Lesson plan; Understanding the Troubles through “Belfast”: A Cinematic Exploration

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Belfast,’ a memoir of Protestant boyhood in Troubles-torn Northern Ireland, gives a child’s-eye view of Catholicism.

Kenneth Branagh’s movie “Belfast” captures his early childhood in a troubled Northern Irish city. The movie presents a child’s perspective of Catholicism, as seen through the eyes of Buddy, a character that represents Branagh. In the movie, Buddy learns from Paddy Cavanaugh that confession to a priest can absolve Catholics of their sins. Buddy’s mother, played by Caitríona Balfe, confronts his dubious theology with her understanding, saying that Catholics simply have water thrown on them, and then they are forgiven. Source: America,  The Jesuit Review.

Lesson plan

Objectives:

  • Understand the historical context and key events of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
  • Analyze the film “Belfast” as a medium for exploring the personal experiences and perspectives during The Troubles.
  • Evaluate the lasting impact and contemporary relevance of The Troubles, including the implications of Brexit.

His new film is Belfast, a period film set in 1969 during the Troubles in Northern Ireland—and although he does not appear in the film, he also appears in it everywhere. Branagh, who wrote and directed the film, was born in Belfast in 1960 in a working-class family. When he was nine, they had to relocate to London for safety. This film, the tale of a precocious nine-year-old who tries to understand his family’s place in the changing social world around them, is the story of Branagh’s early life. More than an autobiography, it feels rather like an origin story: a peek into the circumstances that made him into the man we all know. Is it any surprise that the young Branagh character, a freckled little boy called Buddy (the wonderful Jude Hill), is a winsome wunderkind who does well in school and gets into a little bit of trouble here and there? It is not.

Warm-up:

  • Engage students by asking them to share their prior knowledge or perceptions about The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
  • Introduce the film “Belfast” and its connection to the historical context. See info below:
  1. Read the article in the Literary Hub by Olivia Rutigliano.
  2. Listen to an article about the movie by clicking on the picture below.
  3. Read the text below

 

 

A Brief Overview of The Troubles:

The Troubles was a period of intense ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to 1998. The conflict was primarily between the predominantly Protestant unionists, who desired Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and the predominantly Catholic nationalists, who sought a united Ireland.

Key Events:

  • The civil rights movement in the late 1960s, which sought to end discrimination against Catholics, sparked tensions and violence.
  • The deployment of British troops in 1969 was initially to restore order, but they soon became targets for nationalist groups.
  • The rise of paramilitary groups like the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), who engaged in bombings, shootings, and other violent acts.
  • Bloody Sunday in 1972, when British troops killed 13 unarmed Catholic civilians during a protest, further fueling the conflict.
  • The hunger strikes by republican prisoners in the early 1980s drew international attention to the conflict.
  • The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 established a power-sharing government and helped end most of the violence.

Parties Involved:

  • Unionists: Predominantly Protestant groups who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, such as the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party.
  • Nationalists: These were predominantly Catholic groups that sought a united Ireland, including the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Sinn Féin (the political wing of the IRA).
  • The British government and security forces, including the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
  • Paramilitary groups like the Provisional IRA (seeking a united Ireland) and the UVF (defending the union with the UK).

Ethno-Nationalist and Sectarian Dimensions: The Troubles had both ethno-nationalist and sectarian dimensions. While the conflict was primarily political, with opposing views on Northern Ireland’s constitutional status, it also had deep sectarian roots, with tensions and discrimination between the Catholic and Protestant communities.

 This BBC archive footage shows some of the city’s residents seeking safety across the border in County Donegal as the Army was deployed to restore order.

Historical Context (20 minutes):

  • Provide a brief overview of The Troubles, including key events, parties involved, and the ethno-nationalist and sectarian dimensions of the conflict.
  • Incorporate multimedia resources see the video and links below.
  • Do your own research on the topic and write a text about The Troubles the history and the situation today with Brexit.

Film Analysis (60 minutes):

  • Watch the movie Belfast, which depicts the impact of The Troubles on the protagonist’s family and community, and answer these questions:

Representation of The Troubles:

  • How does the film depict The Troubles’ impact on the characters’ daily lives, particularly the young protagonist Buddy and his family?
  • What specific events or incidents related to The Troubles are shown in the film, and how do they contribute to the overall narrative?
  • How does the film portray the tensions and divisions between the Protestant and Catholic communities in Belfast during this period?
  • Does the film take a particular stance or perspective on The Troubles, or does it aim to remain impartial? Provide examples to support your view.

Use of Symbolism:

  • Discuss the symbolism behind the film’s use of black-and-white cinematography. How does this stylistic choice contribute to the mood and themes of the story?
  • Analyze the significance of recurring symbols or motifs in the film, such as the window frames, the alleyways, or the playground.
  • How does the film use physical spaces (e.g., the family home, the streets, the church) as symbolic representations of the characters’ experiences or the broader societal tensions?

Storytelling Techniques:

  • Examine how the film employs a child’s perspective (through Buddy) to explore the complex themes and events of The Troubles. What advantages or limitations does this narrative choice present?
  • Discuss the use of humor and lightheartedness in the film, juxtaposed with the serious and violent backdrop of The Troubles. How does this contrast contribute to the film’s impact?
  • Analyze the film’s cinematic techniques, such as camera angles, editing, and sound design, to convey the characters’ emotions and the overall atmosphere of the period.
  • Explore the film’s portrayal of family dynamics and relationships. How do these personal stories intersect with the broader societal conflicts depicted in the film?

Song analysis

Read the lyrics from this song and answer the following questions.

  1. How does the repeated phrase “When the healing has begun” function as a refrain? This question asks how the repeated line reinforces the song’s central message.

  2. Does the song use any metaphors or similes to describe the concept of healing? This question digs into the lyrics to see if there’s figurative language related to healing beyond the title.

  3. Consider the contrast between the hopeful imagery (“summer dress,” “Easter bonnet”) and the conversational dialogue. What effect does this juxtaposition create? This question explores how the song uses opposite ideas to create a certain feeling for the listener.

  4. What is the significance of mentioning “backstreet Rock & Roll” as the source of the healing music? Is it simply a genre reference or something more? This question asks how a specific musical style might be connected to the theme of healing.

  5. How does the song’s overall structure, with its focus on repetition and a spoken word section, contribute to its message? This question asks how the way the song is built impacts the way the listener understands the lyrics.

And we’ll walk down the avenue againAnd we’ll sing all the songs from way back when, yeahAnd we’ll walk down the avenue again and the healing has begun
And we’ll walk down the avenue in styleAnd we’ll walk down the avenue and we’ll smileAnd we’ll say:“Baby, ain’t it all worthwhile when the healing has begun?”
I want you to put on your pretty summer dressYou can wear your Easter bonnet and all the restAnd I wanna make love to you yes, yes, yesWhen the healing has begun“Alright”When the healing has begun
“Whoe”“Whoe”Nananananana, “wheee”, “alright”, “whooo”, “hey”, “whoe”
When you hear the music ringin’ in your soulAnd you feel it in your heart and it grows and growsAnd it came from the backstreet Rock & RollWhen the healing has begun“That’s where it comed from, man”
I want you to put on your, your all summery dressYou can wear your Easter bonnet and all the restAnd I wanna make love to you“Yes, yes”When the healing has begun, “ai, can’t stand myself”
We’re gonna make music underneath the starsWe’re gonna play to the violin and the two guitarsAnd we’re sit there and play forHours and hours when the healing has begunHours, hours and hoursWhen the healing has begunHours and hours, hoursWhen the healing has begun
“Wait a minute, baby, listen, listen”“I didn’t know you stayed up so late”“Oh you know I just got home from a gig“And I saw you standing on the street”“Just let me move on up to this window-sill a lot”“Yeah, I got some, take some sherry”“You want a drop of port”“Let’s move behind this door here”“Let’s move on up behind this letter-box behind this door”“Let’s go in your front room”“Let’s play this Muddy Waters record you”“Got here, if you just open up a little bit”“And give me some of this backstreet jellyroll”
We’re gonna stay out all night longAnd then we’re gonna go out and roam across the fieldBaby, you know how I feel when the healing has begunWhen the healing, when the healing has begunHeeey, the healing has begunWe’re gonna stay out all night longWe’re gonna dance to the Rock & RollWhen the healing has begunOhw baby, just let me ease on aLittle bit, dig thisBackstreet jellyrollAnd the healing, healing has begunHeeeeeAnd the healing has begunAnd the healing, and the healing

 

 

 

 

 

 

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