Belfast
Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical take on growing up in Northern during the 1960s, ends with a lovely dedication for the ones who stayed, left and were lost. It’s a big-hearted, emotionally direct approach. It starts in colour with a tourists view of the city and soon the camera flies and glides around the busy streets, which turn into a riot as Protestant gangs burn Catholic homes.
Caught in this violence is Buddy (played by new-comer Jude Hill), the youngest member of a Protestant family. Pa (Jamie Dornan), works in England as a joiner and is rarely home, but Ma (Caitriona Balfe), keeps the family from falling apart with a little help from Pop (Ciarán Hinds) and Granny (Judi Dench).
The troubles serve a backdrop to this film, Belfast is the star here. The film focusses on Buddy’s ups & downs as he comes to terms with what is going on around him. Hinds and Dench drop moments of joy, but Balfe is the star here and gives the film’s stand-out performance.
There’s a lovely feel of nostalgia with regular visits to the movies splashed with colour, which offer life through a different perspective, clips of Star Trek and other vintage shows certainly make you feel like you’ve delved into the past.
Belfast is a crowd pleaser, the audience I watched it with . . . loved it. It’s a highly entertaining and beautifully shot film, without trying too hard. It’s extremely upbeat despite the dire circumstances. Highly recommended.
The film opened last week and is pretty much available everywhere.
