[yasr_overall_rating]
An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a new romance. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.
It is unnerving that it takes this type of movie to remind us of the America that was the obvious choice at one time for all things great! While there are many immigrants who still feel this way, sixty-five years later, the choice isn’t so obvious anymore, and Americans themselves are the ones who question this most often. Traveling back to the 1950s, “Brooklyn” takes a widely telescopic view of the quintessential predicament of having to choose between love, opportunity, family, culture and naysayers. Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) proves herself worthy of the pursuit of happiness as an Irish immigrant who is cursed with the love of family and the opportunity of a lifetime. As she navigates through the tough decision of leaving a grieving mother and a complacent sister, she realizes that she must make a risky move that will secure her future and break the mode of contentment that has permeated the lives of her family members after the loss of her father.
The thought of leaving her hometown of Enniscorthy and everything that she knows and loves is not enough of a deterrant to keep Eilis from packing up her life and traveling to America. Coached by the ever so prudent boarding school head, Ms. Kehoe (Julie Walters), who is never in a good enough mood to be supportive and unbiased, Eilis begins to broaden her horizons by being a mentor to her fellow boarding school peers. Once she makes the transition, being homesick begins to take its toll, and Eilis questions whether she has made the right decision. As she immerses herself in a new job at Bartocci’s Department Store, her letters to home become more interesting as she describes the details of city life and the people that make it fun and exciting. Life gets even better when she finds true love in an Italian named Tony (Emory Cohen) whose kindness and attention make her all but forget her beloved Ireland.
Just as the dust begins to settle for Eilis, a family tragedy strikes with the death of her beloved sister Rose, and Eilis’ life is in turmoil once again as she contemplates a return to Ireland to check on her Mother, Mary Lacey (Jane Brennan) who had been in the care of her sister. In a last minute gesture, she secretly marries Tony as proof of her intent to return to America. Once back in Ireland, she is introduced to Jim Farrell (Domhnall Gleeson) as she prepares for the impending wedding of her best friend, Nancy. The life she so desired before the initial departure, starts to shape into what she always dreamed of, and the offer of her late sister’s bookkeeping job, fulfills the last void she had to keep the purpose of her American dream alive. Father Flood (Jim Broadbent), her sponsor, becomes a frequent listening companion and encouraging force that Eilis confides in as her simple life becomes very complicated. A visit to Mrs. Kelly who has found out Eilis’ secret and tries to use it against her, becomes the catalyst for redirecting priorities and eliminating any indecision about what Eilis’ life was really supposed to be like.
Against the backdrop of a deep Irish and American culture, the emotional dilema of Eilis is played out, and the overwhelming sympathy of a torn audience becomes almost unbearable as Eilis’ life is torn apart and then put back together almost before the audience has a chance to shed a tear. Director John Crowley deserves every award considered for this film due to the excellent acting and cinematography that makes the storyline even more believable and encompassing. This film will definitely open your eyes to the impact of a young life on society as a whole, and at the same time, it will do your heart good to experience the highs and lows of growing up in an ever-changing, unrelenting society.
In select theaters November 20th
