Belfast (2021) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh stated in numerous interviews that the film "Belfast" was based on his own childhood growing up in Belfast and the character Buddy shared many traits with Branagh as a youth. Prior to directing and writing the script for "Belfast", Branagh was known for directing and acting in film adaptations of the works of William Shakespeare including "Henry V" (1989), "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993), "Othello" (1995), "Hamlet" (1996), "Love's Labour's Lost" (2000), and "As You Like It" (2006).

Answer: Protestant

The film opens with Buddy and his friends playing outside their homes on Mountcollyer Street with wooden swords and trash can lids as shields. Shortly after a group of extremist Protestants break into homes and businesses and set fire to a car. These actions are seemingly to intimidate the Catholics that live on Buddy's street.

A comical scene later in the film involves Buddy and his friend Moira guessing whether someone is Protestant or Catholic based on their name.

Answer: Joiner

In "Belfast" the names of Buddy's mother and father are never given and they are simply known as Ma and Pa. Buddy's Pa is away much of the time working as a joiner in England. The occupation of a joiner involves building items, often decorative, with wood. Joiners typically build smaller items than carpenters and often do not use heavy machinery. Furniture such as tables, shelves and cabinets are common items made by joiners. "Belfast" does not show any scenes of Buddy's Pa at work but him being gone often does cause tension with the family.

Answer: Apollo 11 moon landing

"Belfast" begins on August 15, 1969, less than four weeks after humans first walked on the moon during the Apollo 11 moon landing. Buddy is fascinated by this historic accomplishment and throughout the film he reads different material about it and talks with his parents and grandparents about it.

His teacher has students divide into groups of two to gather newspaper clippings and then discuss the moon landing.

Answer: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

At various points in "Belfast" Buddy is seen watching the films "Star Trek", "One Million Years B.C.", "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and "High Noon". At the cinema Buddy and his family are shown watching "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Specifically, the viewer observes the family seeing the famous scene in which a car drives off a cliff full of screaming passengers but then luckily the car starts flying shortly before it makes impact in the water. Comically, Buddy's granny did not want to see the film initially stating that she wasn't sure about flying cars. Buddy's family is also seen later in the film going to watch a stage production of "A Christmas Carol".

Answer: Milk

Numerous times in "Belfast" Will is coerced by radical protestants to assist with the riot plans. Will's father tells him to not do anything asked by him without checking with him first. Even so, Will ends up transporting bottles that he is told are filled with milk.

His father later explains to him that it's not milk that he's transporting and that the family will not be intimated or coerced into doing anything by radicals like Billy Clanton.

Answer: Long division

In "Belfast" Buddy is nine years old and is absolutely enamored by his classmate Catherine. Based on how well students perform on tests and assignments, the teacher has them sit in certain spots with the top performer being closest to her desk. Buddy is typically in the middle but he wants to sit next to Catherine who always performs highly. Thus, he studies very hard on his long division math assignment and gets help from his grandfather in the hopes that he'll do well and be able to sit close to Catherine.

Interestingly, Buddy improves his performance well enough to be in the 2nd seat position but surprisingly Catherine gets moved further back. I interpreted this to mean that Catherine purposely did worse on the assignment so she could be moved back to the middle in the hopes of being able to sit next to Buddy.

Answer: Coal miner

Buddy is very close to his grandmother (played by Judi Dench) and his grandfather (played by Ciarán Hinds) and they live within walking distance of Buddy's home. Buddy's Po' gives him advice about school, the situation in Belfast and how to show Catherine that he is interested in her.

When the health of Pop worsens he is taken to a hospital and emotionally Buddy asks him if he will still be around when the family moves out of Belfast. Buddy is told by Pop that his lungs are very weak due to years working in the coal mines.

After Pop passes his funeral is attended by dozens of people prompting Buddy's Pa to comment that Pop was loved by many people and he owed lots of people money too.

Answer: Omo washing powder

Earlier in the film, Moira had Buddy and another friend tag along to steal candy from Mr. Singh's shop during which Buddy takes a Turkish Delight in spite of not even liking them. After being questioned by the police Buddy does not rat out his friends prompting Moira to tell him that Buddy has passed the test to join the group. Later as rioters fill the streets Moira takes Buddy with her as Stewart's Supermarket is being raided. Buddy takes a family size box of Omo washing powder home and proudly tells his mom that it is 'biological'. Rather than being appreciative or amused Buddy's mom is furious and makes him bring it back to the store in spite of the rioting going on.

While attempting to put it back Billy Clanton takes the family and Moira hostage and a standoff ensues between Billy and Buddy's Pa. Luckily, Billy's family gets away unharmed and shortly after they decide to leave Belfast.

Answer: Van Morrison

Van Morrison was born in Belfast in 1945 and for the film "Belfast" nine of his songs were used. In addition to the ones mentioned previously, other Van Morrison songs in "Belfast" include "Caledonia Swing", "Bright Side of the Road", "Warm Love", "Stranded", "Carrickfergus" and "And the Healing Has Begun". Van Morrison's most well-known song may be "Brown Eyed Girl" (1967) which peaked at #10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Another popular song from "Belfast" was "Everlasting Love" which was sung by Billy's Pa (played by Jamie Dorman).