Belfast (2021)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A young boy navigates the complexities of family and identity in Belfast during the onset of The Troubles in 1969.
The story
Belfast is a coming-of-age film following the childhood of a young boy named Buddy in Northern Ireland during 1969. As the region faces the beginning of The Troubles, Buddy lives with his mother, brother, and grandparents while his father works away in England. Amidst the local riots and the tension of the era, the family must navigate the complexities of their community and the looming possibility of relocation. Buddy's personal journey is marked by his interactions with his peers and the stark reality of the political climate surrounding his home.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Buddy, a nine-year-old boy, lives in Belfast with his mother, brother, and grandparents while his father works in England. In 1969, as the Troubles begin, the family faces the reality of local riots and sectarian violence. Buddy develops a friendship with a classmate, Catherine, while his father faces pressure from a local criminal, Billy Clanton. As the conflict intensifies, the family faces a choice regarding their safety and future. After a series of events including a theft involving Buddy's cousin Moira and a tense standoff with Billy Clanton during a riot, the family realizes they must leave for England. Following the death of the grandfather, the family departs for the airport, with Buddy reflecting on his friendship with Catherine and the reality of their new life.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kenneth Branagh
- Writers
- Kenneth Branagh · writer
- Cast and characters
- Caitríona Balfe; Judi Dench; Jamie Dornan; Ciarán Hinds; Colin Morgan; Jude Hill
- Genres
- coming-of-age; comedy-drama
- Themes
- coming-of-age; family; identity; war
- Tone and mood
- personal; nostalgic
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; drama; semi-autobiographical
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics for its direction, screenplay, cinematography, and performances, and was noted for its 'formal beauty' and 'affectionate energy'.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 86% · scale: percentage · review count: 334; Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100 · review count: 55
- Awards and nominations
- People's Choice Award · Toronto International Film Festival · 2021 · won; Best Screenplay · 79th Golden Globe Awards · 2021 · won
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in color and converted to black-and-white in post-production.; The film features music by Belfast native Van Morrison.; The film was the highest-grossing black-and-white film of the modern era.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…