The UnHolylands review: New film about the notorious student area is a hilarious escape packed with local laughs

As part of the Belfast Film Festival earlier this month, I was able to secure a seat at the sold-out screening of the highly anticipated film about the Belfast student area The Holylands.

The UnHolylands follows ‘kings of the Holylands’ Michael and Scott as they throw one last mad one before they graduate out of the notorious student area in South Belfast.

I first chatted to director and writer Paddy Duffy and lead actor Ciaran McCourt back in 2022 just before they headed into production and from the passion and enthusiasm they showed for the independent project back then, I knew they were on to something good.

Read more: Film about The Holylands featuring James Nesbitt gets world premiere

In 2016 at 18 years old, I was drawn into the idea of this new world up in Belfast that started by living in the Holylands - I’d seen the parties on social media, I’d heard the mad stories and read the news articles.

The Holylands was sold as this alternate reality that was the making of student life in Belfast and it’s clear that The UnHolylands wants you to come into the film with this exact mindset.

Imagine Project X but with more Buckfast, Magners cans and a few bucket hats from freshers' events thrown in.

However, as the story progresses, there is real heart in moments between the brothers and the film starts to unpack some of the issues that hundreds of students face when coming to the end of their studies.

But at the end of the day, the film isn't going to change the perspective of students living in the area nor does it aim to.

The film - inspired by Paddy’s own experience of being in the Holylands - is a comedy which highlights the ridiculousness of young people given their first taste of independence and allows us all to look back at our student days and laugh at our childish antics.

While I was definitely not getting up to anything even close to as crazy during my time in the Holylands or condone it, The UnHolylands feels like the lore you were told in school about someone's cousin's big brother's best friend who lived there - far more mad than anything you experience yourself.

And it's that feeling that makes it an absolute laugh from start to finish and will make anyone who had their days in the Holylands nostalgic for something they didn’t even realise they miss - but don’t get me wrong, seeing that signature yellow-cream paint on the walls, dirty kitchens and traffic cone decorations gave me the fear like I couldn’t even imagine.

Ciaran McCourt and Peter Jeffries have seriously bright futures on the screen and it is their dynamic that drives the film forward and grounds it when things go beyond silly.

It's a film that doesn't take itself too seriously and was an absolute tonic for a hectic day in the office before watching.

It is clear from the get-go that the team behind The UnHolylands wanted the project to radiate fun and joy and you can feel it through the screen - it is an escape that lets you relive your glory days without having to worry about getting your car parked on Uni Ave.

Jam-packed with local slang, hilarious quips and more than one celeb cameo - I'm sorry but James Nesbitt pretending to be drunk in the lands is iconic - Paddy and his team should be incredibly proud of what they have been able to create independently.

With the film set to come out next year, its the perfect reason to gather with your old housemates and pretend you are 19 again getting ready to head to Bot Wednesdays.

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