A love letter for Family and City

Belfast by Kathia Woods

We all have childhood memories, but we aren’t afforded the luxury to document it on film. Kenneth Branagh retold his story in Belfast through the medium of film. Belfast follows young Kenneth (Buddy) as the Catholic-Protestant conflict escalates. This conflict changed his life and forced him and his family to relocate to England. Branagh's love of cinema was instilled in him as a child. It is a constant source of joy for Buddy as he travels through his childhood.

Belfast begins in color, with Van Morrison's music sweeping over this picturesque Irish city and gradually transitioning into black and white; this is done beautifully to draw your attention away from the aesthetics and toward the story.

 Buddy (Jude Hill), aka young Branagh, serves as the narrative's anchor. He likes to go to the movies, play with his friends, and adores his grandparents. He's also a romantic.

He has an older brother, and his father works in England and returns home every other weekend. Everything is fine in young Buddy's life until the conflict between Catholics and Protestants turns everything into a shambles. The once-quiet street he calls home is now littered with trash. Neighbors who used to greet each other and be friendly since they were children have become adversaries.

However, there is also a love story. Pa (Jamie Dornan) and Ma (Caitriona Balfe) are a couple who are deeply in love but are struggling financially. While her husband is away, Ma desperately tries to keep her children safe and the house afloat. Caitriona Balfe is so relatable as Ma because we see ourselves in her. In Belfast, she makes Buddy do the right thing as the world crumbles around him. On the surface, it appears absurd, but it speaks to the core of her values: even if the world is in shambles, we will still conduct ourselves with honor and dignity.

Pa, played by Jamie Dornan, delivers an equally impressive performance. He's a man who wants to do what's best for his family but is plagued by guilt for not being more present. It's a relatable conflict, and this role allowed Dornan to show off a range that he hasn't in previous roles.

Judi Dench as Granny and Ciarán Hinds as Pop round out the cast. They are the anchor in Buddy’s life.

A young child's relationship with their grandparents, especially those who live nearby, is special. One of the best scenes in Belfast is when young Buddy seeks love advice from Pop.

It's also endearing to see an older couple in love on screen. Pa's picture of love was scripted by those two, making him fight so fiercely for his family.

Belfast is a story about immigrants as well. Another reason this film will appeal to a wide range of people. Most immigrants did not leave their home countries because they disliked them or wanted to be away from their families; they went to escape something and to embrace better.

This film is also about family. Love for one's family, love for one's spouse, and love for one's country are all examples of family. Many have forgotten that Kenneth Branagh is Irish, but in Belfast he beautifully reminds us of his Irish Roots.