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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Belfast

Belfast is a 2021 coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Belfast is a 2021 coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1969, it follows a young boy and his working-class family during the beginning of the Troubles. The film is described by Branagh as his most personal work and is based on his childhood.

Plot

The film follows Buddy, a young boy growing up in a close-knit Protestant working-class neighbourhood in Belfast. His family is confronted by escalating sectarian violence, forcing them to weigh staying in the city against leaving for safety.

Production

Belfast was written and directed by Kenneth Branagh and produced through TKBC with Focus Features listed as distributor. Branagh has described it as his most personal film.

Cast

The principal cast features Caitríona Balfe and Jamie Dornan as Buddy’s parents, Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds as his grandparents, Colin Morgan in a supporting role, and Jude Hill as Buddy.

Release and reception

The film premiered in 2021 and was released in U.S. theatres on 12 November 2021. Coverage described it as a personal, autobiographical drama set against the turbulence of the Troubles.

Key facts

  • The film is a semi-autobiographical work based on Kenneth Branagh's childhood in Belfast.
  • It centres on a nine-year-old boy named Buddy and his family in north Belfast during the start of the Troubles in August 1969.
  • The cast includes Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan, and Jude Hill.
  • It is a black-and-white film with a strong autobiographical element.
  • The film was released theatrically on 12 November 2021 in the United States.
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Canadian context

Belfast screened internationally, including in Canada, as part of the global release of an award-season film by Canadian audiences and critics.

Frequently asked questions

What is Belfast about?
It follows a boy named Buddy and his family in Belfast as sectarian violence escalates in 1969.
Who directed Belfast?
Kenneth Branagh wrote and directed the film.
Is Belfast based on a true story?
The film is semi-autobiographical and draws on Branagh’s childhood in Belfast.
When was Belfast released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on 12 November 2021.
Who stars in Belfast?
The cast includes Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan, and Jude Hill.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfast_(film)
    Supports: basic credits, release year, premise, cast, and autobiographical description
  2. British Film Institute — https://www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-festival/interviews/belfast-kenneth-branagh
    Supports: setting in August 1969, Troubles context, and film description
  3. Focus Features — https://www.focusfeatures.com/belfast
    Supports: official synopsis, cast, writer/director, genre, and runtime
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/belfast
    Supports: director, genre, runtime, release date, rating, and synopsis
  5. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/belfast-movie-review-2021
    Supports: personal nature of the film and thematic description
  6. BBC Culture — https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20211105-belfast-the-troubled-city-filmmakers-love
    Supports: setting in north Belfast and context of the Troubles