Why Asians (and Everyone) Must Watch "Belfast"
My wife and I loved the movie “Belfast” (2021).
When the movie was over, we both could not move. We were stunned by the movie’s power, beauty, and emotion. We were speechless.
The movie shows a family’s dilemma, in Belfast, during The Troubles in 1969.
Should they stay – but suffer violence? But if they go – they leave friends, family, and memories.
The movie is director Kenneth Branagh’s own story.
But it was also my grandparents’ – when they left Communist China for Hong Kong. And my parents’ – when they left Hong Kong’s Cultural Revolution Riots in 1967 for the safety of Australia.
I believe everyone must watch this movie.
“Belfast” gives us a deeper appreciation of the sacrifices that parents and grandparents make for the sake of their children. What is true of Belfast in 1969 continues to be sadly true for too many other places all over the world. Just think of Ukraine!
The movie ends with this dedication:
“For the ones who stayed. For the ones who left. And for all the ones who were lost.”
We desire safety and home. But what if home is not safe? And what if it’s safe but it’s not home?
But Jesus left his safe home for our unsafe home. So he could offer us a new home – where we’re forever safe in him.
So this is our dedication to Jesus:
For the One who did not stay; For the One who left his Home; To seek and save the lost … to give them a Home.
While you’re here, check out my buddy Russ Matthew’s Third Space review of “Belfast”
and my buddy Stephen McAlpine’s excellent blog post “Belfast: It’s Just a Northern Industrial Town.
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