Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri: A Riveting Tale of Grief and Retribution
A poignant, darkly humorous, and deeply moving drama unfolds as a mother wages war against a police force seemingly indifferent to her daughter’s murder.
Seven months prior, Mildred Hayes’ daughter was brutally raped and murdered on the road leading from their home to the small town of Ebbing. Frustrated by the lack of progress in the police investigation, Mildred takes a drastic step. She sells her ex-husband’s car and uses the money to rent three billboards along that fateful road. On them, she posts stark, accusatory messages directed at the town’s revered police chief.
While the billboards are situated away from the main highway, they nonetheless ignite a firestorm of controversy. They enrage the police chief, his officers, and many townspeople who view Mildred’s actions as a step too far. After all, the police aren’t idle; the case is simply proving to be frustratingly complex, with no leads, witnesses, or concrete evidence. However, both sides are now on the offensive, turning the town and its surroundings into a battleground between a grieving mother and a resentful police force.
Frances McDormand was initially hesitant to take on the role, feeling she was too old at 58 to portray a mother who had lost a teenage daughter. It was her husband, director and screenwriter Joel Coen, who convinced her otherwise.
A Timely Release
Last year, distributors missed a golden opportunity when they underestimated the potential of “Manchester by the Sea,” a drama about grief, guilt, and redemption. The film went on to win two Oscars and receive four more nominations, but it was only released in theaters in the spring. This time, thankfully, the frontrunner for the upcoming Academy Awards (and no, it’s not “The Shape of Water”) is being released at the peak of its hype. With the Oscar nominations announced, audiences can now witness firsthand the exceptional work of the creators of “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and the actors who bring this extraordinary story to life.
Filming took place in the small town of Sylva, North Carolina, where locals gathered around the set. The actors happily signed autographs and took photos with residents during breaks, and Woody Harrelson even gave an impromptu concert at a local store.
Themes of Loss and Redemption
The parallels with “Manchester by the Sea” are not accidental. Despite their stylistic differences, both films explore the painful themes of loss, living with grief, seeking solace from despair, and the impossibility of undoing the past. They also highlight the importance of repentance and shifting from anger and hatred to compassion and love. Without this, the loss of loved ones remains a heavy burden, offering no lessons learned. While neither film can be considered a guide to overcoming depression, it is the range of emotions and the ability to empathize with the suffering of others that make us human. This is what makes “Three Billboards” arguably the most human film in recent years.
A Symphony of Suffering
Empathy is essential here, as each character possesses their own truth, pain, and capacity for both heroism and villainy. The grieving mother blames herself for being harsh with her daughter and indirectly contributing to the crime. The police chief is powerless to solve the case and is also facing his own mortality, mentally bidding farewell to his wife and two young daughters. His deputy sees his own version of order in the town and resorts to despicable acts, sublimating his own insignificance. Even the supporting characters have their own balance and subtly influence the invisible war between the Woman and the System. It is for this unique microcosm that writer-director Martin McDonagh received a Golden Globe. His film is a small world with big feelings and raw emotions, where law, truth, and justice are not always in the right hands or in the right place.
Martin McDonagh’s Masterpiece
Martin McDonagh deserves special recognition. He has consistently garnered high praise from critics and audiences, even winning an Oscar for his short film. However, neither “In Bruges” nor “Seven Psychopaths” approached the level of sensitivity and soulfulness found in “Three Billboards.” McDonagh retains his distinctive style, layering multiple narratives that collide and spark. He bombards the audience with sharp dialogue and surprisingly simple and sincere monologues (the letters from Chief Willoughby and the conversation with the deer are impossible to watch without a lump in your throat). He doesn’t shy away from his signature dark humor – the film is genuinely funny, sometimes hilariously so. But his remarkable growth is also evident. “Three Billboards” is a mature, serious, and profound work that touches the soul while offering a glimmer of hope.
Stellar Performances
What can be said about the cast? Frances McDormand, already recognized with a Golden Globe for the best role of her career. Sam Rockwell, as brilliant as ever (and, as always, dancing in the film), and surprisingly nuanced. Woody Harrelson, the most charismatic actor of the new millennium, playing a cop. And a company of seemingly unremarkable actors who create a unique atmosphere in a small town united by a terrible tragedy and the metastases of its aftermath. Why talk about it when you can and should see it on the big screen with your eyes wide open?
A good film should delight and sadden, surprise with new discoveries and stir old memories, introduce us to new people and teach us to look at loved ones differently – it should move us. Everything that should be in a good, big, sensual film is in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” The film is only missing an Oscar, but that seems like a fixable problem.