Last week my friend Michelle invited me to see Brooklyn – a film I had heard nothing about (probably due to the fact that I have absolutely no time for television). Because I had no preconceived notions about the film, I went in with an open mind. Little did I know that I was about to be bowled over by a quiet sort of movie where performances and scenes appear understated and simple, yet carry a powerful emotional weight. This may have to do with the fact that I hail from an Irish/Scots Catholic family, but I’d bet that it has more to do with the talented cast and tender handling of the film’s subject matter.
We have a long cinematic history in this country of films detailing the challenges that new immigrants face after arriving in America. In that regard, Brooklyn serves as a fine addition, but the film rises above the other immigrant-story films due to the gentleness with which the story is told. Based on Colm Tóibín’s book of the same name and with a screenplay by Oscar-nominated writer Nick Hornby, the film ably evokes a nostalgia for the 1950s where people seemed a little nicer and still had some sense of decorum.
We get to see the teeming city of Brooklyn through the innocent and somewhat naïve eyes of Irish immigrant, Eilis, played by the enchantingly talented Saoirse Ronan. Ronan subtly and masterfully elevates the film to another level and allows us to feel a connection with a young woman from another time and place. Ronan is surrounded by a talented cast that includes Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley from Harry Potter), and Domhnall Gleeson (from 2015’s Ex Machina). Sweet-faced Emory Cohen capably plays Tony, Eilis’ Italian-American boyfriend, who is instrumental in introducing her to her new home and is a key player in her development. Keep an eye out for the scene-stealing James DiGiacomo who plays Tony’s little brother. He will have you in stitches.
Eilis leaves Ireland for America seeking better opportunities. Her trip is made possible by sponsorship from an Irish priest, Father Flood (Broadbent), who ensures she has a proper place to live and decent employment. Eilis is heartbroken and terribly homesick when she first arrives in her new home and she initially finds her life to be lonely and difficult. All that changes one night when she accompanies the other young women from her boarding house to the local Irish dance. There she meets Tony, a real sweetheart of a guy. But as luck would have it, Eilis is called back to Ireland for a funeral and while back home, she is tempted to assume her old, more comfortable life and start a new one with a handsome suitor.
At its heart Brooklyn is not just an immigrant story, it is also a story about Eilis’ transformation from self-conscious immigrant to confident Brooklynite. But I think my friend Michelle said it best, “It’s a beautiful roller coaster ride of emotions leaving you wondering why more screenwriters can’t create this type of magic.”
In the immortal words of Roger Ebert, I’d give this film a very enthusiastic thumbs up!
Writers: Nick Hornby (screenplay), Colm Tóibín (novel)
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, and Jim Broadbent
Run time: 1 hour 51 minutes
See upcoming showtimes for Brooklyn here.
