This charming memoir of Kenneth Branagh's childhood depicts a violent, tumultuous time in Northern Ireland through the innocent, exuberant eyes of a nine-year-old boy, Buddy (Jude Hill). It examines how a loving, committed, decent family gets on with life, raising children, earning a living, and loving each other during a troubled time. There's a nice balance of sweet and tart in Buddy's relationships with his ailing grandfather and sharp-tongued grandmother, played by Ciaran Hinds and Judi Dench. This film is shot in black-and-white, with sporadic bursts of glorious color. BAFTA award for Outstanding British Film.
