Belfast

SHOWTIMES DECEMBER 6 - 9:

Belfast is told from the perspective of nine-year-old Buddy (Jude Hill), a character modeled on Branagh’s own childhood. For the most part, he’s living a happy life – occupied with catching the attention of a girl at school (Olive Tennant), getting pulled into petty shenanigans with his cousin Vanessa (Nessa Erikson), and getting life advice from his Granny (Judy Dench) and Pop (Ciarán Hinds). Buddy’s father (Jamie Dornan) works remotely, traveling to England for a wage that just barely keeps a roof over the family’s head, and his mother (Caitríona Balfe) is left to do most of the parenting. She is resilient and beautiful in her young son’s eyes, dancing with Buddy’s father and protecting the family as tensions rise between Protestants and Catholics in the community. But as neighbors begin to turn against neighbors and riots become unavoidable, it’s questionable whether the family is better off leaving than staying in the city they love.

Branagh’s film is meticulous in its evocation of a particular place and time, and his cast performs with energy and warmth. “There may be bigger, costlier, showier films this year, but none cuts a clearer, truer path to the heart.” – Peter Travers, ABC News.  

(UK / 2021 / Directed by Kenneth Branagh)
PG-13 / 1 hr 38 mins.