BELFAST – Written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, this film is a snapshot of a day in the life of folks living in Belfast during the extreme violence between the Catholics and Protestants in 1969. Gritty and raw, it tells this disturbing tale through the eyes of an 11-year old boy who lived it….that boy being Kenneth Branagh. The work is excellent, the cast superb and the cinematography outstanding. The scenes are short and to the point. The film opens in modern day Belfast in color and as the camera pans over a billboard, the film fades to black & white, transporting us back to 1969 and adding authenticity to what we are about to experience. And experience it we do. Immediately. We are plunged into the violence of the day, witnessing folks struggling to keep their families safe as they struggle to survive financially and emotionally within those families. We also witness the dichotomy of life continuing on a daily basis with some semblance of normality within the community. Many fled, many stayed, many died. Cheers to them all!! Unanimous toasts from the peeps! Boyfriends – 1; Girlfriends – 1.