Priceless Memories in BELFAST

Writer /Director Kenneth Branagh’s (Henry V) fond remembrances of his childhood at a pivotal time in Ireland form the basis of Belfast, a personal celebration of family bonds amid adversity that is certain to draw universal praise.  It’s a magnificent film and Branagh’s finest.  

In 1969, Belfast is lined with neighborhoods where everyone knows each other by name and working class families raise their children and attend church. Buddy (Jude Hill is wonderful) and his brother live an idyllic childhood cared for by their Ma (Caitriona Balfe), Pa (Jamie Dornan), and grandparents (Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench).  Going to school and developing a schoolgirl crush, Buddy’s world is traumatized when he witnesses violence between Catholics and Protestants, and the community becomes a religious warzone.  Ma struggles to keep the family together as Pa works away for weeks at a time, and with finances tight and the threat of further violence, the family must decide whether to leave their beloved home. 

The film is seen from Buddy’s perspective, a surrogate for a young Branagh.  Family dynamics are explored revealing how deeply they love each other, and in turn, because you care about them, their special moments carry more weight. 

Shot predominantly in gorgeous black and white, the film is brimming with the look and feel of sixties styles and pop culture especially TV and movie references. There is also a sublime soundtrack featuring Van Morrison. This is a subgenre of semiautobiographical films (including John Boorman’s Hope and Glory, Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso, and Alfonso Caurón’s Roma) that have affectionately recalled the past.  

The cast is simply outstanding, and Branagh deserves credit for this nostalgic tribute that touches the heart all the way to its final images and epilogue. Expect Oscar nominations all around. 

  **** of **** stars