One of the best Irish movies ever made is airing on TV tonight

The comedy-drama was nominated for nine Academy Awards, making it the most Oscar-nominated Irish film 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, Intermission), a middle-aged man who is left devastated when his best friend and local musician, Colm (Brendan Gleeson, The Guard), 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, Train Dreams) and troubled young islander Dominic (Barry Keoghan, Bring Them Down), 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 RTÉ One at 9.40pm. It is also streaming on Disney+ and will be available to watch on Channel 4's website from Sunday, 28 December.

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