If you're interested in this subject you should watch this interview from the time: Firing Line: Bernadette Devlin ua-cam.com/video/FFUKV5_EwdA/v-deo.html
Hey let's make a movie about the 'nice' white family in Alabama during slavery. There surely had to be one, yeah ?? The movie is offensive and not even good as an attempt at cheesy
If you're interested in this subject you should watch this interview from the time: Firing Line: Bernadette Devlin ua-cam.com/video/FFUKV5_EwdA/v-deo.html
@@reveredirreverentreverend5306 To not think that everything is not black and white and that there can be good or bad on both sides is asinine, unless you're a troll.
I found Kenneth Branagh to be absolutely remarkable! He is as talented as he is intelligent, kind and sincerely humble. I look forward to watching this movie. Thank you for bringing a beautiful story of your history to life. A common bond, many around the world can empathize. Wishing you continued success. Much love. ❤️
Dear Gazal,. What a beautiful comment you have left, the kind most actors and directors would feel honored to receive, in a spirit of brotherly love, that which we are so lacking in the world now.
Mr. Branagh’s single-word line of dialogue “Home” in Dunkirk has to be one of the most effective one-word lines of dialogue I’ve ever heard. Chokes me up every time. Can’t wait to see this film. Great interview!
I was a high school senior in 1991 and my English Literature teacher set up a viewing of Henry V for us. It was my first exposure to Shakespeare on film and as a 17 year old who normally wouldn't watch that sort of movie, I was blown away and have been a fan of Mr.Branagh ever since.
As someone from and living in Northern Ireland who watches this show religiously, this was a moving interview. Our politics is still fucked but there are so many of us who don’t choose a side and also feel embittered as well as those on one side or the other who have felt pain and suffering and have every right to be. A great man once said ‘A good person does good things; a bad person does bad things. For a good person to do bad things, it takes a religion’
I've heard it said that the 'downfall of modern civilizations will be from conflicts arising from political and religious dogmas. Both have permeated recorded human history and still manifest as exclusive agendas that seek power/control over the many. History seems to strongly indicate these agendas lack the inclusive component of human compassion. "What is past is prologue" ???
Great interview. Belfast is a brilliant movie. I loved every minute of it. The acting from every character was superb. . The story from the eyes of a 9 year old boy whose world was turned upside down has to touch your heart. Bravo Sir Ken. 👏👏👏
Kenneth is a diamond.....I grew up in a London suburb....my dad worked for Guinness 44 years, stereotypical working class English. Had many Irish mates my whole life.....the problem was always the bible......
Branagh is one of the greatest actors out there that nobody knows about, everyone should watch Conspiracy (2002) one of his best movies, he’s also in Dunkirk, and Tenet
He's a jerk. I don't like how he did Emma Thompson. And look at how bad he fucked up Frankenstein in 94! How do you fuck up Frankenstein? He had fuckin Deniro!
@@mistymeaner1753 I don’t follow what happens in their personal lives unless the news is huge. I should have said I love him as an actor so people like you don’t jump down my throat for not knowing about his divorce.
One of my favorite british actors, mr. Brannagh. Brilliant actor, director, producer, narrator…I even remember so much more about ww2 and cold war post ww2 history because of his narration of documentaries…respect, really.
If you ever care to dabble in Shakespeare, I highly suggest Kenneth's version of Much Ado About Nothing. The cast he gathered will surprise you. Well acted and seems to be true to the original work with a couple of notable exceptions.
Except the fact that Bill Maher is a big time tribalist who believes Jews have right to set up a colonialist settler state in the Middle East and that the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is totally fine cause muh..."Evil Arab terrorists, Evil Muslims".
He really fucked up Frankenstein in 94. How do you fuck up Frankenstein? It was a real bomb, and he had fuckin Deniro! AND... I don't like how he did Helena Bonham Carter.
Back in the 80's My family and I were involved in a thing called "The Ulster Project" where kids from BOTH Sides Catholic and Protestant were brought over here to get away from the violence and see HOW people of different beliefs live and love and thrive together! When those kids got off the plane, they were VERY CLEARLY divided into two camps! When they went home, they were well mixed and understood each other more. SOME even fell in love and got married! So I think it did some good, as Kenneth is trying to do now. Well Done Sir. You should be commended for this! :) Slante!
This might be the best Bill Maher interview I've ever watched. Mesmerizing and eloquent discussion, but more importantly, Bill shut up and let his guest talk, and he and the audience alike learned something in the process. Belfast is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt films I've watched in some time, and this interview is a lovely companion to it.
man, last week, I came back from the most unique Belfast tour ever, where I rode in the a Black cabs and got the stories from teams of cab drivers who were from the Loyalist side and another from the Nationalist side, and lived through the Troubles times. It was amazing by mortifying. I have to get this movie, and '71 and at least Place Called Ardoyne. I just finished Bloody Sunday today. Wow!
As much of a student of The Troubles as I have tried to be, I wish Mr. Branagh would produce/direct more content related to it and perhaps of past events going back perhaps to The Nine Years War and the Flight of the Earls.
I saw the movie last Sunday and I enjoyed it. Having Kenneth Branagh talking about his upbringing made me understand the movie more. A real talented director who directed memorable movies such "Henry V" and "Thor" and now "Belfast".
This! Coulda been the entire hour. Conjures memories thoughts in my own brain. We should talk. Get it out there. But no. Just no. Never. No. Because healing? Maybe. No. No no no no. Beautiful film. Tragic yes, painful, yes, and healing, thought provoking, yes.
I often hear about nuns being mean. I guess I was fortunate. We were a little intimated by mother superior but I think that was because we knew she was in charge. I am grateful for my Catholic upbringing and my Catholic parents. It was the values they taught me and the example they set.
I saw Belfast with my Catholic parents, who met as students in Dublin in the 80s. We loved it, especially my Irish father, because it perfectly illustrated the nature of the Troubles - small vicious minorities made everyone else’s lives miserable. From my father’s perspective, the Catholic militants blamed everything that was wrong in their lives on the UK government, the partition and the Protestants, and the Protestant militants did the same to the Catholics and the IRA. The bitterness was still going strong when my mother’s family went to Dublin for a time. My uncle was bullied for being English, and I think my mother was treated ‘differently’ by the teachers as well. The resentment was a large part of the reason my father came to the UK after graduating. He got sick of being told the reason he couldn’t have a decent career was because the English were keeping everyone down. That certainly wasn’t the whole truth; for a start there was some outright corruption in 20th century Irish politics purely motivated by greed. It’s a brilliant move to show the story from the eyes of a kid - the children who grew up with the conflict struggled to make sense of it, just as those watching the film probably struggle now.
I was born to Irish parents in London in 1980, when they moved back to Ireland in 84 I was called an English prick through to 1998 nearly because of where I was born. Even though I'm Irish. It eventually stopped but well after it had a serious effect on my childhood, and I started to box at ten plainly because I was tired of the harassment off kids that knew me. I still think it does effect me as every now and then my temper would come out if I feel singled out. I know the hatred that's there and trust me when I say a friend of mine that was gay as Christmas didn't have nearly as bad a time after he came out in nintees Ireland as I had in the eighties for being born in England. Its why I always tell my kids never leave anyone out if you think they might not have many friends. The troubles were vicious alright and hate begets hate.
I saw this film and loved it. Branagh is an inspired actor and producer. I remember hearing and reading about the "troubles" when I was a kid, so much trauma for so many people.
My childhood neighbors grew up in Belfast in the 60s and told me crazy stories from their childhood. When the British soliders used to barge into their home and do a head count and check to see if they were hiding any insurgents
Wow, that is crazy. And here is the craziest thing about the British and Irish beef to the rest of us. It's just like the Russians and Ukranians. Nobody can tell them apart until they hear them speak or they identify themselves because in appearance they look so alike.
BLOODY SUNDAY a day my grandparents remember. A story I've been told about, read about, and watched etc my whole life. If most Irish Americans actually read about our history (Irish people might respect them more) and they would find out it's full of oppression, violence, etc. From Ireland to here. And if people in America in general knew history the racial divide wouldn't be so easy to stoke. Because the reality of discrimination and oppression is one throughout all history towards all people's. Both sets of my grandparents are Irish. I'm very proud what they went through, perceivered through, and built for me here. My dad's side are Irish Catholic and my mom Protestant. Shows that love prevails.
Mr. Branagh is the best actor and director all over the world not only movies but also in theatre....Nice, clever and very charming man. Best wishes to him from Serbia.
Belfast should be on the American school curriculum. It's a dramatisation that only touches the surface of Northern Ireland's complicated history but it gives a good human voice to the story. Bill's not wrong, outside of higher academia the vast majority of American's grasp of history is very poor, it's not much better here in the UK unfortunately.
It is really sad when parents raise their children to be racist. They don't do it deliberately but infuse many of their biases onto their kids unknowingly. I have seen it, witnessed it and first-hand involved in it in my life. I commend Kenneth and Bill for having parents that "teach" their children properly. My parents as well. Wish there were more of them.
it wasn't like that everywhere. I knew catholics who were fiercely unionists and pro british. it may be a belfast thing. it wasn't catholic vs protestant in many places.
I am so interested in Kenneth Brannagh and his movie, Belfast. Unfortunately, I live in a 'Hooterville-esque' town in Nebraska. Our single (sometimes open) theater will not be showing it. I will have to drive at least 80 miles to see it. This short (but excellent) interview with Mr. Brannagh brought all these issues to mind and I'm looking forward to making a road trip to see the movie or, hopefully it will be available for streaming. I'd definitely go pay-per-view in order to watch it in peace. RANT ALERT: I was raised catholic & was felt so validated when Bill Maher expressed the same views I still hold after having been raised catholic in The 1960's. Even having not been a participating catholic since the age of about 11, I still hold a lot of resentment about how the religion, still can impact my feelings over 50 years later. Fear and guilt makes a lousy basis for a religion.. If ever asked my 'faith', I no longer answer completely honestly. If I did, it would be to say that, even though currently (and ALWAYS for that matter) I never bought what I was being told to believe. I'm definitely a 'recovering catholic' due to the effects it still has on my obrain, Even as a little kid, I wasn't that gullible. I learned to fake it because of the repercussions, which were very real in my environment. I remember thinking, 'okay, they lied about Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy but even THIS is way too bizarre. I wasn't even 10. Despite that, I am disgusted that I let them convince me that I was a bad and felt a great deal of shame about being a (otherwise) normal little girl. I have had issues my whole life with self-worth, trust and horrible feelings of guilt and shame for the 'sin' of simply being alive. Yeah, I know in the logical part of my brain that it's crap but, darn. They sure did a number on a lot of people for the sake of making us 'good catholics.' Where I live, it's NOT safe to say that I am an atheist, I didn't vote for agent orange or that I am not a rabid pro-lifer. Where is freedom of speech at this point? When I moved here, over 20 years ago, it either wasn't this bad or they didn't harass those who didn't walk in goose-step with the neo-con line. It was always a backward area (the 'n-word' is in common use) but has gotten progressively worse in the time I've lived here. I can't afford to move and there is very little crime but I absolutely do not have a right to discuss my opinion. I know I can't be the only one (who doesn't watch Fox news 24/7) here. Maybe they learned by example to lie in order to not be a social outcast. It's not the best feeling in the world dealing with close-minded people with whom I can't start a calm exchange of ideas. I really miss those days. Before about 2012 it was still possible to have a social life, as far as it goes in a small town. Now I don't even really talk to locals. Worse yet, or perhaps better, I do not miss it. I would love for someone to come here to actually see this as I wouldn't have believed that this kind of idiocy still exists. 2022 huh? Sad but true. I am not comparing this little piece of BFE is nothing like what I will see in the movie. Maybe I want to see it so much is the same reason I would watch Spriger...no matter how fucked up my life felt, watching THAT made me feel Asia I had no real issues and that my mental health was actually better than lots of others.
I have loved KEnneth Brannagh since his early Shakespeare movies with ex-wife Emma Thompson which he starred in and directed. But the first movie I saw him in was Peters Friends a Big Chill-esq type of film with a great cast. Brannagh is an excellent actor/director in both comedy and drama. He's very intelligent and talented. Check out How to Kill your Neighbor's Dog if you get the chance.
If you want another cracking film from the eye of kids back in the troubles. There's a wee film called "mickybo and me". Looking back in time through these films and seeing the amount of change today is quite remarkable. My girlfriend and I are from opposite sides of the wall (her house actually faces the peace wall from "the falls" side, although my mums from west Belfast as well). Still remember the bomb scares outside of school, always an excuse for a day off
Should be noted that the Protestants were colonists from Scotland and England. And it wasn't so much a religious problem, the 30 years of violent resistance was all to remove British rule from the island and also to gain civil rights. Some of the greatest figures in the history of Irish independence were Protestants.
The Protestant involvement in the quest for independence (Wolfe Tone, Parnell to name just two) is often overlooked. However, in 1969 the conflict was sectarian. I wonder how diehard loyaists feel about the role of their co-reigionists is fighting for independence.
Bill struggled there with the definitions... NI is not part of England. England is one of the four nations of the United Kingdom. The UK is made up of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) plus Northern Ireland (which is not in GB but is in UK). It says it right at the top of their passports if you get confused. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The four nations are not provinces. Northern Ireland is sometimes referred to as a province because Ulster (which comprises the six counties of NI plus three counties of the South) is one of the four ancient provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught) which all had kings back when Ireland was ruled by Irish kings and chieftains). Folks always conflate England with UK. England is one of the four nations of the UK. Finally, the protestants in NI got to be there by way of a settlement program (confiscation & colonization) in 16th and 17th century known as the Plantation of Ireland where mostly Presbyterians from Scotland were given lands confiscated from the Irish in Ulster, while in other parts of Ireland it was different stripes of English protestants (Anglican) who were settled on confiscated land as part of that colonization project. A complex place with a complex history. Good movie.
That's right. Its full proper title is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Many people equate "United Kingdom" and/or "Britain" with "England". Not the whole picture at all. Cheers from a penal colony. 🇦🇺
@@ComaDave Bill always seems to have a bit of hard time with this complicated conglomeration of sovereign nations, as do many Americans. IE his reference to Branagh's "British accent" when clearly it is an English accent rather than his native Belfast, which makes sense as that is where he was educated and raised.
7:01 Yeah, the Irish moved to England. Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, London. In their hundreds of thousands. Way more than to Boston or New York. In an ideal world, it would have been an economic opportunity, like a British Isles EU or NAFTA, a chance to take root elsewhere, but events take over. England went protestant in the 1500s, and Ireland was seen like a potential advance position for invasion of Britain by European powers. The best thing that's happened in the last 500 years for Ireland and Britain is Irish independence - we can respect our differences but enjoy our similarities, connections and shared heritage now
In 1918 ,after Britain reneged upon the Irish Home Rule bill ( the first step to Irish independence ,and the reason why so many Irishmen fought in WW1 ) , 82% of Ireland , 1.2 of 1.5 million people ,31 of 32 Irish county's ,voted to leave the U.K. To be democratic ,you have to accept every vote that prevails.
Regularly, this is the kind of movie Bill Maher says people don't watch/fall asleep during, so it's nice to see he only talks s**t behind people's backs.
As the late Christopher Hitchens quipped (jokingly) on being stopped at a checkpoint in Belfast and being asked his religious affiliation, he said "atheist", to which the guard followed up with, "Yeah but are you a Protestant atheist, or a Catholic atheist?"
I may have seen Kenneth Branagh in one or two things but not very familiar with him. After watching this, I'm thinking that he is one of the most interesting well-spoken and strangely calming people I've ever seen on the show or anywhere. I could have listened to him for two hours.
everything Shakespeare he touches is golden but if you need some extended time just enjoying his voice Branagh’s Hamlet is superbly sublime, I saw it 4 times in a tiny theater in the 90’s as a college student and it is nearly 4hrs long 😮, loved every second 💜
I wish this movie had gotten more attention. I'm surprised how many people are unaware of the original situation or that the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are still separated by political and religious nonsense. Someone just a few weeks ago went through an entire comments sections on a story about Liam Neeson screaming in all caps that he wasn't Irish because he's from Northern Ireland.
I really enjoyed you showcasing Kenneth Branagh's work. It brought back mrmories of a time when movies and the art of acting brought me hope, the wonderful Emma Thompson was with Kenneth, i loved their acting and movies with their names attached filled me with excitement and hope to go to the theater. Well as you know it all went to sheet. And I never go to the movie theater anymore I watch thibg on my PHONE. BUT THIS WAS WONDERFUL!!!! Please host the wonderful Emma too sometime. One of my favorite movies with the two of the was of a Shakespeare play.
If only Bill had experienced an authentic, grace-filled, kind, loving expression of Christianity rather than the “mean” one that he says “embittered” him, we might be having different conversations. Alas.
My parents weren't very consistent during my childhood. Mom preached civil rights values while the n-word was used from time to time, albeit, never about any person of color. In my home, it was never used, except by the artists of the music I enjoyed. My millennial son, in particular, is very aware of how inequality comes in every flavor and that tribalism is the bane of a progressive society. He is also aware of how curtailing free speech (including propaganda and hate speech) is a slippery slope. I sincerely hope his generation makes better strides in squashing institutions like organized religion and extremist political parties so that "us and them" bullshit becomes obsolete in the near future. Why are we still doing that to ourselves? We don't poop where we eat, so why do we bring hate into human relations?
Scotland a Province? Afraid not! It is a SOVEREIGN nation that is currently linked in to UK via the ‘Act of Union’ of 1707, which disassembled the Scottish Parliament and gave the self-serving scottish Nobles and aristocracy a voice in the English Parliament. Think of the words of the Robert Burns poem-‘Such a Parcel of Rogues’, and yes I’ve anglicised it for your understanding! Current situation is that there is a groundswell within Scotland seeking independence from England’s Parliament and the reconstitution of a FULL Parliament here in Scotland. A Major part of Ireland’s problems were instituted by the transplantation of protestant settlers into the north of the country. In this England had the connivance of Scottish protestants more than wiling to make the move across to Ireland.
I grew up catholic and I live amongst protestants. There certainly are differences, and the older I get, the more I notice them. However, I would never seek contact with catholic or avoid contact with protestant people. Religion is a private affair here In Switzerland. We don't carry around our Religion, we just live it, almost subconsciously. The way Americans handle religion is almost offensive to us. No Swiss would mention Jesus, or prayer in a UA-cam comment. Maybe that's why there's less conflict? God bless you all ;-)
@@nathwest3821 As a tri-national-UK-Swiss-American passport holder- I can confirm that Switzerland is a very religious country. BIt is not that subtle either. Bells chime from the church spires every hour, Sunday is a holy day no matter your faith. The shops are shut on Sunday -for the most part-and,you cannot mow the lawn on the 'day of rest'. The flag is a giant cross.
The difference in Ireland is ethnic. All the protestants in Ireland are descended from people planted in Ireland in the 17th Century by the British. These people received land confiscated from the native Irish and had political privledge which the Catholic Irish did not .
The only misleading thing about this is that it makes it sound like the conflict is religious, instead of about foriegn occupation. The 'Catholics' are the Irish, & the 'Protestants' are the descendants are UK invaders, & the conflict is whether Ireland should be self governed or part should be under UK. Not that the current generation should be blamed for the past, & all should get along, but foreign governance is no different to Russian control of Ukraine.
As sympathetic to your argument as I could be, really the point of his movie is that before the troubles, very few of the Protestants living in Belfast could or should have been thought of as wannabe Oliver Cromwells or some invading army. Before the troubles most were just normal dumb people trying to live their lives like everyone else The comparison to the Ukraine isn’t exact .. and at this point given the momentum of globalism it hardly seems worth rehashing all that. It’s 2022 .. 30 years into the EU, does it really make sense anymore to put a stake in the ground and proclaim “we were here first, dammit!”?? Aren’t there bigger fish to fry?
@@kevinmiller2036 I agree it's not a burning issue, being under modern British rule is not any worse than self government in most democratic nations. It's more that the troubles were a just a few moments in history. Ireland has resisted foriegn rule for almost a millennia & while that wound is held open it will pose a barrier to the friendship between Ireland & the UK that most so strongly desire. The comparison to Ukraine might be a bit provocative but it is that having an ethnic presence in a nation doesn't make it legitimate to control part of it.
Oh gosh, wasn't it good?! Grim, sad, depressing, tragic, but also interesting, and so very well written! A great book. If you ever come across it, there is a documentary film called I, Dolours, and it's about Dolours Price. Very good.
Can’t wait to see the movie. And can’t relate to bad experiences being raised Catholic. Went to Jesuit schools and appreciate my faith still to this day. I pretty much agree with Bill on every other issue though.
Great movie! Mr. Branagh deserves awards for telling this fascinating (true) story that he witnessed through the eyes as a child. Bravo 👏🏻💯
If you like it, try the wonderful “Derry Girls;” it’s a must see series.
If you're interested in this subject you should watch this interview from the time:
Firing Line: Bernadette Devlin
ua-cam.com/video/FFUKV5_EwdA/v-deo.html
I just want to say that this is one of the best interviews/history lessons on this show. Well done!
What a pair! I could watch them discussing Tribalism for hours on end . . .
Eh I’m annoyed that Bill keeps talking until 1:47
Hey let's make a movie about the 'nice' white family in Alabama during slavery. There surely had to be one, yeah ?? The movie is offensive and not even good as an attempt at cheesy
If you're interested in this subject you should watch this interview from the time:
Firing Line: Bernadette Devlin
ua-cam.com/video/FFUKV5_EwdA/v-deo.html
@@reveredirreverentreverend5306 To not think that everything is not black and white and that there can be good or bad on both sides is asinine, unless you're a troll.
I found Kenneth Branagh to be absolutely remarkable! He is as talented as he is intelligent, kind and sincerely humble. I look forward to watching this movie. Thank you for bringing a beautiful story of your history to life. A common bond, many around the world can empathize. Wishing you continued success. Much love. ❤️
Dear Gazal,. What a beautiful comment you have left, the kind most actors and directors would feel honored to receive, in a spirit of brotherly love, that which we are so lacking in the world now.
@@jeankroeber2481 thank you so much for you kind words!
Dear Gazal, and thanks for your continuing kindness... with which I'd like to encircle the world...and especially now in Ukraine. Best wishes, Jean
Yes. Now I definitely want to see it. Raised Irish Catholic but now non denominational.
So true! Unfortunately I still see the haughty Gilderoy Lockhart and the gallant war hero Henry V
Mr. Branagh’s single-word line of dialogue “Home” in Dunkirk has to be one of the most effective one-word lines of dialogue I’ve ever heard. Chokes me up every time.
Can’t wait to see this film. Great interview!
The older Dunkirk movie with Mills and Attenborough is much better.
I was a high school senior in 1991 and my English Literature teacher set up a viewing of Henry V for us. It was my first exposure to Shakespeare on film and as a 17 year old who normally wouldn't watch that sort of movie, I was blown away and have been a fan of Mr.Branagh ever since.
Everyone usually praises the Olivier version (and don't get me wrong, it's amazing), but Branagh's version took it to another level!
What an absolutely awesome interview. He is so articulate. The way he summarised "the troubles" would put many historians to shame.
As someone from and living in Northern Ireland who watches this show religiously, this was a moving interview. Our politics is still fucked but there are so many of us who don’t choose a side and also feel embittered as well as those on one side or the other who have felt pain and suffering and have every right to be. A great man once said ‘A good person does good things; a bad person does bad things. For a good person to do bad things, it takes a religion’
the middle always suffers from the loony tunes on either end of the spectrum.
U2's music sucks
I've heard it said that the 'downfall of modern civilizations will be from conflicts arising from political and religious dogmas. Both have permeated recorded human history and still manifest as exclusive agendas that seek power/control over the many. History seems to strongly indicate these agendas lack the inclusive component of human compassion. "What is past is prologue" ???
@@NemohHoes Right on topic!?
Whoever said that, they were dead right.
Love you Branagh! I adore Belfast so much!
I’m from Wales but lived Carick during this period thru the early 80’s. So much carnage across the country
Great interview. Belfast is a brilliant movie. I loved every minute of it. The acting from every character was superb. . The story from the eyes of a 9 year old boy whose world was turned upside down has to touch your heart. Bravo Sir Ken. 👏👏👏
Kenneth is a diamond.....I grew up in a London suburb....my dad worked for Guinness 44 years, stereotypical working class English. Had many Irish mates my whole life.....the problem was always the bible......
Branagh is one of the greatest actors out there that nobody knows about, everyone should watch Conspiracy (2002) one of his best movies, he’s also in Dunkirk, and Tenet
I love his Shakespeare productions. Been a fan for years.
He is
I also love his version of HENRY V
@@SunnySkies247 I first learned of Kenneth through Professor Lockhart and have been a fan ever since.
Two weeks ago I watched Conspiracy, and one week ago I visited the Conference House where it took place. Absolutely life changing. Fantastic film.
Man, Kenneth Branagh has been entertaining me mightily at the movies for over 30 years now.
Brilliant conversation. I love Kenneth Branagh.
He's a jerk.
I don't like how he did Emma Thompson.
And look at how bad he fucked up Frankenstein in 94!
How do you fuck up Frankenstein?
He had fuckin Deniro!
To be.... Or not... To be...
@@mistymeaner1753 I don’t follow celebrity gossip, so I have no idea about it. practically all actors, writers, directors have duds.
@@batgurrl it's hardly "gossip."
There were legal divorce filings.
Lol
How do you "love" a guy, and not know anything about him?
@@mistymeaner1753 I don’t follow what happens in their personal lives unless the news is huge. I should have said I love him as an actor so people like you don’t jump down my throat for not knowing about his divorce.
What a true gentleman Mr Branagh is... And what a talent...
One of my favorite british actors, mr. Brannagh. Brilliant actor, director, producer, narrator…I even remember so much more about ww2 and cold war post ww2 history because of his narration of documentaries…respect, really.
Fascinating interview. I don't go out to many movies, but am drawn to this one. Looking forward to seeing it.
If you ever care to dabble in Shakespeare, I highly suggest Kenneth's version of Much Ado About Nothing. The cast he gathered will surprise you. Well acted and seems to be true to the original work with a couple of notable exceptions.
"I'm not in either tribe. I think for myself.
I'm not going to join with you because you hate 'them for reasons I do not."
Words to live by.
This applies to today's current situation. I am being told to hate a group of people.
Except the fact that Bill Maher is a big time tribalist who believes Jews have right to set up a colonialist settler state in the Middle East and that the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is totally fine cause muh..."Evil Arab terrorists, Evil Muslims".
Kenneth Branagh one of the great film makers of our time.
It’s so refreshing to listen to intelligent people!
This movie has won a BAFTA award for best British film. Well deserved as Belfast is a fantastic film. Well done, Kenneth.
Always been a multifaceted talent be it acting or directing. I really hope he wins Best Director, Best Original.Screenplay or both.
He really fucked up Frankenstein in 94.
How do you fuck up Frankenstein?
It was a real bomb, and he had fuckin Deniro!
AND...
I don't like how he did Helena Bonham Carter.
Back in the 80's My family and I were involved in a thing called "The Ulster Project" where kids from BOTH Sides Catholic and Protestant were brought over here to
get away from the violence and see HOW people of different beliefs live and love and thrive together!
When those kids got off the plane, they were VERY CLEARLY divided into two camps!
When they went home, they were well mixed and understood each other more. SOME even fell in love and got married!
So I think it did some good, as Kenneth is trying to do now. Well Done Sir. You should be commended for this! :)
Slante!
And now ironically, it is more likely that Americans will need to go to Ireland to have the two tribes get along
I was also slightky involved with that project, I brought those kids over on flights in to JFK in the early 2000s.
There’s a documentary about that called “How to defuse a bomb”. Liam Neeson narrates it.
This might be the best Bill Maher interview I've ever watched. Mesmerizing and eloquent discussion, but more importantly, Bill shut up and let his guest talk, and he and the audience alike learned something in the process. Belfast is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt films I've watched in some time, and this interview is a lovely companion to it.
man, last week, I came back from the most unique Belfast tour ever, where I rode in the a Black cabs and got the stories from teams of cab drivers who were from the Loyalist side and another from the Nationalist side, and lived through the Troubles times. It was amazing by mortifying. I have to get this movie, and '71 and at least Place Called Ardoyne. I just finished Bloody Sunday today. Wow!
That interview threatened to go off the rails in the best anarchic way at the end. 🤣
As much of a student of The Troubles as I have tried to be, I wish Mr. Branagh would produce/direct more content related to it and perhaps of past events going back perhaps to The Nine Years War and the Flight of the Earls.
I saw the movie last Sunday and I enjoyed it. Having Kenneth Branagh talking about his upbringing made me understand the movie more. A real talented director who directed memorable movies such "Henry V" and "Thor" and now "Belfast".
Also try "Wallander"
Five-time recipient of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award **and** an intelligent speaker. This guy has it all!
They make it so easy! Thx to this fabulous history teachers
This! Coulda been the entire hour. Conjures memories thoughts in my own brain. We should talk. Get it out there. But no. Just no. Never. No. Because healing? Maybe. No. No no no no.
Beautiful film. Tragic yes, painful, yes, and healing, thought provoking, yes.
I love. Love, love this fine actor. Looking forward to watching BELFAST.
I'm Irish (from the south) and I even learned a couple of things here. Excellent interview.
We love Kenneth !
I've been wanting to see Belfast for a while now, needs to be on more platforms.
Branagh has made many great movies and an extremely talented man.
Really good interview and well done Branagh on both the film and your insight into our shared history
Can't wait to see it. I love it. Makes me think of Elton's song, " Belfast". So beautiful!
The Police Invisible Sun
"Is that why you speak British?" Great take on the author, Bill. Just brilliant.
These two really have great chemistry! Would love to listen to the two of them talking about religion more. Never thought I‘d ever say that^^
This is a great little interview. Very interesting.
Kenneth Branagh is a treasure.
Fantastic film. Funny and sad. Deserves the nominations.
He explains that the UK is far more than just England, then immediately gets it wrong.
Community and commonality are always taken for granted, and only when they are vandalised do we understand how precious they are.
I often hear about nuns being mean. I guess I was fortunate. We were a little intimated by mother superior but I think that was because we knew she was in charge. I am grateful for my Catholic upbringing and my Catholic parents. It was the values they taught me and the example they set.
I saw Belfast with my Catholic parents, who met as students in Dublin in the 80s. We loved it, especially my Irish father, because it perfectly illustrated the nature of the Troubles - small vicious minorities made everyone else’s lives miserable.
From my father’s perspective, the Catholic militants blamed everything that was wrong in their lives on the UK government, the partition and the Protestants, and the Protestant militants did the same to the Catholics and the IRA.
The bitterness was still going strong when my mother’s family went to Dublin for a time. My uncle was bullied for being English, and I think my mother was treated ‘differently’ by the teachers as well.
The resentment was a large part of the reason my father came to the UK after graduating. He got sick of being told the reason he couldn’t have a decent career was because the English were keeping everyone down. That certainly wasn’t the whole truth; for a start there was some outright corruption in 20th century Irish politics purely motivated by greed.
It’s a brilliant move to show the story from the eyes of a kid - the children who grew up with the conflict struggled to make sense of it, just as those watching the film probably struggle now.
I was born to Irish parents in London in 1980, when they moved back to Ireland in 84 I was called an English prick through to 1998 nearly because of where I was born. Even though I'm Irish. It eventually stopped but well after it had a serious effect on my childhood, and I started to box at ten plainly because I was tired of the harassment off kids that knew me. I still think it does effect me as every now and then my temper would come out if I feel singled out. I know the hatred that's there and trust me when I say a friend of mine that was gay as Christmas didn't have nearly as bad a time after he came out in nintees Ireland as I had in the eighties for being born in England. Its why I always tell my kids never leave anyone out if you think they might not have many friends. The troubles were vicious alright and hate begets hate.
Sir, your comments are too long. Majority of people won't even begin to read it. I am one of those people. I have no idea what you're talking about
@@NemohHoes What you can't read? I read and understood everything he said.
@@DeAngryDan op
@@lizhannan6709 I wouldn’t bother. He’s a try hard who’s spamming the comments looking to annoy people. Not very good at it either.
I saw this film and loved it. Branagh is an inspired actor and producer. I remember hearing and reading about the "troubles" when I was a kid, so much trauma for so many people.
My childhood neighbors grew up in Belfast in the 60s and told me crazy stories from their childhood. When the British soliders used to barge into their home and do a head count and check to see if they were hiding any insurgents
Wow, that is crazy. And here is the craziest thing about the British and Irish beef to the rest of us. It's just like the Russians and Ukranians.
Nobody can tell them apart until they hear them speak or they identify themselves because in appearance they look so alike.
Dan the reality is when you peel back all those layers, we are all the same.
@@danwelterweight4137 Is that not true of most warring factions in history? Hardly unusual.
@@danwelterweight4137 Narcissism of small differences
My childhood was full of such memories. I have never had troops barge into my home but British army checkpoints and bomb scares were a regular thing.
BLOODY SUNDAY a day my grandparents remember. A story I've been told about, read about, and watched etc my whole life. If most Irish Americans actually read about our history (Irish people might respect them more) and they would find out it's full of oppression, violence, etc. From Ireland to here. And if people in America in general knew history the racial divide wouldn't be so easy to stoke. Because the reality of discrimination and oppression is one throughout all history towards all people's. Both sets of my grandparents are Irish. I'm very proud what they went through, perceivered through, and built for me here. My dad's side are Irish Catholic and my mom Protestant. Shows that love prevails.
Oppression, violence, Irish colonialism (Scotland), Banishing innocent raped woman to Magdalene Laundries, Blowing up hospitals.....
Such pride.
Mr. Branagh is the best actor and director all over the world not only movies but also in theatre....Nice, clever and very charming man. Best wishes to him from Serbia.
Whenever we Humans finally stand up and tell the truth about our bigotry, we must applaud and share! Thank you Kenneth and Bill
Dissatisfaction he calls blatant serious discrimination for 50 years against the Catholic native Irish in northern Ireland
Dissatisfaction is a masterpiece of understatement.
Belfast should be on the American school curriculum. It's a dramatisation that only touches the surface of Northern Ireland's complicated history but it gives a good human voice to the story. Bill's not wrong, outside of higher academia the vast majority of American's grasp of history is very poor, it's not much better here in the UK unfortunately.
I was surprised at Maher calling the other nations of the UK "provinces" and equating England with the UK.
It is really sad when parents raise their children to be racist. They don't do it deliberately but infuse many of their biases onto their kids unknowingly. I have seen it, witnessed it and first-hand involved in it in my life. I commend Kenneth and Bill for having parents that "teach" their children properly. My parents as well. Wish there were more of them.
it wasn't like that everywhere. I knew catholics who were fiercely unionists and pro british. it may be a belfast thing. it wasn't catholic vs protestant in many places.
I am so interested in Kenneth Brannagh and his movie, Belfast. Unfortunately, I live in a 'Hooterville-esque' town in Nebraska. Our single (sometimes open) theater will not be showing it. I will have to drive at least 80 miles to see it. This short (but excellent) interview with Mr. Brannagh brought all these issues to mind and I'm looking forward to making a road trip to see the movie or, hopefully it will be available for streaming. I'd definitely go pay-per-view in order to watch it in peace.
RANT ALERT: I was raised catholic & was felt so validated when Bill Maher expressed the same views I still hold after having been raised catholic in The 1960's. Even having not been a participating catholic since the age of about 11, I still hold a lot of resentment about how the religion, still can impact my feelings over 50 years later. Fear and guilt makes a lousy basis for a religion.. If ever asked my 'faith', I no longer answer completely honestly. If I did, it would be to say that, even though currently (and ALWAYS for that matter) I never bought what I was being told to believe. I'm definitely a 'recovering catholic' due to the effects it still has on my obrain, Even as a little kid, I wasn't that gullible. I learned to fake it because of the repercussions, which were very real in my environment. I remember thinking, 'okay, they lied about Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy but even THIS is way too bizarre. I wasn't even 10. Despite that, I am disgusted that I let them convince me that I was a bad and felt a great deal of shame about being a (otherwise) normal little girl. I have had issues my whole life with self-worth, trust and horrible feelings of guilt and shame for the 'sin' of simply being alive. Yeah, I know in the logical part of my brain that it's crap but, darn. They sure did a number on a lot of people for the sake of making us 'good catholics.' Where I live, it's NOT safe to say that I am an atheist, I didn't vote for agent orange or that I am not a rabid pro-lifer. Where is freedom of speech at this point? When I moved here, over 20 years ago, it either wasn't this bad or they didn't harass those who didn't walk in goose-step with the neo-con line. It was always a backward area (the 'n-word' is in common use) but has gotten progressively worse in the time I've lived here. I can't afford to move and there is very little crime but I absolutely do not have a right to discuss my opinion. I know I can't be the only one (who doesn't watch Fox news 24/7) here. Maybe they learned by example to lie in order to not be a social outcast. It's not the best feeling in the world dealing with close-minded people with whom I can't start a calm exchange of ideas. I really miss those days. Before about 2012 it was still possible to have a social life, as far as it goes in a small town. Now I don't even really talk to locals. Worse yet, or perhaps better, I do not miss it. I would love for someone to come here to actually see this as I wouldn't have believed that this kind of idiocy still exists. 2022 huh? Sad but true. I am not comparing this little piece of BFE is nothing like what I will see in the movie. Maybe I want to see it so much is the same reason I would watch Spriger...no matter how fucked up my life felt, watching THAT made me feel Asia I had no real issues and that my mental health was actually better than lots of others.
What a great interview, one of the best I’ve seen. Fabulous
Look up the show Derry Girls. Even being American, you get a lot of the jokes.
I love that show. Can't wait for season 3.
Great book 📖 So glad he is being interviewed 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Please have him on more often 🙏👌🌻
I have loved KEnneth Brannagh since his early Shakespeare movies with ex-wife Emma Thompson which he starred in and directed. But the first movie I saw him in was Peters Friends a Big Chill-esq type of film with a great cast. Brannagh is an excellent actor/director in both comedy and drama. He's very intelligent and talented. Check out How to Kill your Neighbor's Dog if you get the chance.
If you want another cracking film from the eye of kids back in the troubles. There's a wee film called "mickybo and me". Looking back in time through these films and seeing the amount of change today is quite remarkable. My girlfriend and I are from opposite sides of the wall (her house actually faces the peace wall from "the falls" side, although my mums from west Belfast as well). Still remember the bomb scares outside of school, always an excuse for a day off
Wasn’t gonna watch the movie but gonna watch it now. Great interview!
Should be noted that the Protestants were colonists from Scotland and England. And it wasn't so much a religious problem, the 30 years of violent resistance was all to remove British rule from the island and also to gain civil rights. Some of the greatest figures in the history of Irish independence were Protestants.
Correct. It was British colonisers vs Irish natives. Religion is a cover
The Protestant involvement in the quest for independence (Wolfe Tone, Parnell to name just two) is often overlooked. However, in 1969 the conflict was sectarian. I wonder how diehard loyaists feel about the role of their co-reigionists is fighting for independence.
Bill struggled there with the definitions... NI is not part of England. England is one of the four nations of the United Kingdom. The UK is made up of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) plus Northern Ireland (which is not in GB but is in UK). It says it right at the top of their passports if you get confused. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The four nations are not provinces. Northern Ireland is sometimes referred to as a province because Ulster (which comprises the six counties of NI plus three counties of the South) is one of the four ancient provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught) which all had kings back when Ireland was ruled by Irish kings and chieftains). Folks always conflate England with UK. England is one of the four nations of the UK. Finally, the protestants in NI got to be there by way of a settlement program (confiscation & colonization) in 16th and 17th century known as the Plantation of Ireland where mostly Presbyterians from Scotland were given lands confiscated from the Irish in Ulster, while in other parts of Ireland it was different stripes of English protestants (Anglican) who were settled on confiscated land as part of that colonization project. A complex place with a complex history. Good movie.
That's right.
Its full proper title is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Many people equate "United Kingdom" and/or "Britain" with "England".
Not the whole picture at all.
Cheers from a penal colony. 🇦🇺
26+6=1
@@ComaDave Australia will forever be a joke of a country after what they did to Djokovic
@@nathwest3821, umm... Are you sure you didn't mean "what they did to the aboriginal peoples"?
@@ComaDave Bill always seems to have a bit of hard time with this complicated conglomeration of sovereign nations, as do many Americans. IE his reference to Branagh's "British accent" when clearly it is an English accent rather than his native Belfast, which makes sense as that is where he was educated and raised.
"The nuns were married to Christ. And apparently he was not putting out. " Ok that is some funny shit right there!
The Irish story is so important to the American story… subtle as it might seem
7:01 Yeah, the Irish moved to England. Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, London. In their hundreds of thousands. Way more than to Boston or New York. In an ideal world, it would have been an economic opportunity, like a British Isles EU or NAFTA, a chance to take root elsewhere, but events take over. England went protestant in the 1500s, and Ireland was seen like a potential advance position for invasion of Britain by European powers. The best thing that's happened in the last 500 years for Ireland and Britain is Irish independence - we can respect our differences but enjoy our similarities, connections and shared heritage now
In 1918 ,after Britain reneged upon the Irish Home Rule bill ( the first step to Irish independence ,and the reason why so many Irishmen fought in WW1 ) , 82% of Ireland , 1.2 of 1.5 million people ,31 of 32 Irish county's ,voted to leave the U.K.
To be democratic ,you have to accept every vote that prevails.
Every vote for the Ulster Covenant was respected, don't worry ;)
If ya haven’t visited Ireland or Scotland…
One day… do yourself a favor. The land, the people…!
Definitely, give it a thought if ya can
“The nuns were married to christ, and apparently he wasn’t putting out”
okay that line was golden.
At 74, watched KB for a long time. He’s finally outgrown his bad boy phase 😇. Belfast is redemption for him. Welcome and well done 👍
Regularly, this is the kind of movie Bill Maher says people don't watch/fall asleep during, so it's nice to see he only talks s**t behind people's backs.
It's important to teach all history our children are decades behind in education to other competitive countries!
As the late Christopher Hitchens quipped (jokingly) on being stopped at a checkpoint in Belfast and being asked his religious affiliation, he said "atheist", to which the guard followed up with, "Yeah but are you a Protestant atheist, or a Catholic atheist?"
I may have seen Kenneth Branagh in one or two things but not very familiar with him. After watching this, I'm thinking that he is one of the most interesting well-spoken and strangely calming people I've ever seen on the show or anywhere. I could have listened to him for two hours.
everything Shakespeare he touches is golden but if you need some extended time just enjoying his voice Branagh’s Hamlet is superbly sublime, I saw it 4 times in a tiny theater in the 90’s as a college student and it is nearly 4hrs long 😮, loved every second 💜
@@emerraldx thank you!
I wish this movie had gotten more attention. I'm surprised how many people are unaware of the original situation or that the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are still separated by political and religious nonsense. Someone just a few weeks ago went through an entire comments sections on a story about Liam Neeson screaming in all caps that he wasn't Irish because he's from Northern Ireland.
great interview very interesting gentlemen
I really enjoyed you showcasing Kenneth Branagh's work. It brought back mrmories of a time when movies and the art of acting brought me hope, the wonderful Emma Thompson was with Kenneth, i loved their acting and movies with their names attached filled me with excitement and hope to go to the theater. Well as you know it all went to sheet. And I never go to the movie theater anymore I watch thibg on my PHONE.
BUT THIS WAS WONDERFUL!!!! Please host the wonderful Emma too sometime.
One of my favorite movies with the two of the was of a Shakespeare play.
"...important but not special." True for us all.
If only Bill had experienced an authentic, grace-filled, kind, loving expression of Christianity rather than the “mean” one that he says “embittered” him, we might be having different conversations. Alas.
My parents weren't very consistent during my childhood. Mom preached civil rights values while the n-word was used from time to time, albeit, never about any person of color. In my home, it was never used, except by the artists of the music I enjoyed. My millennial son, in particular, is very aware of how inequality comes in every flavor and that tribalism is the bane of a progressive society. He is also aware of how curtailing free speech (including propaganda and hate speech) is a slippery slope. I sincerely hope his generation makes better strides in squashing institutions like organized religion and extremist political parties so that "us and them" bullshit becomes obsolete in the near future. Why are we still doing that to ourselves? We don't poop where we eat, so why do we bring hate into human relations?
2:56 “And then what followed in that awful August of ‘69, the Summer of Love here….” Wrong. The Summer of Love took place in 1967, not 1969
Babies aren't biased , otherism is taught by the parents and later in a child's life even by their peers or their government.
Scotland a Province? Afraid not! It is a SOVEREIGN nation that is currently linked in to UK via the ‘Act of Union’ of 1707, which disassembled the Scottish Parliament and gave the self-serving scottish Nobles and aristocracy a voice in the English Parliament. Think of the words of the Robert Burns poem-‘Such a Parcel of Rogues’, and yes I’ve anglicised it for your understanding! Current situation is that there is a groundswell within Scotland seeking independence from England’s Parliament and the reconstitution of a FULL Parliament here in Scotland. A Major part of Ireland’s problems were instituted by the transplantation of protestant settlers into the north of the country. In this England had the connivance of Scottish protestants more than wiling to make the move across to Ireland.
Love Branagh, love you… tbh this was just the best! And I say that as a Catholic Irishman
Fantastic interview 👏
i never seen this movie and Kenneth Branagh is the best director ever
I grew up catholic and I live amongst protestants. There certainly are differences, and the older I get, the more I notice them. However, I would never seek contact with catholic or avoid contact with protestant people. Religion is a private affair here In Switzerland. We don't carry around our Religion, we just live it, almost subconsciously. The way Americans handle religion is almost offensive to us. No Swiss would mention Jesus, or prayer in a UA-cam comment. Maybe that's why there's less conflict? God bless you all ;-)
I am seventy, live in the US. My parents taught me never to mention religion or politics in public. I don't know what has happened?
George Carlin’s Third Commandment: Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself
what are the differences?
btw Switzeland is a weird country
@@nathwest3821 As a tri-national-UK-Swiss-American passport holder- I can confirm that Switzerland is a very religious country. BIt is not that subtle either. Bells chime from the church spires every hour, Sunday is a holy day no matter your faith. The shops are shut on Sunday -for the most part-and,you cannot mow the lawn on the 'day of rest'. The flag is a giant cross.
The difference in Ireland is ethnic. All the protestants in Ireland are descended from people planted in Ireland in the 17th Century by the British. These people received land confiscated from the native Irish and had political privledge which the Catholic Irish did not .
The only misleading thing about this is that it makes it sound like the conflict is religious, instead of about foriegn occupation. The 'Catholics' are the Irish, & the 'Protestants' are the descendants are UK invaders, & the conflict is whether Ireland should be self governed or part should be under UK.
Not that the current generation should be blamed for the past, & all should get along, but foreign governance is no different to Russian control of Ukraine.
👏👏👏
As sympathetic to your argument as I could be, really the point of his movie is that before the troubles, very few of the Protestants living in Belfast could or should have been thought of as wannabe Oliver Cromwells or some invading army. Before the troubles most were just normal dumb people trying to live their lives like everyone else
The comparison to the Ukraine isn’t exact
.. and at this point given the momentum of globalism it hardly seems worth rehashing all that. It’s 2022 .. 30 years into the EU, does it really make sense anymore to put a stake in the ground and proclaim “we were here first, dammit!”??
Aren’t there bigger fish to fry?
@@kevinmiller2036 I agree it's not a burning issue, being under modern British rule is not any worse than self government in most democratic nations.
It's more that the troubles were a just a few moments in history. Ireland has resisted foriegn rule for almost a millennia & while that wound is held open it will pose a barrier to the friendship between Ireland & the UK that most so strongly desire.
The comparison to Ukraine might be a bit provocative but it is that having an ethnic presence in a nation doesn't make it legitimate to control part of it.
Connected to Amanda's TV
Kenneth Branagh is a Legend
Brilliant.
Wonderful movie have seen it many times.
Great interview.
Northern Ireland is part of Britain, not England, as I am sure many have pointed out.
I read ‘Say Nothing,’ by Patrick Radden Keefe. It tells of this period of time. Excellent book
Oh gosh, wasn't it good?! Grim, sad, depressing, tragic, but also interesting, and so very well written! A great book. If you ever come across it, there is a documentary film called I, Dolours, and it's about Dolours Price. Very good.
@@lesleypatterson466 yeah I’ve seen previews to it, I just haven’t downloaded it. The book was great
Can’t wait to see the movie. And can’t relate to bad experiences being raised Catholic. Went to Jesuit schools and appreciate my faith still to this day. I pretty much agree with Bill on every other issue though.
Bill kept saying Northern Ireland was part of England. It's part of the UK, not England.
When Kenneth talks
Everyone listens.
Thank Kenneth for exspessing in simple terms it’s so important