An Oscar-winning coming-of-age story will be on TV tonight, and it’s been branded a “masterpiece” by fans online.
Written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, the 2021 film is inspired by his childhood experiences. It follows nine-year-old Buddy in Belfast and explores his point of view on the outbreak of the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1969.
Belfast (2021) stars Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds, alongside Northern Ireland’s own talent Jamie Dornan and Jude Hill in the role of Buddy.
We watch as Buddy’s family deals with the eruption of sectarian violence on their street, forcing them to confront the difficult decision of whether to leave the city in which they were born and raised.
Smaller subplots which are also interesting to watch from the child’s eyes are, for example, Buddy’s friendship with a Catholic classmate, the family patriarch’s struggle to provide for the family, and the elders’ declining health.
On its release, Belfast was nominated in seven categories at the 94th Academy Awards – including Best Picture. It earned a win for Best Original Screenplay and saw Judi Dench become the second-oldest actress ever to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress at 87.
Online, audiences have been equally enthusiastic in praising the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, a reviewing platform on which Belfast holds a 86% approval rating, reviewers mainly comment on the film’s emotional depth.
One viewer wrote about his admiration for the creator, saying: “I never thought Branagh had this in him. I mean, he’s always been an honest craftsman, and he was hilarious in the Potter movies, but Belfast is a masterpiece.”
They added: “I could rave about the cast and the visuals and the spectacle, but that would only touch the surface. There is a deep integrity here, a doggedly innocent look at a tragic episode in modern history seen through a child’s eyes, Branagh’s eyes.”
Another celebrated the fact that they had even given the film a chance: “I am glad that I stumbled across this wonderful movie that somehow had gone by me. It is a touching and heartfelt look back at a time that was filled with strife, as seen through the eyes of a young lad. It is a perspective that should not be overlooked. It is wonderfully acted, written and directed, and so worth the trip.”
Watch Belfast (2021) on BBC Two tonight (Thursday), at midnight.
