My quick rating - 7,0/10. Kenneth Branagh is always a consistent name with high-quality flix and this is no exception. It is a semi-autobiographical black and white movie that starts off with a young Jude Hill playing on the streets in Belfast when a mob of Protestant gangsters appears, smashing everything Catholic in their wake. Soon after and as expected, the British army arrives to attempt the peacekeeping mission but with all of this going on, this story really doesn't even focus on that. The whole religious and political conflicts going on take a back seat to establish how an everyday loving family can get along through this and survive. Instead of worrying about all the outside issues, we are brought in more to the everyday issues that families have and will be easily identifiable to most. Judi Dench plays the glue to this family and she seems to be unwavering in just taking everything in stride. Seeing all of the horrors of the conflict through a young child's eyes helps to keep it grounded as his interactions with family, and those around him helped shape what Branagh ultimately became. I really thought the scenes that the kid and granny shared together were very well filmed, especially the mix of color for the movies they were watching. Also, I thought the sound and music in this really helped keep the atmosphere genuine. I have to say that this is not going to be a movie for everyone only because the plot overall is quite thin. This is more about emotion and the struggles in family life that can be tested not only from inside, but incredibly dangerous outside forces. And while many may have wanted to see more of the warlike events happening right outside their door, it instead relies on the viewer knowing that is happening but instead wants the focus to be on how the family copes with it. This was another tragic moment in a history flick seen through a childs eyes that again is very well done and is also another best picture nominee for #Oscars2022 which you can buy/rent by clicking the poster below.
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