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IN AMERICA ****
Jim Sheridan has a proven history of making emotionally charged films filled with powerful performances. My Left Foot not only secured him as a respected director, it also made Daniel Day-Lewis into an international star. A few years later, Sheridan followed up with the critically acclaimed In the Name of the Father which cemented his and Lewis’ stardom for good. Now he, along with the help of his two daughters Naomi and Kirsten, follow up with In America, which is being heralded as this years best film.
In America is based on Sheridan’s family’s immigration to New York City during the mid-eighties. It is told narration style through the voice of the eldest daughter Christy (Sarah Bolger), older sister of Ariel (Emma Bolger). It is through her eyes that the story unfolds.
Johnny and Sarah (Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton) only wish to start anew. They have recently lost their oldest son Frankie, and the assumption is that their move to New York is a way of escaping all the things that remind them of him. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work.
Sarah tries to be strong. When Johnny mourns, Sarah is there to tell him to “act” happy, if only for the children’s sake. Sadly, she is acting as well. Sarah has privately assumed all responsibility for Frankie’s death and breaks apart when she looks into her husband’s eyes. They are the eyes given to their dead son. Sarah hopes for peace of mind, yet it quietly eludes her.
Meanwhile, Johnny, who is a struggling actor, suffers with a debilitating pain that inhibits his acting, his ability to play with his girls, and utterly destroys his faith in God. “I asked God to take me instead of him and he took us both” He informs his neighbor “He left me in his place. I’m a ****ing ghost.”
The neighbor is Mateo (Djimon Hounsou). A Nigerian artist who screams at his canvas as he paints his demons. Mateo isn’t as terrible as he seems though; he is a gentle and angelic giant of a man. It is the kindness of the girls that he finally finds some peace and the kindness in him that gives Johnny and Sarah some semblance of healing.
The children are the only ones to show any signs of reasonable coping skills. Ariel at times will become sad, but with the standard child resilience, bounces right back. She is a wonder and a joy to watch. Christy assumes the responsibility of giving strength to her family, evident in a particular scene when her father calls her to his knee and begins with, “Baby…” Christy quickly interrupts with, “Don’t you baby me. I’ve been carrying this family on my back for over a year now!” Christy, it seems, is able to cope better because she hasn’t lost her faith in God. She believes that her brother is in heaven watching over her and granting her wishes. It is a lovely sentiment.
In America is a true to life telling of grief and loss, but it also shows that through pain there is still hope, and maybe even joy. Considine, Morton, and Hounsou all deliver solid performances, but it is the sisters that are the real presence and the very soul of this beautiful film. The ending of the film is one of the most sincerely sweet and poignant I have ever seen. If there was any question whether I was going to give it three and half or four stars, that scene made my mind up for me. There will be times while watching this movie where you will laugh, and at there will be times when it may move you to tears, but regardless of either of those things, you will love this family.
Jim Sheridan has a proven history of making emotionally charged films filled with powerful performances. My Left Foot not only secured him as a respected director, it also made Daniel Day-Lewis into an international star. A few years later, Sheridan followed up with the critically acclaimed In the Name of the Father which cemented his and Lewis’ stardom for good. Now he, along with the help of his two daughters Naomi and Kirsten, follow up with In America, which is being heralded as this years best film.
In America is based on Sheridan’s family’s immigration to New York City during the mid-eighties. It is told narration style through the voice of the eldest daughter Christy (Sarah Bolger), older sister of Ariel (Emma Bolger). It is through her eyes that the story unfolds.
Johnny and Sarah (Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton) only wish to start anew. They have recently lost their oldest son Frankie, and the assumption is that their move to New York is a way of escaping all the things that remind them of him. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work.
Sarah tries to be strong. When Johnny mourns, Sarah is there to tell him to “act” happy, if only for the children’s sake. Sadly, she is acting as well. Sarah has privately assumed all responsibility for Frankie’s death and breaks apart when she looks into her husband’s eyes. They are the eyes given to their dead son. Sarah hopes for peace of mind, yet it quietly eludes her.
Meanwhile, Johnny, who is a struggling actor, suffers with a debilitating pain that inhibits his acting, his ability to play with his girls, and utterly destroys his faith in God. “I asked God to take me instead of him and he took us both” He informs his neighbor “He left me in his place. I’m a ****ing ghost.”
The neighbor is Mateo (Djimon Hounsou). A Nigerian artist who screams at his canvas as he paints his demons. Mateo isn’t as terrible as he seems though; he is a gentle and angelic giant of a man. It is the kindness of the girls that he finally finds some peace and the kindness in him that gives Johnny and Sarah some semblance of healing.
The children are the only ones to show any signs of reasonable coping skills. Ariel at times will become sad, but with the standard child resilience, bounces right back. She is a wonder and a joy to watch. Christy assumes the responsibility of giving strength to her family, evident in a particular scene when her father calls her to his knee and begins with, “Baby…” Christy quickly interrupts with, “Don’t you baby me. I’ve been carrying this family on my back for over a year now!” Christy, it seems, is able to cope better because she hasn’t lost her faith in God. She believes that her brother is in heaven watching over her and granting her wishes. It is a lovely sentiment.
In America is a true to life telling of grief and loss, but it also shows that through pain there is still hope, and maybe even joy. Considine, Morton, and Hounsou all deliver solid performances, but it is the sisters that are the real presence and the very soul of this beautiful film. The ending of the film is one of the most sincerely sweet and poignant I have ever seen. If there was any question whether I was going to give it three and half or four stars, that scene made my mind up for me. There will be times while watching this movie where you will laugh, and at there will be times when it may move you to tears, but regardless of either of those things, you will love this family.