A review of Kenneth Branagh's stunning re- creation of one street in Belfast 1969

Introduction - A gorgeous lush memoir to Branagh's childhood

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Year: 2021

Official Poster

Trailer

Review

Kenneth Branagh once played one of the most ruthless Nazis, Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich in the devastating and little known movie, Conspiracy, in which he plants the seeds of the final solution into the minds of a group of Nazi high ranking officials around a lunch table. He has also been described by Ricky Gervais as a man with no distinguishing features in his Netflix series, After life.
Branagh as writer and director of Belfast has put himself in the Oscar race with this very distinguished movie, loosely based on his childhood – and Belfast is tipped as second favourite to win best film at the Oscar's, after Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog and ahead of Spielberg's West Side Story. It would be a worthy winner.
This is a story about the Belfast of 1969 - the Belfast of Branagh and his youth to a backdrop of the troubles between Protestant and Catholic - but the troubles are not the main thrust of this film – it steers away from politics and into the lives of ordinary folk, people living in a Belfast street, and particularly into the make believe world of an exuberant young boy, Buddy, played by talented newcomer, Jude Hill, whose stunned, wide-eyed view of the world, sets the tone of this charming, generous, witty, wry and moving film.
Branagh describes this as his most personal. It is written with great style, acted with delicacy and passion, the set pieces are lovingly re-created, shot in a glistening monochrome. It is filled with poignant moments which will leave a viewer feeling uplifted. The backdrop of Van Morrison songs or just the sound of just his lone saxophone, only adds to the atmosphere which Branagh never allows to get sentimental.
Jamie Dornan plays Buddy's father - a man who lives in North Belfast but away to work in England for much of the time - Buddy's family are poor and struggling, but they are rich in love - Buddy's mum is the long suffering, straight talking, kind and charismatic, Caitríona Balfe
The grandparents live with them and are played with sweetness and humour by Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench.
But really, this is Buddy's movie - as his expression moves from joy, to fear, to love, to laughter at a changing world around him.
There is violence - local gangster Billy Clanton, played by Colin Morgan, wants payment from local families for protection and some of the film focuses on agonizing decisions - do families stay in Belfast or leave for England, as the war comes closer and closer to their doorstep.
The family and particularly Buddy get escapism from the movies - Raquel Welch in her bikini in One Million Years BC, a flying car in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and High Noon on TV.
The last scene to the band Love Affair's, Everlasting Love is pure fantasy wish fulfillment. It's a high note on which to end.
There is innocence and wisdom to this film, yet it is the normality of how these bonded folk live, that makes Belfast a majestic movie, a love letter to Buddy, his family and to the one street in which Branagh came of age.

The film had its world premiere at the 48th Telluride Film Festival on 2 September 2021. It has so far won the People's Choice Award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. The film was released in the United States on 12 November 2021 by Focus Features in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 21 January 2022, by Universal Pictures. It has received praise across the board for Branagh's direction and screenplay, cinematography and the performances of the cast, and has grossed over $34 million worldwide so far.

My favourite scene - Buddy's sweet natured grandad gives him a life lesson

Number of SUBs out of 10 - It doesn't get better - 10

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Thanks for reading my review, always up for comments and a chat about films and TV.