Other screenings at the Centre for Culture’s Cinema: 12.03, 18:00; 13.03, 19:15

In the summer of 1969, nine-year-old Buddy knows exactly who he is and what kind of community he belongs to. He comes from a working-class background in North Belfast, he is happy, loved and safe. He lives at the heart of a community that sticks together. Buddy spends every free moment in front of the TV or in the cinema, watching American movies.

As the 1960s come to a close, the August days turn the Buddy’s childhood dreams into a nightmare. Social discontent suddenly explodes in the streets. There are riots across the city, and sectarian conflicts fuel the flames. Buddy needs to understand the chaos and hysteria and this new landscape full of hate that he only knew from the cinema screen.

His mum is struggling to cope while his dad works in England trying to earn money to support his family. Innocent life is at stake. Buddy knows what to expect from his heroes – he spent hours watching Westerns – but can his father be the hero he should be? Will his mother sacrifice her past to protect her family’s future? How to keep his beloved grandparents safe? And how can he love the girl of his dreams?

The answers lie in the Buddy’s fascinating, fun, touching, and heartbreaking journey through riots, violence, joy and despair in family relationships and the failure of first love. All this is accompanied by dancing, music and laughter that only the Irish can do when the whole world is turned upside down.