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Jim Sheridan's autobiographical film, IN AMERICA, begins as Irish immigrants Johnny (Paddy Considine), his wife Sarah (Samantha Morton), and their two daughters drive their wood-paneled station wagon across the Canadian border and into the United States. As they enter New York City at night, 10-year-old Christy (Emma Bolger) records the lights, skyscrapers, and general excitement on her camcorder. Her little sister Ariel (Sarah Bolger) coos at all there is to see, and the whole family is filled with new hope. With no money to live on, they settle into the top floor of a flophouse tenement inhabited by transvestites and drug addicts. The dilapidated building is at first intimidating, but with a little redecorating and a change of perspective, the family turns it into a bohemian paradise. While Johnny goes to auditions, trying to get his break as an actor, Sarah works at the ice cream shop down the street and the girls go to Catholic school. A budding friendship with their ominous neighbor, Mateo (Djimon Hounsou), brings a much-needed spirituality to the family's happy but difficult struggle to survive. A beautiful and touching film about the risks that families take striving for a colorful, successful, happy life, IN AMERICA is above all a tribute to New York City in all its glory: its diversity of people and opportunity, its violence and grit, and its sometimes overwhelming energy.
This is an excellently acted and moving film, but it is very intense. Somehow I expected it to be a bit more light-hearted.
The reviews here are true. The two girls are just amazing and this feels like you are invited right into a family's life and deepest struggles. This is a unique and memorable movie.
Yet, while it is very good, I'm not quite sure how it earns the phenomenal rating (7.9) it currently has at Internet Movie Database, which puts it up there with the great movies of all times. Maybe just because it is so intense, I can't imagine watching this over and over again. It's not a classic in that sense. But definitely a good movie that makes one think about family and what keeps a family going on even in the deepest grief and loss.
This film traces the story of an Irish immigrant family in NYC. The dad wants to be a theater actor so he moves his wife and 2 daughters into a rundown apartment. They have no money and a painful event in their past - which is slowly revealed - which means a lot of sad moments and lots of great moments of true family love and perseverance.
The story is told by one of the daughters - and was based on her actual experiences as a child, she is also the sister of the director. The acting is great, the girls are amazing talents and they happen to be real-life sisters! Samantha Morton is great as usual - to think she was turned down for Brothers Grimm because the producer did not think she was attractive enough for Heath Ledger or Matt Damon!
Highly recommended but it is a bittersweet movie with topics not suitable for kids - AIDS being one of them.Read full review
This is one of the most charming movies ever. See it!!!
This heartwarming story of an immigrant family's life in America is one of my favorite movies. I have seen it twice...loved it equally both times...and now I have bought it so I can watch it any time I want. The title doesn't really do it justice. You really have no idea what you are about to see based on the title. The children in the story are so innocent and precious that they will bring tears to your eyes. Take the time to see it. You won't regret it.