Director Kenneth Branagh brings his own childhood to the screen with the film “Belfast”, which was nominated for seven Oscars. For the coming-of-age drama, Branagh cast amazing actors in front of the camera.
LONDON – Kenneth Branagh was eight years old when the cobblestones flew through the windows on his street. Where Protestants and Catholics had previously lived in peaceful coexistence, an aggressive Protestant mob swept down the street and attacked Catholic homes.
Branagh huddled under a table with his mother and older brother as violence escalated outside his childhood home. With “Belfast” the director has now made a very personal, but not exclusively autobiographical film about his childhood during the Northern Ireland conflict.
In August 1969 his world falls apart
Through the eyes of nine-year-old Buddy (Jude Hill), the drama tells the story of a Protestant family during the so-called Troubles. Buddy’s world is shaken from one moment to the next in August 1969 when his street suddenly becomes the scene of the riots. The Protestant Loyalists burn cars, attack houses and destroy Catholic businesses. They say to the other peaceful protesters in the street: “Either you are with us or against us.”
Local residents are building a security wall to protect the street. Despite regular threats from radicalized Protestants, life initially goes on as usual. But the loyalists are increasing the pressure. Buddy’s father (Jamie Dornan), who is just called Pa and works most of the time in England, is worried about his family and wants to emigrate with them, but his wife (Caitriona Balfe), Buddy and his older brother Will (Lewis McAskie) want to stay in Belfast.
It was a good childhood too
Branagh dedicates his film to “those who stayed, those who left and all we lost”. “Belfast” not only shows the dramatic situation of the Troubles, but also the normal everyday life of the people who love their city and their life there. Despite the tensions and impending danger, Buddy has a happy childhood. He spends a lot of time with his loving grandparents (Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds), enjoys going to school and falls in love with a classmate. The music of the icon Van Morrison, also born in Belfast, creates a feel-good atmosphere.
The alternation between the dramatic scenes and the often humorous moments of family life or everyday school life is not optimally balanced. All in all, the film by Shakespeare pro Branagh, which is in black and white with a few pointed exceptions, also seems a bit superficial. But despite the clear plea for respect and peaceful coexistence, “Belfast” is not a political film, but a coming-of-age drama. And that lives more from its fantastic cast than from the story or the dramaturgy.
Great actors
The performances of veterans Dame Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds are truly heartwarming – well-deserved Oscar nominations for both for Best Supporting Actor. Incidentally, like director Branagh, the slightly older Hinds grew up in the same area of Belfast and experienced the conflict in Northern Ireland first hand. “It was a dark time,” he told the Guardian. “Brutal, brutal!”
Irish Caitriona Balfe (“Le Mans ’66”), who in turn hails from Dublin, also deserved an Oscar nomination. The Northern Irishman Jamie Dornan, who was long misunderstood because of his role in the erotic trilogy “Fifty Shades Of Grey” and also did himself no favors with the Hollywood super flop “Robin Hood”, is now finally establishing himself as a character actor. Due to his appearance as a robust 60s guy in “Belfast”, the versatile actor has recently also been considered a James Bond candidate in the British media.
“Belfast” was nominated for six Golden Globes (including Balfe for supporting actress over Dench) but won only the screenplay award. The film has been nominated seven times for the Oscars, including in the most important categories of Best Picture and Best Director. “Belfast” should have a good chance at the British film awards known as Baftas, which are awarded two weeks before the Oscars. “Belfast” has been nominated for Best Picture and Outstanding British Film, but surprisingly not Branagh as director.
Belfast, UK 2021, 97 min., FSK from 12, by Kenneth Branagh, with Jude Hill, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Ciaran Hinds, Jamie Dornan dpa
