TIFF 2021: Belfast
Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast is his most personal and sweet film to date, following a young boy at the height of The Troubles in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Buddy (Jude Hill) is a projection of Branagh’s own childhood as the director melds a coming-of-age story with one of political strife and turmoil. While the depiction of the clashes between the Protestants and Catholics are rather simplistic in Belfast due to being largely experienced through the eyes of nine-year-old Buddy, Belfast succeeds in being a truly emotionally gratifying piece of cinema and a tribute to those who experienced The Troubles firsthand.
Much of Belfast revolves around Buddy’s experiences within his school and neighbourhood. He spends time with his older brother and cousin, sometimes being pressured into stealing sweets from the local shop. Other times he’s sitting in school yearning after Catherine (Olive Tennant), the smartest girl in his class. But Buddy’s favourite pastime is sitting in the cinema, engrossed in the latest film release. These scenes are the heart of Belfast giving a healthy dose of delightfulness, humour, and nostalgia.
These are the happier moments in Buddy’s life, as the other part of Belfast revolves around The Troubles, which is mainly an external conflict in Buddy’s life. With his father (Jamie Dornan) often being away in England for work, Buddy spends his time with his mother (Caitríona Balfe) and his grandparents (Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds). There are scenes when Buddy is experiencing the violence firsthand as he runs through the streets back to his house, or is convinced by his older cousin to loot a grocery store with her. Other times, Buddy is asking the adults in his life why the clashes are happening, not understanding the difference between Protestants and Catholics.
Despite much of Belfast happening to Buddy, the film still packs an emotional punch as it relates to this moment in history – as Belfast instead chooses to focus on the love between Buddy’s family. This can come across as a little simplistic but makes sense in relation to Buddy being the film’s central character. Blending Buddy’s family life with wider social unrest gives the film so much more soul rather than just being another commentary on a historical event. Belfast features a charming ensemble cast to round out this theme with sweet and likable characters, and every member of the family is given a moment to genuinely shine.
Newcomer Jude Hill who plays Buddy is a star in the making. He brilliantly leads the film at such a young age, forcing the audience to become engrossed in his innocence and charm. It is Jude Hill that takes the viewer through Belfast, as he experiences the lulls of childhood juxtaposed with the heights of violence. Jamie Dornan as the family patriarch provides the role of the protector, stern when he needs to be yet warm towards his boys. He often battles with his wife, played by Caitríona Balfe, as the couple struggle with leaving behind their home in Belfast for the safety of her family. Balfe especially stands out in Belfast, as she gives such deep emotion through her fights and tears, the internal battle she’s enduring is always clear on her face. Judi Dench brings a warmness to Belfast as Buddy’s grandmother; she delivers sharp wit, especially with Buddy’s comedic grandfather played by Ciarán Hinds. Hinds especially delivers an endearing performance, with an incredibly moving scene in which Buddy visits his grandfather in the hospital.
Belfast is shot almost entirely in a crisp digital black and white, except for the opening scene, as well as the film’s Buddy watches in the cinema. These moments in colour transport the viewer away from The Troubles and serve as a form of escapism for Buddy. However, the black and white cinematography provides a richness to the scenes in Belfast, especially those in which Branagh chooses to linger on the faces of his actors, capturing up-close the expressions they’re feeling as they’re dealing with the world around them. The compositions Branagh displays throughout scenes in Belfast give such emotional richness to the film, while its use of music and sound also helps strive for a sentimental feeling, bringing the audience right into the neighbourhood clashes.
Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical Belfast is genuinely one of the most moving films of the year. It is a beautiful coming-of-age film that succeeds due to its lovable characters and their deep familial bond. Branagh pours such love and care into Belfast, as shown through every single scene and every single character. It is so clear how personal and meaningful the story of Belfast is to the Branagh that it makes the perfect tribute to Northern Ireland.