Film Review: "Belfast" (2021).

"No matter how far you go, you never forget where you came from." This is Belfast. This British and Irish coming of age comedy-drama film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. The film is a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s.

From the late 1960s to 1998, the ethnographic-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland, The Troubles, mostly took place in Northern Ireland. The conflict was primarily political and nationalistic, but it also had an ethnic or sectarian dimension but despite the use of the terms 'Protestant' and 'Catholic' to refer to the two sides, it was not a primarily religious conflict. A key issue was the status of Northern Ireland. Unionists and loyalists, who for historical reasons were mostly Ulster Protestants, wanted Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom. Irish nationalists and republicans, who were mostly Irish Catholics, wanted Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom and join a united Ireland. The conflict ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 and resulted in more than 3,500 deaths, of whom fifty-two per cent were civilians, thirty-two per cent were members of the British security forces and sixteen per cent were members of paramilitary groups.

In July 2020, Branagh announced that he would write and direct a film based on true story events from his childhood. Branagh wrote the screenplay at the encouragement of his friend, actor John Sessions. The film marks the first time Branagh penned his own script since The Magic Flute (2006). By September, Judi Dench, Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds and newcomer Jude Hill were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in October. Filming took place in London, England and Belfast, Ireland. This is Branagh's second digitally shot film, due to the low budget and COVID-19 shooting schedule. His first was All Is True (2018), with all of his other projects shot on 35mm or 65mm film stock. It was also shot almost exclusively using only available light (ie. no artificial film lighting) including interior scenes. The film features music by Belfast native Van Morrison, including eight classic songs and a new song Morrison wrote for the film.

The film stars Balfe, Dornan, Dench, Hinds and Hill. The precision of the characters and the performances that Branagh draws out of his cast make this a pleasure even when when it's a bit pokey and aimless.

The Troubles as a coming of age comedy-drama: Branagh offers a warmly nostalgic view of his childhood in a Belfast suburb during the 1960s. Both serious and funny, with typically wicked Irish humor offsetting the heavy emotions of fear, anger, sorrow, and need. The antics of the colorful characters and its fast-paced story line give the film all the spontaneity of a child at play. The film is an enormous success right now, where every frame must have its special memories for Irish audiences. Through international eyes, it is a more universal film, not so much about social upheaval as about memory.

Simon says Belfast receives:

Also, see my review for Artemis Fowl.