Belfast

Name: Belfast
Genre: Drama
Released: November 12, 2021
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Caitriona Balfe, Charlie Barnard, Ciarán Hinds, Freya Yates, Jamie Dornan

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 168 Ratings

See All

6.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.5	Your Score
6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 168 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Belfast (Trailer 2)

Now Playing: Belfast (Trailer 2)

Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: November 12, 2021 | PG-13

Starring: Caitriona Balfe, Charlie Barnard, Ciarán Hinds, Freya Yates, Jamie Dornan, Josie Walker, Jude Hill, Judi Dench, Lewis McAskie, Nessa Eriksson, Olive Tennant

Movie Facts:

Nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture.
Won the People's Choice Award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.

Summary: Belfast is a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s.

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 98 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Mike Scott

Nov 10, 2021

Taken all together, Branagh’s film is in its own special way like a cinematic equivalent of the Irish brogue that fills it: It’s lovely, it’s lyrical and it’s next to impossible not to be swept up by its charms. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Nov 12, 2021

There’s only one trouble with his semi-autobiographical account. It’s so polished—so spirited, funny and skillfully calibrated—that it could be taken for a while as a crowd-pleaser and not a lot more. Sign me up for the crowd, though. This is surely the most pleasing film I’ve seen so far this year, but also the most affecting. Read full review

Tara Bennett

Nov 12, 2021

Experiencing Branagh come full circle with Belfast is like getting an invitation to observe an artist come to terms with his roots. There’s the expected nostalgia, but also the graceful observation of the wisdom and clarity acquired with the power of hindsight. Read full review

Barry Hertz

Nov 8, 2021

The film is not a masterpiece, but a memory box. Comforting, inviting, and one you won’t mind keeping close. Read full review

Lindsey Bahr

Nov 10, 2021

So many films are described as love letters — to places, to time, to people, to even the idea of cinema — that the phrase has almost been rendered meaningless. But Belfast really is the quintessential cinematic love letter. Read full review

David Fear

Nov 15, 2021

It’s a memory piece, evoking a specific time, place, and political crisis in a way that is indelibly, achingly personal. Read full review

Josh Larsen

Mar 16, 2022

Even while understanding that much of Belfast is supposed to be from the perspective of Buddy (Jude Hill), a young boy who witnesses the beginning of Ireland’s “Troubles” in his working-class neighborhood (and serves as something of a stand-in for writer-director Kenneth Branagh), I still felt a type of artistic naivete at work—a belief that all you need is black-and-white cinematography and a cute kid to create something of deep meaning and emotion. Read full review

SEE ALL 55 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

JacobinaDasousa

Nov 28, 2021

Belfast felt like a big, snuggly hug. Has been a long while since we've had the pleasure of experiencing such an emotionally resonant movie going experience. You have a winner here Kenneth Branagh!

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Rebecca31

Jan 31, 2022

A semi-autobiographical account from Kenneth Branagh, Belfast really is as good as you've heard. I will not be surprised if this clears up at awards season and it deserves every one of them.

Buddy (Jude Hill) is a young boy living in Belfast in the late 1960s with his brother Will (LewisA semi-autobiographical account from Kenneth Branagh, Belfast really is as good as you've heard. I will not be surprised if this clears up at awards season and it deserves every one of them.

Buddy (Jude Hill) is a young boy living in Belfast in the late 1960s with his brother Will (Lewis McAskie) and their mother played by Caitriona Balfe. Their father played by Jamie Dornan travels overseas to work and is often away for long periods of time. Buddy is preoccupied with the normal problems of an 11-year-old all while trying to make sense of the violence happening around him during a hugely turbulent time in Belfast. Similarly to how Jojo Rabbit handled the trauma of war from a child's perspective, Belfast finds the balance between light-hearted humour and tragedy. It's funny and highly emotional. If you're the type to cry easily at movies then you may need to get the tissues ready.

Jude Hill is the shining star in Belfast, you can't help but love him, he's absolutely wonderful. Stand out performances also include Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench and Ciáran Hinds. Director Kenneth Branagh certainly knew what he was doing when he gathered the cast for Belfast. Everyone is absolutely brilliant it's easy to see how this could do very well in awards season, even Jamie Dornan who can almost be forgiven for that horrendous Irish accent in Wild Mountain Thyme. Beautifully directed in black and white with the use of colour where appropriate. I loved the references to older movies and the excitement in Buddy's face during his cinema trips. It perfectly captures the pure magic of cinema and the sense of losing yourself in a movie by completely shutting out the world around you no matter how bad things seem. Highly recommended for everyone, Belfast is not to be missed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

inmh

Nov 27, 2021

I thought this was a great balance between history and personal narrative, honestly. You're learning about Belfast during the Troubles, but you're also seeing a beautiful and very realistic (imo) depiction of a family living their lives.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Stream2BigScree

Nov 21, 2021

Well, Streamers, we have a review of another black and white film for you this week - Kenneth Branagh's Belfast. The release of Belfast this month was well-positioned for both awards buzz as well as family entertainment. Let's see how it does on both fronts.

Kenneth Branagh wrote andWell, Streamers, we have a review of another black and white film for you this week - Kenneth Branagh's Belfast. The release of Belfast this month was well-positioned for both awards buzz as well as family entertainment. Let's see how it does on both fronts.

Kenneth Branagh wrote and directed Belfast drawing from his childhood memories of growing up in Northern Ireland. The film centers on Buddy (Jude Hill), a precocious kid, growing up in Belfast in the midst of growing turmoil between Protestants and Catholics. Buddy's family is entrapped by the danger on their street and are tested by their financial hardships. Buddy's Ma (Caitriona Balfe) holds down the fort and tries to protect Buddy and his brother while Buddy's Pa (Jamie Dornan) is working in England and only returns home every two weeks. Buddy's grandparents also have a prominent role in the film. As tensions grow between the warring factions, Buddy's family has to make a decision about whether to stay in the only home he's ever known or whether to escape to a safer situation.

The storyline of Belfast is simple but effective. Branagh focuses on the care and affection these family members have for each other and their desperate need to protect each other. The film uses its black and white cinematography to evoke that feeling of memory and the music throughout mimics the emotions that permeate the tensions in the movie. Maybe I'm too ignorant, but I did not understand what the conflict was between the Protestants and Catholics and why it was so violent in Belfast at the time. Buddy must not either since the film is told from his perspective and we don't get much explanation about that. Nevertheless, the coming-of-age drama hits the marks one would expect and Branagh clearly has an emotional connection to the material that is conveyed in each frame.

My biggest issue with Belfast is Jude Hill. He's just alright. Sometimes child actors suffer trying to carry these types of films. Roman Griffin Davis did a great job anchoring Jojo Rabbit. Alan Kim was pretty good in Minari. Remember Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense! Jude Hill is no Haley Joel. Sorry, Buddy. He doesn't ruin the movie, but either another actor needed to be cast or the focus should have been more on the adults. Both Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan give good performances that add emotional weight to the film. You get more of the stakes from Balfe and Dornan than from Hill. Maybe that's asking too much of the kid.

Ultimately, I understand why Belfast is an Oscar hopeful. It has a sentimental story that plays on the emotions with good performances from the adult cast. Despite my reservations about Jude Hill’s performance, the otherwise simple story hits the marks of this kind of drama. It’s a good movie, but I wouldn’t call it any better than these other coming-of-age family dramas. Get a bowl of popcorn for a Sunday matinee since it’s only in theaters.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

benjanzen

Nov 25, 2021

The love and care that was put into Belfast is evident. A personal and heartwarming story from Kenneth Branagh that captures childlike wonder during challenging times. Beautifully shot and performed, but I can't say it didn't feel fairly bland and shallow overall. It lacked the depth andThe love and care that was put into Belfast is evident. A personal and heartwarming story from Kenneth Branagh that captures childlike wonder during challenging times. Beautifully shot and performed, but I can't say it didn't feel fairly bland and shallow overall. It lacked the depth and intrigue needed in order for it to stand out or resonate.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MattyIce34

Nov 12, 2021

I appreciated the performances, but the direction and story are pretty inconsistent. Would be surprised to see this genuinely competes for Best Picture…

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

SamiIsidorio

Dec 30, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Kenneth toma vergonha na cara, que filme raso e bait oscar é esse? Jesus cristo… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SEE ALL 54 REVIEWS