Belfast (2021)
“Go. Go now. Don’t look back. I love you, son.” – Granny.
Belfast (2021)
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Written by: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Jude Hill, Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judie Dench, Ciaran Hinds
Cute yet emotional, Belfast reminds me a lot of Jojo Rabbit. They both:
1. Feature an adorable and talented child actor
2. Explore a terribly sad and violent event
3. Rely on comic relief to both humanise and contextualise the brutal subject matter
The film follows a young family living through The Troubles in 1969 Belfast. With religious conflict escalating to violence and rioting, the family must decide whether to abandon the place they call home in pursuit of a safer life.
Belfast is littered with discussions about controversial topics such as religion, identity, immigration, family, loyalty, honour and love. However, by presenting these through the eyes of a small child (the main character Buddy), the film highlights the ridiculousness of humanity starting conflicts over such trivial subjects.
With a young lead character, Branagh emphasizes that the innocent mind of a child can poke holes in the logic of an angry parent, the immorality of racial discrimination, or the sometimes circular nature of religious reasoning. For instance, while Protestants and Catholics kill each other on the streets of Belfast, Buddy (a Protestant) forms a bond with a Catholic girl in his school, simply because they are too young to have been conditioned against one another.
This innocent youthful lens provides some hilarious moments, with Jude Hill providing an absolutely superstar performance. His line delivery and timing is exquisite, with these moments providing a welcome respite from the film’s grim reality. Balfe was also incredible (don’t ask me how Dench was nominated over her), with the tight knit family unit the true heart of the film.
I’ve seen people criticise this film for having ‘style over substance,’ but I thought the message was clear, beautiful, and exquisitely presented.
Rating: 8.5/10