User Reviews

Some films are clearly born from memory rather than conflict. Belfast is one of them. Kenneth Branagh looks back at his childhood in late-1960s Northern Ireland from an intimate, almost protected perspective. The historical context is there, the violence too, but it never fully dominates. What truly matters is the child, his family, and that small world trying to stay intact while everything around it **** choice to shoot in black and white reinforces the feeling of a beautified memory. The cinematography is impeccable, carefully composed, yet it also creates a certain distance. Everything feels very polished, very orderly, even when it should perhaps hurt more. At times, it seems Branagh would rather gently revisit the past than fully confront it.That doesn’t mean the film fails. The cast is strong, especially young Jude Hill, who carries the child’s perspective with sincerity and without exaggeration. The adult performances add warmth and balance, creating a family dynamic that feels emotionally authentic. There are moments that genuinely move you without **** issue emerges when considering the weight of the historical backdrop. Belfast was a deeply turbulent place, marked by tension and division, and here much of that feels filtered through nostalgia that softens the edges. Branagh is not trying to make the definitive film about Northern Ireland; he is telling his childhood, and that’s it. That honesty is admirable, but it also limits the **** the end, Belfast is an enjoyable watch. It’s elegant, emotional, and well crafted, but it doesn’t quite become the great exploration of memory and conflict it could have been. It works beautifully as a personal letter and family tribute. As a broader historical portrait, it feels somewhat restrained.

7.5 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////://///:

Belfast – An Indelible Memory Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film delivers on several levels. Firstly, as an account of the terrible (and utterly foolish) riots that plagued his childhood hometown, then as an examination of the lengths those trapped in situations they can’t escape or control will go to keep family commitments and support alive. The various memories that live deep within our souls are here, brought to life in a strikingly stylized production – a unique homage to families who sacrificed much to keep each other safe while also garnering some joy among the extreme pressures. It’s a labor of love dedicated to those who endured till they were eventually able to escape the senselessness of a local civil war, fought on superficial hatred, for a better life in Britain. A hand-picked cast works superbly under Branagh’s direction, delivering his astute dialogue with sensitivity, while keeping the musical lilt of the local dialect in perfect harmony. Cypriot-born Director of Photography Haris Zambarloukos supplies the interesting visuals, capturing the highs and lows of a populace in undeserved turmoil. All this is then underscored by Van Morrison’s music of the era. Branagh elicits a marvelous performance from young Jude Hill in his debut role as the young Branagh, turning in a performance filled with special nuances. He must have benefited from working with a cast made in performer’s heaven, surrounded by an assortment of Britain’s finest. Recommended for lovers of seriously good moviemaking, that doesn’t bite off more than it can chew or outstay its welcome, and has a deeply felt story to tell.

A beautiful film about life, family and love. A personal film that I identify with a lot and I have watched it more than ten times so far. Salutations to all those who made life sweeter for us.

Um projeto profundamente pessoal para o escritor e diretor Kenneth Branagh, Belfast transcende suas deficiências narrativas com atuações poderosas e habilidade de direção.

not very intresting, sorry, hugely dissapointed. i know it's supposed to be historical but even then it did not spark any geo-polictial intrests of mine

Roberto Benigni teria muito que aprender aqui em como contar uma história usando uma criança como protagonista. Misturando a pureza do universo infantil com o clima hostil entre protestantes contra católicos na Irlanda, Belfast usa da fotografia em preto e branco para passar o cotidiano da família que transcorre com um realismo e com humor na medida certa. Em certo momento, o estopim da violência aparece, como se a vida nos mostrasse que sempre estivera à espreita, esperando o vacilo. Há espaço também para romance (me menor grau), para o luto, para as relações de trabalho que se estabelecem, para falar sobre tolerância religiosa, e num microcosmos que não ficou nem um pouco cansativo, aliás, a edição está absurda de boa, o filme tem uma curta duração para tudo que apresenta, os personagens estão maravilhosos, e apesar do ambiente perigoso, dá até vontade de morar no bairro Belfast. Filme certeiro!

You can tell it was a deeply personal film but being personal doesn't make it gripping or interesting, no matter how good the performances are. Belfast may not leave much of an impression but I don't think people would hate it if they watched it.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Good performances and there is a sweet heart behind this but it's way too slow.

Just because Branagh based this on his early life doesn’t automatically mean he can translate those experiences into a compelling narrative. He tries to comment on The Troubles by filming good actors in pristine clothing with B&W stock. But the decision to shoot the pic without color is baffling – a meaningless gesture that has zero relevance to the film’s themes. Performances are solid but go nowhere in a plot that has no actual scenes, just events – consequently, the first minute of the movie feels exactly like the last.

Loved Catriona Balfe, the screenplay was nice, Jude Hill was adorable, but Judi Dench was miscast. Still loved the movie. And the Van Morrison song at the beginning was excellent.

This is a charming film, with a real sense of nostalgia about it, even though it is set in the troubles and so there are some scenes featuring violence and mention about the Catholics vs the Protestants etc. of course. It features some pretty decent performances from a solid cast, including Dame Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe (of 'Outlander' fame), among others. The main character is a young boy called Buddy, a young grandson (well played by Jude Hill) who his granny, played by Judi Dench, spoils and tries her best to help advise etc. Its very much a film showing things through the eyes of said child and focussing on the innocence of childhood. I wasn't surprised to hear its based on the director, Kenneth Branagh's memories of his childhood in Ireland. Its clear he has great nostalgia for the place and time - understandably so. There are some quite amusing moments. One quote I particularly enjoyed goes as follows - 'There's nothing wrong with an outside toilet, son - apart from on an airplane' The film is in black and white, giving it a real timeless feel, I suppose. I also thought the soundtrack was particularly good (primarily featuring Van Morrison). It adds to the overall pleasing warmth feeling the film carries - it may be a black and white film but it does have some really reassuring warmth to it. That's all I can think to say to describe it. Suffice to say, yes, I'd recommend this film.

The way this movie shoots as if the audience is seeing the world alongside Buddy really helps the movie in a unique way. That said, the movie does not have a ton of bite and, despite being set in an era of massive political upheaval, does not actually grapple with said upheaval.

It was ok movie, but I think it didn't show enough also about the story what was happening around. It is sort of told in the way of the boy's eyes, not seeing why or what is really goin on. It's ok movie, but for me missed something

Beautiful but sad. Perhaps more meaningful to those of us who were of age to remember Van Morrison and the original Star Trek TV series and the premieres of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and High Noon, not to mention Rachel Welch in One Million Years BC. My wife and I have an additional personal connection with this material because as young marrieds we hosted various Belfast Tweens for several summers, sent by their parents for their safety and to learn that there was a place on the planet where Catholics and Protestants got along, intermarried, and visited each other's churches. It's also a cautionary tale, illustrating where America could be headed if we don't get our act together.

This movie hits all the right notes. Acting, directing, script, photography, etc. but still comes up short. I fast forwarded through it to get to the end because i never identified with any of the characters or their problems. In the end i just didn't care about them.

(Mauro Lanari) The story of 9-year-old Buddy, his family and his social context is hurried, hasty and badly sketched, the "amarcord" of Branagh is "an easy film that tries to be difficult, with good intentions at times so evident that they grossly capitulate in the caption and in any case with a too blatant claim to make a mannerist work" (Bruno Surace). "Lacking substance, it remains relentlessly embedded on the surface; leveraging on good feelings and nostalgia for an abstract past, it falls into the trap of the inevitable excess of style" (Beatrice Fiorentino). Shrewd, panderer, simpering: designed to hoard Oscars, it collected only one.

Belfast is remarkable and sensational, it’s undeniably a keepsake. It’s a heartfelt story with history and a touch of innocence that has easily made Belfast on top of black-and-white films.

Życie, świat i wydarzeń historyczne przedstawione z perspektywy młodego chłopca i jego rodziny przyjemnie się ogląda a miejscami ociepla serce są miłością

Belfast is too cute and at the same time manages to be so depressing and heartbreaking that in the end you think it's one of Kennet's best works

Belfast is a black-and-white film, but it's beautifully shot. The dialogues are greatly written along side with perfect execution. Branagh described this as his most personal film, and we can see that. It's not easy to make a personal picture while itself being compelling, but Belfast is a great one. It seems that Belfast is somewhat personal to every one of us, too.

Belfast te ofrece un viaje de sinceridad, sentimientos y el reencuentro con nuestras emociones, y como tal cumple perfectamente de la mano de un apasionado niño que nos enseña su entorno y vida familiar de manera enternecedora, no cabe duda que es una de las mejores películas del pasado 2021.

As an Irish American (bona fides - mom was born and raised in Wexford County), I was really looking forward to this. Kenneth Branaugh is a treasure and after seeing him on Bill Maher talking about how autobiographical the movie was for him, I couldn't wait. Though I'm not a fan of the Oscar's, at least there'd be a film on the roster for best pic that I could totally get behind, right? Wrong. While beautifully filmed and acted, I found it kinda smarmy. A number of films are better depictions of "the troubles," where they're just a backdrop for this slice of life, though they are the impetus for his family move. Add the music video, happy ending, and it left me disappointed. So many better Irish films out there. This has the bitter taste of "stage Irish".

Completely boring , acting is completely unrealistic, there is no drama no tension. Typical tropes to be considered an “Oscar” movie. Black and white, old movies playing on the tvs, annoying close up. Only like 3 locations, a house a street and a school. All in all very lame , boring and really no tension or anything whatsoever. Was em the whole issue was that the family had to move to uk ? Was that really a big deal? Honestly disappointing

An introspective story with certain biographical touches. The plot that reflects the simplicity of childhood in troubled times is stimulating enough even for the most indifferent tastes. Kenneth Branagh should be considered, for the already approaching awards ceremony, as more than a dark horse.

Your regular safe film that probably will win big at the Oscars. Kenneth Branagh invites us to take a trip through memory lane with 'Belfast,' a semi-autobiographical account of his childhood in the city of the same name during the beginning of The Troubles. Of course, this is a very personal exercise in which Branagh capitalizes nostalgia with a tale about family and coming of age. But unlike 'Roma,' 'Licorice Pizza' and 'The Hand of God,' the result is a bland film that sure has good acting and tender moments but fails at making you feel the tumultuous time in which the story is set. The best part: Ciarán Hinds' Pa, the only character that resonated with me.

Wonderful performances, and Branagh's autobiographical point of view adds an authenticity to the neighborhood scenes. Relevant to now and the many times in history ordinary people saw their happy lives turned into nightmares. But the second half of the movie descends into the worst form of make believe sentiment; it's pretty awful, and so much potential was lost.

Honestamente, me encantó, y me encantó porque es una película honesta consigo misma, muy bonita de ver, muy bien narrada a través de los ojos de un niño, las actuaciones más de lo mismo, te hace empatizar desde el primer minuto, con toques de auténtica brillantez, como el uso del color (la peli es en blanco y negro) en momentos puntuales, sobre todo la fotografía y la composición, sin olvidarme de la magnífica dirección, sin duda, una historia a recordar. · Cosas buenas: la dirección y la fotografía es de maestría, la historia me encanta, y el casting acompaña súper bien. Tiene ideas cinematográficas sublimes, como el uso de color el momentos clave, la banda sonora más de lo mismo, los diálogos son muy buenos, es emotiva y rebosa un amor al cine y al teatro muy chulo. · Cosas malas: al estar narrada por los ojos de un niño, hay momentos de demasiada idealización que puedes llegar a no creerte o que parezcan falsos, nada muy relevante. · Conclusión: es una película muy honesta y humana, muy bien contada, y para mí, la candidata principal al Óscar.

An offensive and manipulative depiction of one of the most traumatising conflict in recent history.

A friendly movie, but nothing else. It has some charming moments and nice performances and the cinematography is remarkable, although sometimes it tried too hard to be "pretty" that it was a bit too much for me. It definitely is enjoyable, but overall it fell short.

A swell little film, this. I may not have a connection to the events portrayed onscreen, but 'Belfast' is - despite the not so good true events that it's retelling - is a pleasant film to watch. With a perfectly timed length of around 90 minutes, this 2021 flick holds a lot of heart - it's also rather funny, it had me laughing a fair number of times. The star of the film is undoubtedly youngster Jude Hill, who is an absolute joy in the role of Buddy - some performance from the 11-year-old! Buddy's connections with every single character are lovely, especially with those played by Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench - wait... that was Judi Dench?! I legit didn't even notice until the end credits, which shows how convincing her performance as a Northern Irish grandmother is... or perhaps I need my eyesight tested, who's to say. Jamie Dornan and Caitríona Balfe also merit props, in what is a very good release from Kenneth Branagh & Co. The target audience, along with others of course, will adore it, I'm sure. Also... love the choice of black-and-white, fwiw.

admirable [ ad-mer-uh-buhl ] adjective worthy of admiration; inspiring approval, reverence, or affection.

A sweet peek into the origins of one of Hollywood's most successful multi-hyphenates, what "Belfast" seems to lack in intrigue or dramatic bombast, it makes up for with genuine tenderness and sincerity. I cannot, for the life of me, pin down why I didn't like this movie more. The truth probably lies somewhere within the "what 'Belfast' seems to lack in intrigue or dramatic bombast" portion of the above, as I genuinely did find my interest in things stalling every now and then, acquainting myself with the clock on my phone more times than I would've liked. I'll say that I reckon this lack of investment more so comes from the sort of "two ships passing in the night" phenomena that'll sometimes happen between me and a perfectly fine movie; one of those ships being the movie, the other being my specific preferences as a filmgoer. Still, I'm happy Branagh has a movie like this under his belt, as it's always good seeing a filmmaker use the medium to make sense of themselves/a part of their life/etc. Just wish I could've been as wowed as so many others.

A semi-autobiographical account from Kenneth Branagh, Belfast really is as good as you've heard. I will not be surprised if this clears up at awards season and it deserves every one of them. Buddy (Jude Hill) is a young boy living in Belfast in the late 1960s with his brother Will (Lewis McAskie) and their mother played by Caitriona Balfe. Their father played by Jamie Dornan travels overseas to work and is often away for long periods of time. Buddy is preoccupied with the normal problems of an 11-year-old all while trying to make sense of the violence happening around him during a hugely turbulent time in Belfast. Similarly to how Jojo Rabbit handled the trauma of war from a child's perspective, Belfast finds the balance between light-hearted humour and tragedy. It's funny and highly emotional. If you're the type to cry easily at movies then you may need to get the tissues ready. Jude Hill is the shining star in Belfast, you can't help but love him, he's absolutely wonderful. Stand out performances also include Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench and Ciáran Hinds. Director Kenneth Branagh certainly knew what he was doing when he gathered the cast for Belfast. Everyone is absolutely brilliant it's easy to see how this could do very well in awards season, even Jamie Dornan who can almost be forgiven for that horrendous Irish accent in Wild Mountain Thyme. Beautifully directed in black and white with the use of colour where appropriate. I loved the references to older movies and the excitement in Buddy's face during his cinema trips. It perfectly captures the pure magic of cinema and the sense of losing yourself in a movie by completely shutting out the world around you no matter how bad things seem. Highly recommended for everyone, Belfast is not to be missed.

This is not a dramatic film. There is no narrative tension, conflict (other than that involving "The Troubles" subject matter, which we know about) or much depth of character. In the nicest possible way it is music video, mainly for Van Morrison, and several scenes are driven, or constructed, to some of his songs. There are also references to song titles in the dialogue, not just Van Morrison's and lyrics from other artists' songs in the dialogue. Branagh is trying to see how far he can go dropping lyrics and song titles into this film without anyone noticing. I'm surprised no-one has mentioned it. Once you realise that this is musical love letter you won't be wondering, as I did, why this is so predictable and lacking in any suspense.

"Go. Go now. Don't look back. I love you, son." 'Belfast' offers a great message about never forgetting where you're from. This is a personal project from Kenneth Branagh, as this film is based on true story events from his childhood. The movie is made with love, passion, and soul. You could say it's 2021 'Roma', although not as brilliant as it could've been. I can't put my finger on it, but something felt missing from this. This could've been masterful, but it wasn't, in my opinion. Again, I'm sure why. I mean, all the performances here are the strongest element of this movie. Newcomer Jude Hill delivered a great performance, especially for his age. Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan were both fantastic. Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds, both play an old couple, were so sweet and charming together that it never fails to make smile. The black and white cinematography was good, as it has that old nostalgic "blast from the past" vibe to it. But film making wise, it wasn't anything too impressive. The scene towards the end where Jamie Dornan sings a cover of Everlasting Love was something special. It made it more special seeing Caitriona's face when she lifts her eyebrows and smiles at the man she loves, and the way he smiles back at her. It was **** beautiful man. Judi Dench final line in the movie stuck with me the most. Short, but moving.

A truly beautiful and a deeply heartfelt film. About troubling times in late 60's Belfast, as experienced by a sweet 9-year-old boy played by the absolutely brilliant Jude Hill. Belfast is a tender and honest experience - full of genuine sentiment and charm.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Belfast The cast was phenomenal, and newcomer Jude hill gave a splendid performance that he was the one submitted for the best actor category for the Oscars from the cast while others get supporting noms (for a young boy of 11, that's sure a great feat). Belfast was all the right doses of pathos, warmth, and sweet comedy all circled in trepidation, unrest and dilemma. The alternation between black & white and colour was perfectly blended, with a thoroughgoing approach that helped heighten or aid intimacy, depending on the scenes. The score was flawless. Easily one of the best movies of the year, and deserving of all the awards it's garnered so far.

Há quem diga que todo diretor tem um filme pessoal e autobiográfico durante sua carreira, mas eu acredito que, quando não há muito o que dizer, você realmente não precisa fazer um. E aqui temos um exemplo do porquê... "Belfast" é superficial, caricato e raso, especialmente para um filme que é descrito como pessoal e íntimo pelo seu diretor, Kenneth Branagh. Boa parte do lado positivo de "Belfast" está em seu elenco, e ele inclui a sempre lendária Judi Dench, presente no melhor diálogo do longa, e o protagonista Jude Hill em uma estreia incrível, na qual literalmente carrega o filme em suas pequenas costas, principalmente quando o roteiro puxa para o humor. Mas não há muito o que dizer durante os seus 97 minutos de duração, mesmo que muita coisa esteja acontecendo na tela - e isso inclui explosões, furtos e morte -, você não se apega de verdade à narrativa, ainda que dê um sorriso de canto de boca aqui ou ali. Só tirem a Judi Dench de casa para bons filmes, por favor.

Belfast is an idyllic idealization of a bygone era, taking us back in time in a way that looks quite fine. So far, so good. Everything looks great, but this is a tale in which Kenneth Branagh seems to have fallen too much in love with Alfonso Cuarón's ''Roma'', and also falls into clichés that turn his well-crafted film, and personal story, into a flat adventure, that lacks dramatic momentum and gets a bit incoherent at times. Not that it doesn't have more than one compelling narrative component, but none of them propels Belfast far enough to create a lasting impression. It all looks awesome, but like Cuarón's ''Roma'', there's nothing profound behind the façade.

“Belfast,” the new film by writer/director Kenneth Branagh (who starred in the “Wallander” TV series, various Shakespeare productions on stage and screen), is a love letter to his childhood home filmed in black-and-white. The film is set in 1969 in the midst of the Troubles between Catholics and Protestants in Belfast. But for eight-year-old Buddy, armed conflict is a secondary backdrop to much more important matters: swooning over the smartest girl in his class, watching US-made Westerns, going to the cinema. Armed with a cardboard sword and a trash can shield in the opening scene, Buddy frolics in his mixed Protestant-Catholic neighborhood where everybody knows, and takes care of, everybody else. Branagh’s consistent use of Buddy’s point of view is the film’s greatest strength and also its weakness. The film is thoughtful, sweet and earnest. But this consistent use of a child’s perspective blurs and blunts the jolting realities surrounding Buddy, who is insulated by his watchful parents and nurturing neighborhood. The storyline is slight. It centers on a series of seemingly random remembrances by Branagh about his childhood. (In case anyone wonders whether Buddy is Branagh, there’s a brief scene of Buddy reading a “Thor” comic book. Branagh directed the film by the same name in 2011.) The only creative tension is whether the family will join Pa in England, where he is employed on a construction project. (Branagh’s father was a plumber and carpenter.) Even so, there’s plenty of material to celebrate a love of family, to seed the suspicion that there’s a much larger world out there and to experience the sad **** of loss. Despite the flimsiness of the storyline, several elements make this film a must-see. First, Branagh has assembled an amazing ensemble of actors. Judi Dench (one Oscar, 67 total awards, 179 award nominations) and Ciaran Hinds (a veteran character actor and Belfast native) are excellent as Buddy’s grandparents. Caitriona Balfe (“Outlander’) and Jamie Dornan (apparently used to being portrayed in shades of gray) are stellar as Ma and Pa. In his first feature film, nine-year-old Jude Hill (Buddy) is simply amazing. His energy, enthusiasm and wide-eyed innocence will totally capture any moviegoer with a soul. Showing his nascent dramatic range, Hill convincingly inhabits the role of an eight-year-old. Second, Belfast native Van Morrison provides the dramatic, energetic score. The soundtrack blends familiar tunes with striking new songs that open and close the film. Throughout, Morrison provides an ideal texture for this piece. Finally, the cinematography of Haris Zambarloukos (“Death on the Nile,” “Locke”), who seems to revel in stark nighttime imagery, further elevates this film. The epigram at the end of the film reads “For those who stayed. For those who left. And for all the ones who were lost.” It’s an excellent summation of Branagh’s desire to be all-inclusive in his nostalgic tribute to an earlier, simpler time – that actually wasn’t.

A pastiche of better films packaged in monochrome to try to sell it as art. Treacle.

Belfast felt like a big, snuggly hug. Has been a long while since we've had the pleasure of experiencing such an emotionally resonant movie going experience. You have a winner here Kenneth Branagh!

Full of heart and expertly crafted, Belfast is the film we need right now. Everything from the wonderful Screenplay, to the amazing performances from the cast makes for a very special movie watching experience.

Not since Slumdog Millionaire has a film enraptured me like this. A beautiful Screenplay coupled with Kenneth Branagh's mastery at Directing, Belfast is absolutely one of the Best films to come out of the UK.

Formulaic white plight fare scored to the maudlin ballads of hometown boy Van Morrison. The film does get a lift however whenever Ciarán Hinds and Caitriona Balfe appear on screen.

I thought this was a great balance between history and personal narrative, honestly. You're learning about Belfast during the Troubles, but you're also seeing a beautiful and very realistic (imo) depiction of a family living their lives.

A serious contender for Film of The Year. Branagh's Belfast is a deeply affecting, expertly crafted film that is simply unforgettable. Jude Hill is going to be a huge star.