Belfast

Nostalgia meets history. Hope meets glory.

Kenneth Branagh has directed some of this era’s best films from English sources (Hamlet, Henry V) and some of its worst from English/Irish sources (Murder on the Orient Express, Artemis Fowl, Thor), so it was a roll of the dice to walk into Belfast, his semi-biographical story of growing up in Northern Ireland.

The film made its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival — and it’s one of the best films of 2021.

Set in 1969 during the height of the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics, Branagh’s love letter to his youth is a family drama that you won’t soon forget. The main characters are so well-drawn, and the cinematography is so vivid and authentically tight that you’re pulled into a family drama that feels like your own.

Nine-year-old Buddy from Belfast (Jude Hill) and his family are Protestant, but his Pa (Jamie Dornan) works for the English government, which makes Ma (Caitriona Balfe) and grandparents (Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds) targets to the unrest. The family story is the focus here, but the trouble in Northern Ireland serves as the catalyst for why they may have to abandon their home—and hometown.

Branagh, cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos and production designer Jim Clay have assembled a beautiful, black-and-white (mostly) gem and current frontrunner for film of the year. As the heart-tearing final family decisions play out — mostly as small moments — movie magic is accomplished.

In a nutshell: From the very start, open up your heart; it's a story of everlasting love. Buddy’s whole family is going to sneak into your heart.

Award potential: Expect Oscar nominations for Best Motion Picture and across all major and technical categories. Focus Features announced that they will campaign young Jude Hill for Lead Actor and everyone else in Best Supporting categories. The Academy may see it another way but voters most often respect these wishes. 

If nominated, Judi Dench would be the second oldest Supporting Actress nominee ever. But Balfe is the standout here — it’s early in the awards season, but I’ll place her as the frontrunner to win)

Where to see it: Only in theaters. Opens November 11.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.