As familiar as I am with the oeuvre of Martin McDonagh, I couldn't necessarily teach a course on the playwright/filmmaker's darkly comedic stage and screen works. But if I could, I would likely start with The Banshees of Inisherin, an absolutely delightful (if slightly grim) reunion for In Bruges co-stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, and one that seems to boil its creator's signature style down to its absolute essence – yet in unexpectedly tender fashion.

A two-day event showcasing and supporting Midwestern artists, the Muscatine Music & Independent Film Festival will be held at the Muscatine Performing Arts Center on November 4 and 5, with daily showings of nearly 50 short movies and music videos, and live performances by eight gifted acts following each day's screenings.

In the Figge Art Museum's current Film at the Figge series, the Davenport venue is screening international, award-winning works that deal with death, loss, and grief in unexpected ways, and the affecting and arresting lineup continues on October 27 with Foxtrot, the internationally co-produced 2017 drama that received the Grand Jury Prize Silver Lion at the74th Venice International Film Festival.

Presented by Progressive Action for the Common Good – the Davenport-based organization dedicated to the promotion of social justice, empowerment, diversity, sustainability and community – I Am the Future: Standing on the Shoulders of the Past will be screened at the Rock Island Public Library's downtown branch on October 25. the documentary a locally produced Black-history video courtesy of Mickle Communications.