Belfast, the latest offering from Kenneth Branagh, billed as a semi-autobiographical account of his childhood in Northern Ireland is a heartfelt film about home, family and the ties that bind us to both. In the end, for the characters in Belfast, it comes down to a choice – as their neighborhood is consumed by the civil unrest that pits Catholic vs Protestant in the late 1960’s – do they leave the only home they’ve ever known or save the only family they’ve ever had.

While nowhere near as profound, as of this writing, you the viewer have a choice to make as well – do you rent Belfast right now from the comfort of your easy chair for $19.99 or play the proverbial waiting game and see it when the asking price drops to $5.99. For me, it was a no-brainer because with the exception of makin’ whoopee with Helena Bonham Carter while married to Emma Thompson, I’ve liked everything that Kenneth Branagh has done. If you are even remotely in that camp (sans your views on the Thompson/Branagh relationship) my advice is go for it – you won’t regret it.

Through interviews and press releases, Branagh has made it clear that Belfast is a very personal film for him. In what some may think is a gamble, he chooses to tell the story through Buddy, a 9 year old boy played by Jude Hill. Wherever or however Mr. Branagh found this kid, the gamble paid off because the young actor is pure gold. Hill quickly brings Buddy to life, delivering a cornucopia of innocence, wit and energy that ultimately becomes the soul of this film. You don’t need an MFA from USC to quickly realize that it’s Buddy who is the vehicle for this filmmaker’s vivid and profound memories of his boyhood days in Northern Ireland’s Belfast.

But young Master Hill is not the only shining star in this beautifully constructed cast of actors. Every single member delivers a pitch perfect performance starting with Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan who play Buddy’s parents and are simply referred to as Ma and Pa. Balfe’s Ma is a vision of beauty, grace and determination, wrapped in a mother’s love, amid the violence and prejudice of the Belfast neighborhood she calls home. Well known for starring in the long running series Outlander, she does an admirable job of ‘owning’ her scenes. This is especially evident when she drags Buddy back to a Catholic owned grocery store, in the middle of a looting spree. Stepping over broken glass, fallen shelves and a violent crowd she attempts to have him replace a box of laundry detergent – he was encouraged by others to steal – back on one of the store’s few remaining shelves. It’s a powerful scene and emblematic of an all around strong performance. And Dornan, as the epitome of stoicism, also delivers a solid performance as the father who’s only goal is to move his family as far away from danger as possible. His GQ status as one of Britain’s best dressed men not withstanding, Dornan’s performance is powerful yet understated. In a page taken straight from a Hollywood heroes manual, at the end of that same looting scene, he appears out of nowhere to save his family from harm.

It seems fitting that Dame Judy Dench would contribute to this strong cast of characters as well. Her performance as Granny along with Ciaran Hinds’ Pop provides the silver and gold that frames this family portrait and lends a degree of gravitas that only renowned actors of this caliber can deliver. Hinds’ last words to Buddy, “I’ll never be anywhere you can’t find me,” are not only touching but serve as the pillar upon which this family’s love of home and heritage rest.

Branagh’s choice of employing the gravely voiced Van Morrison for the majority of the film’s soundtrack works well and seems perfectly fitting. While 15 years Mr. Branagh’s senior, Van Morrison also grew up in Belfast, not far from the neighborhood Buddy and his family call home. The choice of Morrison classics echoes not only the sadness of the family’s situation but also the love and optimism they share for a better life. Interestingly enough, one of the more poignant moments in the film is not supported by Morrison’s music at all but by the often remade tune “Everlasting Love,” made famous in that same era by the London based band Love Affair and this time sung by Dornan himself. Sure it’s meant to be a crowd pleaser but this stirring scene where, in typical Irish fashion, the family celebrates life and love while dealing with grief, is one of the many payoffs in this beautifully constructed narrative.

Cinematically, you can count on Kenneth Branagh to make classic choices. From the tight shots of neighborhood alley ways, to the weathered homes and shops, it all works. The traditional approach that Branagh takes delivers a realism that perfectly suits the film. Some have criticized Branagh for what they think is a ‘rose tinted’ version of Belfast in 1969. But the car bombs, barbed wire, armored vehicles and black and white images prove that there’s nothing colored in this film except the occasional glimpses of life outside the neighborhood.

In the final balance, Belfast is an expertly crafted 90 minutes that’s filled with award winning performances and first class imagery. While Kenneth Branagh is upfront about the personal nature of Belfast, one cannot help but think that in creating this film he also means to pay homage to the countless families all over the world who face or have faced the very same choices. To see and appreciate that through the lens of a seasoned filmmaker is a bargain at any price.