What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBelfast
Film · 2021
If you loved Belfast, start with Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (James Bluemel, 2023) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Belfast across media.
If Belfast moved you, it is because you appreciate how personal stories bloom amidst the harsh reality of historical conflict.
Books on the same thread
Say Nothing
Patrick Radden Keefe · Book
Explores: sectarian violence, historical trauma, political radicalization.
Just as Belfast explores the Troubles through a child's eyes, this investigative work provides the essential historical context behind the very sectarian violence that disrupts Buddy's peaceful childhood.
Beloved
Toni Morrison · Book · 1987
Explores: Intergenerational Trauma, Haunting and Memory, Motherhood and Sacrifice.
Like the family dynamics at the heart of Belfast, this novel masterfully examines the heavy weight of intergenerational trauma and the sacrifices made to protect the ones we love.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
James Joyce · Book · 2022
Explores: artistic awakening, religious disillusionment, Irish nationalism.
This classic shares the coming-of-age spirit of Belfast, tracing a young man's intellectual and artistic awakening against the backdrop of Ireland's complex political and religious landscape.
Northern Lights
Philip Pullman · Book · 2001
Shares a thread with Belfast: Coming-of-Age.
Much like the loss of innocence depicted in Belfast, this story follows a young protagonist forced to navigate a dangerous, shifting world while clinging to their sense of self.
Series on the same thread
Derry Girls
Lisa McGee · Series · 2018
Explores: Female friendship, Adolescent awkwardness, The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
If you enjoyed the way Belfast balances political instability with adolescent life, you will appreciate this series, which finds humor and friendship amidst the same Northern Irish conflict.
Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland
James Bluemel · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with Belfast: The Troubles.
These intimate testimonies provide the real-world foundation for the events portrayed in Belfast, offering a deeper look at the personal impact of the Troubles on local families.
My Brilliant Friend
Saverio Costanzo · Series · 2018
Explores: Female Friendship, Childhood, Memory.
This series mirrors the focus on memory and childhood found in Belfast, illustrating how early friendships and social environments shape the people we eventually become later in life.
Brideshead Revisited
Derek Granger · Series · 1981
Shares a thread with Belfast: Period Drama.
Much like the nostalgic lens of Belfast, this story captures the complexity of family loyalty and class identity during a transformative period defined by deep-seated religious and societal divisions.
Podcasts on the same thread
The BelTel
Podcast
Explores: northern ireland, politics, local news.
If you want to stay connected to the environment that shaped Belfast, this podcast offers ongoing insights into the political pulse and local narratives of modern Northern Ireland.
The History Hour
BBC World Service · Podcast
Explores: personal testimony, archival storytelling, human experience.
These eyewitness accounts echo the personal nature of the history seen in Belfast, grounding the global impact of the Troubles in the lived experiences of individual human beings.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Belfast based on a true story or a fictional account?
Belfast follows the life of a young boy named Buddy who experiences familial love and childhood hijinks while his hometown faces increasing turmoil. The film depicts his family as they navigate the difficult choice of staying in their home or leaving everything they know behind for a new life.
What is the central conflict in Belfast?
The central conflict in Belfast involves the young protagonist Buddy and his family living in a hometown caught up in increasing turmoil. This instability forces the family to make a momentous decision regarding whether to hope the conflict will pass or to abandon their home for a new life.
Does Belfast focus on the perspective of a child?
Yes, Belfast centers on Buddy, a young boy on the cusp of adolescence. The narrative explores his life through his experiences with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance, all set against the backdrop of the difficult choices his family must make during a time of local conflict.
What is the primary theme of Belfast?
The primary theme of Belfast is the struggle between familial attachment and the necessity of change. It examines the life of a young boy named Buddy as his family faces the difficult choice of staying in their beloved hometown during a period of turmoil or leaving for a new life.