The Washington Post

For donkeys in films vying for Oscars, let us bray

- BY SONIA RAO Note: This story contains a spoiler for the film “The Banshees of Inisherin.”

When Padraic Suilleabha­in despairs, he seeks solace in the company of his miniature pet donkey. Yes, you read that correctly. Padraic lives on a small island off the coast of Ireland. It is the 1920s, so emotional support animals aren’t officially a concept yet. But if they were, Jenny the donkey would certainly qualify.

Padraic needs Jenny because he has just been dumped by his best friend, Colm Doherty. Jenny would never betray Padraic like that. She wouldn’t consider him too “dull” to spend time with.

Silent but steadfast in her support, Jenny is one of the most endearing characters in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Martin Mcdonagh’s Oscar-nominated tragicomed­y about the fracturing of the friendship between Padraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson). But the animal winds up a casualty of the escalating feud. Her untimely death prompts a heartbroke­n Padraic to go off

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Bazilfoto/istock

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