I Am Belfast

I Am Belfast is a 2015 creative and poignant documentary film directed by British filmmaker Mark Cousins. The film artistically utilizes the genres of documentary, history, and visual arts, offering audiences a profound and visually arresting portraiture of a city known for its resilience and distinctive character. Through the distinctive vision of Cousins and central characters like Rosie McKee and Maud Bell, the city of Belfast comes alive in ways hitherto unseen in mainstream cinema.

The film’s premise is built on the intriguing concept of personifying the city of Belfast itself. It brings the city to life through the ethereal figure of a 10,000-year-old woman, played by Helena Bereen, who serves as the symbolic representation of the city. Narrated exquisitely by director Mark Cousins himself, the film embarks on a profound exploration of the city’s rich history, remarkable resilience, and its unyielding spirit that has withstood decades of political and social unrest.

Co-stars Rosie McKee and Maud Bell lend a unique depth to the narrative, embodying the human aspect of the city with a haunting aura of authenticity. These everyday characters bring forward the multifaceted societal levels of the city, enhancing the narratives of Belfast’s well-known as well as half-forgotten tales, unveiling a complex portrait of a city etched with a legacy of conflict.

Yet, it isn't just another documentary that narrates the city's past. I Am Belfast is also a vibrant study of the present. It showcases the city’s current existence, navigating through the city's streets, markets, town squares, architecture, and natural beauty. It captures the city's pulse, its everyday life, the collective memory of its people, and their enduring spirit. The films juxtapose the city's violent past and its pacifying present, highlighting the paradox of human nature adeptly.

Cousins' masterful direction and narration give I Am Belfast a unique perspective on the city, selected moments from its past, and its metamorphosis over years. His signature essayist style is noticeable throughout the film. This is not an objective, journalistic approach to documentary filmmaking; instead, Cousins takes viewers on a deeply subjective, elegiac journey through Belfast. His scrutiny over the city’s remarkable history of resilience reveals not just the political realities and upheavals but also the emotional, psychological and existential vignettes of its people.

Another vital aspect of I Am Belfast is its cinematography by Christopher Doyle. He paints the Belfast canvas with mesmerizing, sometimes almost surreal, images—frameworks that are as symbolic and cognizant as they are remarkably beautiful. Doyle’s camera captures the city, treating them not as mere backdrops but as living, pulsating elements tightly woven into the narrative. His visuals serve as an independent narrative, showcasing the city's unique beauty, resilience, and complexity. They beautifully render the blend of past and present, revealing its scars and beauty, its anguish and its hope like visual poetry.

Enhancing the visual narrative is the distinctly crafted, haunting, and intimate score by David Holmes. His music sensitively underlines the city's narrative, its pulse, and its inhabitants, thereby amplifying the overall narrative's unique, dreamlike aesthetics.

In conclusion, I Am Belfast is not your traditional documentary. It has a poetic quality that makes it a visual treat and delivers a sensitive exploration of the city's past and present. It offers more than conventional documentaries through its personification of the city, pulling audiences into its heart, exploring its memories and current existence with creative filmmaking techniques. This film is an essential watch for those with an interest in history, social-political narratives, or simply fans of the creative genius of Mark Cousins. Through I Am Belfast, Cousins has successfully crafted an engaging, evocative love letter to a city that deserves to be seen, heard, and most importantly, understood in all its complexity and beauty.