REVIEW: Brooklyn

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight

Not to get all preachy, but spending a few moments watching the news or perusing the internet reveals that the United States, on the whole, seems to suffer from a profound lack of empathy. I don’t mean that to sound snotty or dismissive; I’m just observing that for many, it’s impossible to comprehend another person’s pain or struggle unless they can find some way to personally identify with it.

That’s why a movie like Brooklyn is so vital to the immigration debate currently raging throughout the country. Now, hold on one second. I can already sense that you’re getting ready to put down your newspaper or close your browser window. Before you go, know that this beautiful movie is not even remotely political and doesn’t feel a bit like homework.

But that’s what makes it a great conversation starter. Director John Crowley and screenwriter Nick Hornby are primarily interested in crafting an emotionally engaging narrative, not sermonizing. But you’d have to be willfully blind to shut out the film’s dominant message: the world is big and cultures are often very different, but people still struggle and dream of better lives.

Brooklyn tells the poignant, endlessly compelling story of Eillis Lacey (the extraordinary Saoirse Ronan, whose Best Actress nomination all but guaranteed), a young Irish woman on the brink of making a new home for herself in 1950s New York. After bidding a heartbreaking goodbye to her mother (Jane Brennan) and older sister (Fiona Glascott), she embarks on an educational voyage across the sea.

For the first few months, Eillis is understandably homesick and miserable. But over time, with the help of a warm priest (Jim Broadbent), a strict-but-maternal landlady (Julie Walters) and an endearing Italian suitor (Emory Cohen), she begins to think of America as her home. That’s when tragedy strikes in Ireland and she must choose between the two countries battling within her.


This film could’ve easily been pretentious awards bait, and I’ll admit to thinking that’s what it was when the first rapturous reviews emerged. However, that description couldn’t be further from the truth. The story, although simplistic at its core, is a deeply affecting one that should ring true to anyone who has ever faced a key turning point in life. That should be pretty much all of us.

Much of the film’s power comes from Ronan’s performance, as the actress proves yet again that she’s one of the best in her field. She makes Eillis’ gradual journey from stranger in a foreign land to American feel completely authentic. She’s terrific in every scene, but her reaction to an Irishman’s song at her church’s Christmas dinner absolutely stunned me.

Cinematographer Yves Belanger’s breathtaking shots of the Irish countryside and mid-20th century Brooklyn further contribute to the movie’s success, as does Hornby’s straightforward, down-to-earth screenplay (adapted from Colm Toibin’s novel). Aside from a meddlesome store owner who speeds along the story’s resolution, there aren’t really any clear heroes and villains. Instead, Hornby makes sure the audience understands each character’s personality and motivations.

Any of those components alone would make the film worth recommending. Put them together and you’ve got one of the year’s best films. It’s a strong contender for my Top 10 later this month.

Brooklyn is rated PG-13 for a scene of sexuality and brief strong language.

Grade: A