BELFAST (2021)

Critic No. 266

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Written by: Kenneth Branagh

Produced by: Northern Ireland Screen, TKBC

Casts: Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan, Josie Walker, Jude Hill

Music: Van Morrison

Language: English

Genre: Biography, Drama

SYNOPSIS: 

‘Belfast’ chronicles the life of a working-class Ulster Protestant family from the perspective of their 9-year-old son Buddy (Jude Hill) during The Troubles in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His stable and loving community and everything he thought he understood about life is changed forever but joy, laughter, music and the formative magic of the movies remain.

REVIEW:

I am still blown away by Branagh’s Hamlet (1996) which was for me, the most best adapted film from a Shakesphere’s work. In Belfast, Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical take on growing up in Northern Ireland’s capital during the tumultuous ’60s, ends with a dedication for the ones who stayed, left and were lost. This simple yet moving drama kept rooted to my seats with its delicate yet powerful graph of emotions. 

Buddy (Jude Hill), who uses goals painted to the walls to emulate his footballing hero Danny Blanchflower, soon finds armed Tommies patrolling his old penalty box. A mob of masked men targeting Catholic houses appears at the end of the street and a rampage begins that changes Buddy’s world totally. His older brother, Will (Lewis McAskie) and their parents (Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan) are forced to confront the previously unthinkable possibility that they might have to leave Belfast where they have spent their lives and move to England, where Pa has been offered a well-paying job. 

Belfast is a powerfully made, uplifting film about a very personal time of unending violence accompanied by a bruised heart and a warm optimism. The film beautifully focuses on Buddy’s innocent point of view as the hell of the Troubles breaks out in its midst. The parallely running sub plot of Pop and Granny highlights how the fire and memories were built through with their empowering passion for the place. I call it the heartbeat of the film in the rather thin layer of conflict the film carries. It grew into a mix of emotions as Granny says how she wanted to explore outside but she couldn’t and now feels happy that her next generation is doing that. There were many solidly written and directed scenes involving them that evolved gradually to a peaking emotional pay off at the third act. 

Haris Zambarloukos’ arresting black and white cinematography, with lovely lighting and ample portrait-like closeups, makes this nostalgic film eye-catching and enchanting. Branagh infuses his reimagined neighborhood with strong husband/wife conflict, hard culture clashes and the looming threat from the local terrorist bullies. The film’s treatment does give us a strong sense watching a playful stage play with closely located buildings and narrow roads. It almost feels like Branagh’s close embracement of his cozy memories that were delightful despite the underlying threat. 

The only sore thumb for me was the rushed, filmy climax involving a brief hostage by a rioter which didn’t really sit well in the tone of the film. Some of the subplots such as the one with Buddy's crush and the shoplifter friend could have had a better closing as well. Despite the simple story with thin but rewarding situations, Branagh’s nuanced, sincere direction and the knockout performances by the cast ensemble, makes this biographical film a warm, rewarding journey. 

VERDICT:

Whimsical and delightfully heartening, Branagh’s most personal film to date carries a simple yet sincere mix of emotions and nostalgia of The Troubles in Belfast accompanied by nuanced direction, arresting visuals and powerful performances. 

CELLULOID METER- 4/5: