The first trailer for Kenneth Branagh's new film Belfast has now been released, offering a first look at the famed director's semi-autobiographical project and revealing the theatrical release date. The film will draw heavily from the Academy Award nominated director's childhood in Northern Ireland. It is set to be a "poignant story of love, laughter, and loss" amid music and the tumultuous 1960s in Northern Ireland as nine-year-old Buddy's childhood is upturned by the start of The Troubles.
Belfast will star newcomer Jude Hill as Buddy, with The Fall's Jamie Dornan and Outlander's Caitriona Balfe starring as his parents. Justice League's Ciarán Hinds and Dame Judi Dench star as Buddy's Grandparents. As well as writing and directing what he has described as his most personal film to date, Branagh will also serve as producer alongside Laura Berwick, Becca Kovacik, and Tamar Thomas.
Focus Features has now released the official trailer for Belfast, which also reveals that the film will be released exclusively in theaters on November 12. This first trailer provides a substantial preview of what Belfast has in store for audiences this Fall, and highlights both the light-hearted and intense moments in Branagh's coming-of-age-story. Take a look at the official trailer below:
Although Branagh is known for his larger feature films like Thor, Cinderella, and Murder on the Orient Express, as well as a number of Shakespearean adaptations, Belfast represents a much smaller scale of production. This likely suits the director perfectly as he has been open about the film being a far more personal project, drawing on his own memories of life in the city before his family eventually relocated to Berkshire in England. Branagh first began work on the film during the COVID-19 lockdown, and had admitted that he found the experience to be quite triggering, which is what led him to revisit this particular moment from his past for the film.
Ensuring that Belfast delivers will likely be a big ask for the director, especially considering how personal the story is set to be. However, with as strong a cast as it has, with the likes of Dench, Dornan, and Hinds, it seems more than likely that the film will do both Branagh's story and the time period itself, justice. Set to premiere at Telluride Film Festival in September, before general release on November 12th, fans of Branagh's work will not have long to wait for Belfast.
Source: Focus Features