen his former friend’s resolve, and when Colm delivers a desperate ultimatum, events swiftly escalate, with shocking consequences."
Written and directed by the acclaimed Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Three Billboards), The Banshees of Inisherin's portrait of a fallout between long-time friends is hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure.
We'd argue, though, that the brilliance of McDonagh's screenplay lies in how this central story becomes a metaphor for several different topics: isolation, mental health, the difficulties of rural life, war, and the sacrifices people make to follow their passions.
The performances across the board are also flawless, and the movie looks stunningly beautiful.
As such, it's no surprise that The Banshees of Inisherin holds a near-perfect 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and was nominated for nine Academy Awards, making it the most Oscar-nominated Irish film of all time.
The movie is airing on TV tonight on Film4 at 9pm. It is also streaming on Disney+ and will be available to watch on Channel 4's website after it airs this evening.
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Last Passenger - Legend Xtra - 9pm
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My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 - Comedy Central - 9pm
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The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes - Sky Arts - 9pm
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Coming 2 America - Sky Showcase - 10pm
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Fighting Back - Legend Xtra - 10.55pm
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Sea of Love - Legend - 11pm
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During his investigation, however, he becomes romantically involved with a woman (Ellen Barkin) who may be the culprit.
The Last Bus - BBC Two - 11pm
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Armageddon - Film4 - 11.20pm
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Death Wish V: The Face of Death - ITV4 - 11.40pm
