Brooklyn (2015)

"Two countries, two loves, one heart."

Directed by John Crowley
Produced by Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey
Screenplay by Nick Hornby
Based on "Brooklyn" by Colm Tóibín
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters
Music by Michael Brook
Cinematography: Yves Bélanger
Edited by Jake Roberts
Production company: BFI, BBC Films, Wildgaze Films
Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures, TSG Entertainment
Release date: 6 November 2015 (United Kingdom & Ireland)
Running time: 112 minutes
Country: Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada
Budget: $10 million
Box office: $44 million

"Brooklyn" is a romantic drama film directed by John Crowley and written by Nick Hornby, based on Colm Tóibín's novel of the same name. It tells the story of a young Irish woman's immigration to Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within them for her.

Cast

• Saoirse Ronan as Eilis Lacey
• Samantha Munro as Dorothy
• Emory Cohen as Anthony "Tony" Fiorello
• Domhnall Gleeson as Jim Farrell
• Jim Broadbent as Father Flood
• Julie Walters as Madge Kehoe
• Bríd Brennan as Miss Kelly
• Jane Brennan as Mrs. Lacey
• Fiona Glascott as Rose Lacey
• Jessica Paré as Miss Fortini
• Eileen O'Higgins as Nancy
• Jenn Murray as Dolores Grace
• Emily Bett Rickards as Patty McGuire
• Eve Macklin as Diana Montini
• Mary O'Driscoll as Miss McAdam
• Nora-Jane Noone as Sheila
• Michael Zegen as Maurizio Fiorello
• Paulino Nunes as Mr. Fiorello
• James DiGiacomo as Frankie Fiorello
• Christian de la Cortina as Laurenzio Fiorello
• Ellen David as Mrs. Fiorello
• Gerard Murphy as Daddy Lacey
• Iarla Ó Lionáird as Frankie Doran
• Barbara Drennan as Shabby Woman
• Gillian McCarthy as Timid Woman
• Ellis Rockburn as Young Man at Dance
• Max Walker as Young Man
• James Corscadden as Ship Waiter
• Adrien Benn as Diner Waiter
• Mella Carron as Girl on Deck

"Brooklyn" is a must-see for everyone who even once has departed from their home for an other city or even a country as the film shows the full scale of emotions connected with this sense which is really known to me, especially this year. I know how it feels to live in a small town where there are no possibilities for your dream and so you must move and follow it. But it isn't as simple as it may sound: you have to leave your family and your former lifestyle in order to become who you want to be.

The main features of "Brooklyn" are honest acting and incredibly beautiful cinematography. The cast is full of talents so I just mention my favourite ones: amazing Saoirse Ronan as strong and smart Eilis Lacey, wonderful Domhnall Gleeson as decided Jim Farrell and charming Jessica Paré as exacting Miss Fortini. In fact there are much more reasons to watch this bright masterpiece but I want you to find them by yourself. Will you try?

Advantages

• Saoirse Ronan as Eilis Lacey
• Emory Cohen as Anthony "Tony" Fiorello
• Domhnall Gleeson as Jim Farrell
• Jessica Paré as Miss Fortini
• Colours

Disadvantages

• The love triangle

"Strangenesses"

• Where's your home?

Clue Moments

• 1952
• Miss Kelly
• Eilis's immigration
• The toilet
• An Irish boarding house
• A department store
• Bookkeeping classes
• Tony
• Rose's death
• Back in Ireland
• Jim
• Tony's letters
• Leaving for Brooklyn

Soundtracks

1. Michael Brook - Opening Titles
2. Michael Brook - Packing For The Voyage
3. Michael Brook - Seasick
4. Michael Brook - Deck Discussion
5. Michael Brook - Arriving In America
6. Michael Brook - Eilis Starts Work
7. Michael Brook - Homesick
8. Michael Brook - Letter From Home
9. Michael Brook - Bookkeeping Class
10. Michael Brook - Casadh An Tsúgáin / Frankie’s Song – Iarla Ó Lionáird
11. Michael Brook - Tony Asks Eilis Out
12. Michael Brook - Letter To Home
13. Michael Brook - Things Are Looking Up
14. Michael Brook - Rose Dies
15. Michael Brook - Mourning
16. Michael Brook - Proposal
17. Michael Brook - Getting Married
18. Michael Brook - Rose’s Grave
19. Michael Brook - The Pull Of Home
20. Michael Brook - Tony’s Letter
21. Michael Brook - Eilis Wavers
22. Michael Brook - Confrontation
23. Michael Brook - Goodbye Eilis
24. Michael Brook - End Credits

Quotations

* * *

Eilis: You have to think like an American. You'll feel so homesick that you'll want to die, and there's nothing you can do about it apart from endure it. But you will, and it won't kill you. And one day, the sun will come out you might not even notice straight away-it'll be that faint. And then you'll catch yourself thinking about something or someone who has no connection with the past. Someone who's only yours.And you'll realize that this is where your life is.

* * *

Eilis: I wish that I could stop feeling that I want to be an Irish girl in Ireland.
Father Flood: Homesickness is like most sicknesses. It will pass.

* * *

Eilis: You remember that after I had dinner at your house, you told me that you loved me?
[Tony nods, sombre and nervous]
Eilis: Well, I didn't really know what to say. But I know what to say now. I have thought about you and I like you, and I like seeing you, and maybe I feel the same way. So the next time you tell me you love me, if there is a next time, I'll, I'll say I love you too.
Tony: Are you serious?
Eilis: Yes.
Tony: Holy sh*t! Excuse my language, but I thought we were going to have a different kind of talk. You mean it?
Eilis: I mean it.

* * *

Tony: Home is home.

* * *

Georgina: Try and remember that sometimes it's nice to meet people who don't know your auntie.

* * *

Tony: OK, so while you're being amenable. Can we go see a movie this week? When you're not at night classes?
Eilis: I'll sign up for two movies.
Tony: Really?
Eilis: Yes. Even if the first date is a disaster, I'll give it another chance.

* * *

Diana: It's not politics, to talk about eye operations.
Mrs. Keogh: It is if the eyes belong to a politician.

* * *

Diner Waiter: I hope that when I go through the pearly gates, the first sound I hear is you asking me for the bill in that lovely Irish brogue.

* * *

Patty: There. That's better. Now you don't look like you've just come in from milking the cows.
Eilis: Is that what I looked like?
Patty: Just a bit. Nice clean cows. Let's go.

* * *

Mrs. Keogh: I'll tell you this much: I am going to ask Father Flood to preach a sermon on the dangers of giddiness. I now see that giddiness is the eighth deadly sin. A giddy girl is every bit as evil as a slothful man, and the noise she makes is a lot worse. Now, enough.

* * *

Frankie Fiorello: So first of all I should say that we don't like Irish people.
[General cries of outrage around the table]
Frankie Fiorello: We don't! That is a well known fact! A big gang of Irish beat Maurizio up and he had to have stitches. And because he cops round here are Irish, nobody did anything about it.
Maurizio: There are probably two sides to it. I might have said something I shouldn't, I can't remember now. Anyway, they probably weren't all Irish.
Frankie Fiorello: They just had red hair and big legs.

* * *

Patty: Do you have sunglasses?
Eilis: [Alarmed] No.
Sheila: You need sunglasses. I read that if you don't have them on the beach this year people will talk about you.
Mrs. Keogh: [Witheringly] And what will they say, exactly, Sheila?
Dolores: That's the thing, Mrs Kehoe. You'd never know, because they'd never say it to your face.

* * *

Mrs. Keogh: Diana's right, though, Eilis. You need to think carefully about your costume. It's the most Tony will ever have seen of you. You don't want to put him off.

* * *

Eilis: I'd forgotten what this town is like. What were you planning to do, Miss Kelly? Keep me away from Jim? Stop me from going back to America? Perhaps you didn't even know. Perhaps it was enough for you to know that you could ruin me. My name is Eilis Fiorello.

* * *

Mrs. Keogh: I'll thank you to keep His name out of a conversation about nylons, thank you very much. He might be everywhere, but He's not in Bartocci's on sale day.

* * *

Eilis: You're the prettiest girl in County Wexford. You should be able to choose any man you want. And we're hoping that George Sheridan from the rugby club looks your way.

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 7/10

Entertainment: 8/10

Acting: 7/10

Originality: 7/10

Music and Sound: 8/10

7/10