This film hits emotional sweet spots while exploring nationalist strife and the role of the Irish in the early 20th century. It’s almost too cute, especially the sequence with Ma and Pa lip-syncing at Buddy’s wake. It’s also rich with period details and a Hinds-Dench version of the characters. Although the movie is not Oscar-worthy, it will be a sure bet among Academy-voting viewers.

While it may be set in the late 1960s, Belfast is also a film about the troubles in Northern Ireland. The story centers around 10-year-old Buddy (Jude Hill), a working-class boy who is forced to move away from his home after his family is displaced by the conflict. Despite the turmoil of that time, Buddy’s happy childhood is shattered by an unruly mob that wants to tear him apart. The violence and sectarian tensions that are present in the city are still evident and the movie has an uplifting effect.

In Belfast, Jude Hill stars as a young boy named Buddy. In his first leading role, Jude Hill plays a child-performer. The film revolves around the carefree life of this carefree boy and his love for his mother. He’s caught between Ma and Pa’s fragile relationship and the war in town. The film’s final moments are heartwarming. The movie is now playing in select theaters.