Belfast

I grew up listening to the twin soundtrack of the troubles in Northern Ireland and Vietnam. It is very hard to know what influence, if any, this experience had on my upbringing. This film's visceral and intimate  portrait connected deeply with memories I had long since buried deep within. The central character in this film is a nine-year-old boy called Buddy (Jude Hill). Set in Belfast in 1969 we are invited into Buddy's world as The Troubles begin to erupt on the terraced streets of the city. I am almost exactly the same age as Buddy and although I was physically far removed from Belfast, the film struck a deep resonance with me as I realised that this film could have been telling my story rather than Kenneth Branagh's.

This is in part a coming-of-age story. Buddy is trying to make sense of the world through his school work, a crush on classmate Catherine and guidance and wisdom he receives from his extended family. Into this already potent mix, the ugly horror of sectarian violence literally explodes outside his front door. Buddy's world is forever changed. Things suddenly get a lot more confusing and Buddy's context becomes one of black and white with little room for grey. The opening and closing scenes of the film are shot in vivid colour like some tourist promo for visiting the city. The story itself is beautifully lit and shot in black and white. The detailed sets took me back to my childhood and the reality of the story was reinforced by the inclusion of archive news stories such as Robin Day interviewing then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson.

As a semi-autobiographical film, it is very hard to question the story we are presented with as it flows from the subjective memories of nine year-old Branagh as he recalls them. Buddy lives on a street where Catholics and Protestants happily coexist as neighbours - why should it be anything other? Violence and threats are used to make the minority Catholic residents move out to create a pure Protestant ghetto. The British Army are deployed to maintain order amidst the growing unrest and the film manages to communicate the growing sense of unease amongst the families in the local community as they try to work out what is going on. This is not a conflict of their making or choosing and they struggle with being coerced to take sides.

At the heart of this film is the depiction of a family's honest struggle to survive, to do the right thing and to stay true to their heritage of being Belfast people. Buddy's father, Pa (Jamie Dornan) is a hard working joiner trying to provide for his family. Work is scarce in Northern Ireland and he works away in England visiting the family every couple of weeks. Trying to pay off his tax arrears and sustain his gambling habit stretches the family finances and creates tensions between Pa and Ma (Caitriona Balfe) which are heightened by the sense of threat The Troubles bring. Pa suggests the family emigrate to Australia or Canada where work is plentiful but the others do not want to leave their home and family. Pa's parents, Granny (Judy Dench) and Pop (Ciarán Hinds) impart their wisdom to the next generations as they approach the twilight of their lives. Family is at the heart of this film. Brannagh implicitly celebrates his family and the domestic security that nurtured him.

On more than one occasion the film's dialogue portrays the perceived Protestant collective understanding that Catholics are morally weak as all they do is go confession once a week and then live as they please knowing they can seek forgiveness again next week. At Granny's insistence, Buddy and brother Will (Lewis McAskie) attend chapel every Sunday. We share part of an impassioned sermon delivered by the Minister where the stark choice between the narrow straight road and the wide and easy road that descends to the eternal and inescapable lakes of burning sulphur is spelt out. More coercion in the name of religion. A painful reminder of sermons I sat through in the early days of my own faith and an encouragement to preach somewhat differently today!

The ensemble cast give a strong performance and the narrative arc is well paced and delivers some surprises. I feared other things might happen to the family but that merely demonstrated the power of fear and my imaginations ability to think the worst. This film has just picked up a pile of BAFTA nominations and I am sure it will feature at the Oscars too - and deservedly so. Branagh is a master storyteller and this film is so personal it draws you in and engenders empathy for Buddy and his family - as I watched, I began to care deeply what happened to Buddy. Yes, there are moments of gloopy sentimentality and I for one could have been spared the closing morality lesson delivered by Pa to Buddy in the final scene.

Ultimately this is a film about hope, love and relationships. It is also a film that shows how to tell a story in an uncomplicated way. It is a beautifully made film. I hope that it will inspire many people to visit Belfast and to discover not only something of the pain of the memories of The Troubles, but to explore the vibrant passion that has enabled a new Belfast to rise from the ashes and become the pulsating city it is today. I'll give it 8/10.