Belfast (2021) Focus/Drama RT: 98 minutes Rated PG-13 (some violence, strong language) Director: Kenneth Branagh Screenplay: Kenneth Branagh Music: Van Morrison Cinematography: Haris Zambarloukos Release date: November 12, 2021 (US/UK) Cast: Jude Hill, Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Morgan, Lara McDonnell, Gerard Horan, Conor MacNeill, Olive Tennant, Freya Yates, Nessa Eriksson. Box Office: $9.2M (US)/$49.1M (World)
Rating: ****
Hey Hollywood, what gives? Where is the serious-minded film fare one normally associates with fall? Between the unseasonal warm weather and the clang and clatter on movie screens, it feels like summer never ended. Isn’t this the time of year when studios start to bring out their serious Oscar contenders? Did the pandemic change that too? If so, the new normal sucks even more.
If the preceding paragraph reflects your feelings, allow me to point you in the right direction. Those seeking a break from superheroes, superspies and super slashers will definitely want to check out Belfast, a low-key drama written and directed by Kenneth Branagh (Henry V). It’s a semi-autobiographical piece and his most personal film to date. It centers on Buddy (newcomer Hill), a young boy growing up amidst the tumult of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Set in the titular city circa 1969, Buddy spends his days like any other kid. He goes to school, watches TV with his family and plays games in the street with his pals. One day while heading home for afternoon tea, he stops dead in his tracks as an angry mob charges down the street. His frightened mum (Balfe, Outlander) rushes from her home, braving the rioters as she scoops him up and brings him inside using his make-believe shield (a trash can lid) to protect them from stones and other flying objects. Buddy, the child of Protestant parents, doesn’t understand why everybody suddenly hates Catholics and nobody really has an answer for him.
Belfast is told from Buddy’s perspective meaning it doesn’t get too much into the reasons for The Troubles. We see and hear things the way the young protagonist does. He watches as his mum raises hell at his father (Dornan, Fifty Shades of Grey) for not spending enough time at home. He’s in England a lot for work. He can always count on his wise, kindly grandfather (Hinds, There Will Be Blood) to help him with his math homework. The boy is a regular little movie buff, an appreciation he apparently got from his grandmother (Dench, The Queen) who speaks fondly of “the pictures” of her youth.
As the once tight-knit neighborhood falls apart, Buddy’s dad chooses not to get involved with the situation, a decision that angers some of his fellow Protestants, his neighbor Billy (Morgan, Merlin) in particular. He decides it might be best if they leave Belfast and start a new life someplace far away like Sydney or Vancouver. Or maybe his family should just join him in England. It would be safer for all of them.
Belfast is easily one of the year’s best films. It’s surprisingly gentle for a drama set during a violent, tumultuous period in Northern Ireland’s history. Even with a few brief bursts of violence, it retains a sense of innocence thanks to being filtered through the viewpoint of a 9YO boy. In the role, young Jude Hill does tremendous work. He more than holds his own against seasoned vets like Hinds and Dench whose final shot is heartbreak personified. That Belfast is his first major acting gig makes his performance all the more amazing. I truly believe the Academy should add a special category for actors under 18. Performances like the one delivered by Hill should absolutely be honored.
The rest of the cast is equally great, especially Hinds and Dench as an old married couple still very much in love. You can see it in the way they lovingly tease each other and the way he tenderly holds her as they dance in the living room. Balfe is elegance and strength as the mother trying to raise her kids right even making Buddy return a box of soap he stole from the local supermarket while it’s still being looted. Dornan does solid work as the kind father who clearly loves his family. He’s the kind of dad who jokingly tells his son if he can’t be good, be careful. They’re a close-knit family; it’s a pleasure to watch them interact.
Shot in gorgeous black-and-white (with occasional bursts of vibrant color) and set to the music of Van Morrison, Belfast is the complete package. It comes from a deeply personal place and it shows. Not only does Branagh draw authentic performances from a gifted cast, he gives the audience a palpable sense of time and place. He even dedicates it to his fellow countrymen- “For the ones who stayed. For the ones who left. And for all the ones who were lost.” It adds a layer of poignancy to the proceedings.
I love that Buddy is a movie buff. One of my favorite scenes is of Buddy and his family watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the local cinema. We also see clips from High Noon (which factors into a scene near the end) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence. It just makes Belfast an even greater viewing experience. It’s an outstanding little film that should NOT be missed.
