Our take
Belfast stars Outlander’s Caitríona Balfe as the mother of a working-class Northern Irish family during The Troubles. Religious tension and the lack of opportunities put the family in a difficult position: they’re the first in many generations to think about leaving the city of Belfast. They all have to navigate so many difficult questions on belonging, religion, and identity.
The story, based on the director’s own childhood, is packaged in a noise-canceling black and white format. Also stars Judi Dench.
What it won
Oscars
1 win · 6 noms
Golden Globes
10 noms
BAFTA
1 win · 10 noms
SAG Awards
2 noms
DGA
1 nom
Nat. Board of Review
2 wins · 1 nom
European Film Awards
1 nom
Goya Awards
1 nom
The story
Buddy is a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, whose life is filled with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance. Yet, with his beloved hometown caught up in increasing turmoil, his family faces a momentous choice: hope the conflict will pass or leave everything they know behind for a new life.
Elsewhere
"There is something genuinely bold in giving a movie about Belfast in 1969 the warm glow of the everyday. It reminds us that life goes on."
— Bilge Ebiri
The details
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Bilal Zouheir is the founder of A Good Movie to Watch. He is based in the US and a member of the Nevada Film Critics Society. He grew up in Morocco, where he learned English from watching movies. Bilal's work with A Good Movie to Watch is focused on offering an alternative to streaming algorithms, which are often used as commercial tools by streaming services.
Overrated at everyturn.