For hundreds of years, immigrants have come to the United States in the hopes of moving on from the past and building a better future. This endeavor is at the center of writer/director Jim Sheridan's "In America."
An Academy Award-nominee for 1989's "My Left Foot" and 1993's "In The Name of the Father," "In America" is Sheridan's semi-autobiographical story (co-written with Naomi and Kristen Sheridan) of an Irish couple and their two daughters as they begin a new life in New York City.
Upon its arrival, the family drives through the enchantingly bright lights of Times Square, full of excitement and optimism. However, the reality of their financial situation soon changes the initial warm feeling.
As an aspiring actor, Johnny (Paddy Considine) is not immediately able to find work and Sarah (Samantha Morton) takes a job working at an ice cream shop. As a result, the family is forced to move into a rundown apartment.
However, the film soon demonstrates that with a little redecoration and a family's love, any apartment can feel like home.
"In America" shows many aspects of daily life as Christy (Sarah Bolger) and Ariel (Emma Bolger) attend school and the family goes to a carnival. While trick-or-treating on Halloween, the girls meet their seemingly introverted neighbor Mateo (Djimon Hounsou).
Here, the theme of the movie begins to be revealed. From the first scene, the audience has been made aware of a third child in the family, Frankie, who died before the family came to America.
After the family meets Mateo, the beauty of life and love as well as the sorrow surrounding death become the focus of the story. It becomes apparent that the pain of losing their child is still sharp in the hearts of both Johnny and Sarah.
The character of Mateo adds a sense of spirituality and hope for the healing family and helps to an extent that is unclear until the end of the movie.
"In America" is full of overwhelming emotions that cover the spectrum of the human experience. The acting for every character is nearly perfect. It is important to consider the ages of the Bolgers and recognize their unbelievable acting ability at such young ages.
The power of the movie is largely a result of its autobiographical nature. Whereas in typical theatre going fashion, the audience is to the aisles and out the door as the credits begin rolling, this was not the case with "In America."
The motionless audience sat in quiet reflection for several moments after not only the intensity of the closing scene, but also because of the words that appeared following the scene.
These words were a dedication of the movie in memory of Frankie Sheridan. Immediately following were credits for director and writers, Jim, Naomi and Kristen Sheridan.
This revelation, after the weight of emotion throughout the movie, left the audience in a contemplative mood, in a way that few movies do. "In America" is distinctly a film of expression that was created with artful purpose and portrays the real emotions of its creators.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
