Page 42 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 111

42 Issue #111 April 2022 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

The Trouble with Troubles

By Nikolai Adams

a: “Be good. And if you can’t be
Pgood. . .” Buddy: “Be careful!”
Kenneth Branagh’s most personal
film to date, 2021’s Belfast, which
he writes, directs and produces, is
heavily inspired by his own childhood
experiences growing up in Northern
Ireland – a tumultuous time to say the
least.

With newcomer Jude Hill playing
his childhood stand-in (referred to as
Buddy throughout), he is just what
you’d expect – a creative dreamer
more than willing to battle large
dragons and the like, this wide-
eyed ragamuffin absorbs every last
experience. . . but is most entranced
when watching movies on television
or in red velvet seat-filled theatres.

Introducing us to the city of Belfast, ground, it places this blond child slap keep the peace, and the military are cause.
Branagh opens with a colourful dab in the middle of it all. called in when major occurrences Woven with much care, there
depiction of the locale present- Cared for by his loving if oft pop up. Branagh doesn’t shy away is not an exceedingly strong
day, only for a magical upward pan frustrated mother (Caitriona Balfe) from moments big or small, yet all is narrative structure, instead going
taking us back to 1969 – switching and frequently gone father (Jamie told from the perspective of his nine for the whimsical flow of a childlike
to mesmeric black and white. That is Dornan) – he only comes home a year old fictionalized self. Buddy perspective. Music from the movies
it for the colour, except for majestic few days a month from his job in has to deal with his first crush (to a within the movie play over the action,
flashes while Buddy absorbs the London, he shares a room with his Catholic, no less), must work on his an example being the ever powerful
movies and stage plays he takes in older brother Will (Lewis McAskie). math, focus on his passion for movies, Tex Ritter High Noon theme song,
(think One Million Years B.C., Chitty He also cherishes his time spent with wrap his head around religious “Do Not Forsake Me” – beautifully
Chitty Bang Bang, or “A Christmas his lovingly bickering grandparents homily, and struggle to resist his highlighting just how influenced
Carol” for the latter). (Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench) – the cousin’s negative influence, all while Buddy has been by westerns and their

Opening the narrative with a former, a tinkerer with bad lungs, attempting to absorb his parents’ themes – good versus evil, honour
financial problems, their discussions
magnificent scene that depicts the latter, a doting caretaker. Buddy about leaving Belfast for good (his and courage in the face of danger, the
innocent adventures evolving in a also chums around with his older Ma is vehemently against it, while his last stand, and so on. And, for keen
child’s mind, it is then juxtaposed cousin, Moira (Lara McDonnell) – an Pa is wholly for it), his grandfather’s eyed viewers, you may notice Buddy
against a jarring moment of political exuberant lass who gets a little too increasingly poor health, and the reading a Thor comic as well as there
and religious strife (an early moment emboldened by the feral mobs roving powder keg that quickly encroaches being an Agatha Christie Christmas
in the infamous Northern Irish the streets. present – sly references to Branagh’s
on their little abode. . . sometimes
conflict known as The Troubles). Soon, their Catholic neighbours are in the name of Billy (Colin Morgan) past directorial history.
Turning this once peaceful working moving out, immovable structures – a low level thug who has grabbed Painted with an artistic brush, the
class neighbourhood of Protestants are being installed to protect streets, power and is attempting to bully camera twirls three hundred and sixty
and Catholics into a mob filled war- local citizens are patrolling 24/7 to families into the Catholic punishing Continued on page 46