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With seven Oscar nominations, Belfast won the “Best Original Screenplay” award at the awards ceremony on the morning of March 28 (Hanoi time). The work is about the lives of people in a small town in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s, when religious strife broke out. Despite the war’s background, Belfast is not a war movie but a story about the growth and turning point of the main character – boy Buddy (played by Jude Hill). Based on the childhood memories of director Kenneth Branagh, the film gives the audience a bright, romantic perspective beyond reality.

The Buddy family lives in a working-class neighborhood where Catholics and Protestants live in harmony. But after only a few peaceful minutes at the beginning of the film, extremist followers arrived with petrol bombs and indignation. The 360-degree angle towards the center is Buddy who is bewildered, shocked, not understanding what is happening.

Through the lens of children, the danger and severity of conflict is greatly reduced. Instead of delving into conflicts and violence stemming from religion, the audience was led by director Kenneth Branagh to follow the boy Buddy. He still happily went to school, fell in love with his classmate, played soccer with his cousins ​​in the back alley, shared the little daily things with his grandparents. The way a boy copes with hurt and loss is always different from an adult – cheerful, optimistic, not melancholy or sad.

Buddy’s family also has very ordinary concerns. They have health problems, worry about money, but it does not bring a feeling of lack or unhappiness because everyone cares about each other. Buddy – like all 9- and 10-year-olds – often shares his troubles with his grandparents and gets advice that’s both funny and insightful. Buddy’s parents, despite having different views, always look towards each other with love and responsibility to the family.

The story is simple but it is the gentle, narrative storytelling that increases the appeal of the film. Belfast filled with the nostalgic, warm feeling of childhood memories. Buddy was too young to understand separation, loss or the pressures of a poor family’s life. Remaining in his mind are movie nights filled with laughter with his family, the affectionate look of his classmate, and the thoughtful interrogations of neighbors. The film does not bring Buddy to a standstill in a conflict that is not for him, but offers solutions to get out of it.

Joyful music is inserted in the midst of chaos, creating contrasts, making the audience feel both bitterness and hope at the same time. Image of Belfast beautiful and creative, though not as epic as blockbusters about war. Black and white tones with high contrast create a feeling of nostalgia. In particular, the segment in the cinema, the film projected on the screen is a color film, sparkling like the belief and hope in a beautiful future, different from the reality of everyone here.

Each scene is taken care of, like wide camera angles capturing the whole Belfast space, losing the feeling of frustration and confinement. Or when Pa (Jamie Dornan), Buddy’s father, comes home from work in England, presented as a hero striding back after victory. Buddy’s love for his hometown, family, and friends is shown through simple but emotional angles.

In terms of acting, receiving the most praise are Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench, both nominated for this year’s “Best Supporting Actress” Oscar. The two roles of Buddy’s grandfather and grandmother had a small amount of time, but left a great impression on the audience. With contemplation and boundless love for children and grandchildren, the lessons of love and sympathy were passed on by the two people naturally, simply but deeply. Judi Dench’s tears hidden inside (as the grandmother) in Buddy’s small family farewell scene can move many people’s souls.

Child star Jude Hill fulfills the central role of the film well. With bright eyes and a lovely, somewhat innocent expression, Jude Hill seems to fully transform into the role of a pure boy Buddy, radiant with joy but sometimes hiding sadness. Jamie Dornan (the father) and Caitriona Balfe (the mother) have two good supporting roles but not enough weight to make a breakthrough in their careers. The work received 75/100 from experts and 6.5/10 from the general audience on Metacritic.

Nguyen Thao