I Am Belfast film review ★★★★★

I Am Belfast bills itself as a city symphony, taking us on a walk through the Northern Irish capital. Guided by a mysterious old woman, we delve into the city’s history, and the life of its streets. There are moments of everyday kindness; a bus turning around because a passenger forgot her shopping, and pedestrians tending to a sleeping drunk. But the more turbulent side of human existence is represented too; riots, armed patrols, and bombings are all present.

The film attempts to tell Belfast’s story, and does so in fragmented and surreal fashion. But it gets lost in its own attempts to be beautiful; the allure of the poetic world which director Mark Cousins creates seems to prevent him from achieving a real sense of truth.

The film’s opening credits literally roll in the clouds. The woman’s narration can feel unfocused and pretentious, pursuing something – the idea that we inherit our conflicts, our biases and our prejudices - but too afraid to spell it out.