The premiere of Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin” at the Venice Film Festival was met with a 13-minute standing ovation.
According to the ever-so-slightly unscientific applause meter, this is the longest and loudest applause for any film to premiere on the Lido this season.
McDonagh and the actors Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Kerry Condon embraced during the ovation and descended from the mezzanine to the orchestra for the Monday premiere.
To be fair, the applause may have been exaggerated.
This is due to the fact that Farrell broke with precedent by wading into the throng to take photographs with fans and sign autographs, which further increased the volume and duration of the cheering.
At one point, McDonagh’s girlfriend, the actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, leant over her chair and kissed her boyfriend as he basked in the acclaim.
The crowd’s enthusiastic standing ovation for “The Banshees of Inisherin” bled into Olivia Wilde’s psychological thriller “Don’t Worry, Darling’s” premiere on the red carpet.
Ushers at Venice had to scramble to get the audience to leave the theater so that the next film premiere could begin.
Not only does “The Banshees of Inisherin” appear to be a strong possibility for best film, but Farrell might earn the first nomination for best actor of his career, while Gleeson and Condon may be strong prospects for supporting actor and actress, respectively.
The film tells the offbeat tale of two best friends (Farrell and Gleeson) whose abrupt breakup has a seismic effect on the rural village in which they reside.
Guy Lodge of “Variety” described “The Banshees of Inisherin” as a “quietly superb film so caustically, hauntingly, and occasionally raucously tragic.”
In addition, he praised McDonagh’s storyline and direction, as well as his skillful handling of the actors.
This year, Venice hosted a number of films that are expected to compete with “The Banshees of Inisherin” for awards consideration, including Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” which garnered praise for its actor Brendan Fraser, and Todd Fields’ “Tar,” the director’s first feature in 16 years.
In “The Banshees of Inisherin,” McDonagh reunites with Gleeson and Farrell. The three previously collaborated on the 2008 film “In Bruges.”
Most recently, McDonagh directed the 2017 Searchlight release “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” which was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won two for the performances of Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell.
On October 21, “The Banshees of Inisherin” debuts in theaters.