Belfast

Belfast is a 2021 film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. It is a black-and-white coming-of-age drama set in Belfast during the summer of 1969, when sectarian violence erupted in Northern Ireland. The story follows nine-year-old Buddy, who watches his neighborhood and family change around him as tensions intensify.

Branagh based the film on his childhood in the city, although Buddy is not presented as an autobiography. The boy lives with his mother, father, older brother Will, and grandparents. His father works in England and returns periodically, creating financial pressure as the family considers leaving Belfast for safety and opportunity.

The opening attack on the Protestant street establishes the conflict through Buddy's perspective: stones fly, cars burn, and barricades divide neighbors. His parents must decide whether to remain among streets or relocate. The film presents conflict through consequences including arguments about money, schooling, loyalty, and the possibility of a safer future.

Buddy's world includes school performances and a fascination with movies. Branagh uses these moments to contrast escape with unrest. Buddy develops a crush on Catherine, while his grandparents, played by Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds, offer humor, affection, and advice. Their presence gives the story a history that reaches beyond crisis.

The roles are played by Jude Hill as Buddy, Caitríona Balfe as his mother Ma, Jamie Dornan as his father Pa, Lewis McAskie as Will, and Lara McDonnell as Catherine. Dench and Hinds portray Granny and Pop. Colin Morgan appears as Billy Clanton, a loyalist whose intimidation makes neighborhood danger personal for Buddy.

Shot in black and white, Belfast has a visual design. The monochrome photography evokes newsreels while making colors especially striking. A screen, a television image, and a theater performance introduce vivid color, linking movies and culture with Buddy's imagination. Van Morrison songs, including "Down to Joy," contribute to the film's identity.

Belfast premiered at the Telluride Festival in September 2021 and was released in America by Focus Features in November. It attracted awards attention. At the Academy Awards it received seven nominations including Supporting Actress for Dench, Best Supporting Actor for Hinds, and Best Original Screenplay which Branagh won.

The film won the 2022 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, making Branagh the first person nominated in seven Oscar categories across disciplines. Belfast won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film. Its success brought a Northern Irish story to audiences while keeping Buddy's experience connected to history around him.