Belfast - Little Sweet with the Bitter

 

For rent on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube 

    I realize this review is a little late (this movie was released this past November), mainly because, I'm ashamed to admit, I had been deliberately avoiding it. Most of the time, dramatic semi-autobiographical films turn out to be nothing more than mere artistic fluff and Oscar-bait material with little to no merit outside of stroking Hollywood's ego. 

    *cough* Crash *cough*

    Fortunately, in the case of writer/director Kenneth Branagh and his semi-autobiographical film, Belfast, I am delighted to report that it is (mostly) the opposite. While not a perfect film, nor entirely original, what it brings to the table is too joyous and engaging (with an understandable dash of sadness for good measure) to pass up. As the poster declares, "Our memories make us," and it is memories of his childhood that have crafted this surprising film. 

    Rather than a traditional narrative structure, Belfast opts for a more "slice of life" approach, where various moments of the main character's childhood are displayed and explored. The main character, a young boy named Buddy (Jude Hall), lives with his family in Belfast, Ireland, in the late 1960s, during the violence between Catholics and Protestants. We see Buddy play with his friends, spend time with his grandparents, and try to get together with his school crush. All the while wrestling with the possibility of leaving his home, a prospect he does not care to entertain. 

    The film delivers a near-perfect balance between drama and levity. In between the devastation of the violence are tender moments accompanied by energetic Van Morrison songs. For every riot, there's a party. All of it is strung together with just enough connective tissue to retain a sense of cohesion while feeling more like an active memory. It's the kind of "conscious moment" storytelling that Tree of Life tried and failed to achieve. 

    The use of color (and lack thereof) is primarily clever. I don't want to spoil how it is implemented in the film, but I will say that it does a terrific job at visualizing inspirational and influential moments, however brief. 

    Belfast is yet another fantastic feather in Kenneth Branagh's cap. A genuinely heartfelt examination of childhood and inspiration. It is the right kind of different movie we needed, and I genuinely hope this one takes home the gold. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.