In America

Starring: Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Jim Sheridan
Released: January 2003 (Sundance Film Festival)
IMDB Plot Synopsis: The story of an immigrant Irish family who move to New York City to start a new life after the death of their youngest child. The movie's theme is the family's survival of tough times and the loss of their youngest child.

Johnny and his family have relocated all the way from Ireland to New York so that he can pursue his dream of acting. While his professional goals are always in the picture, the film focuses on how this particular family struggles to make the best with what they’ve got and how they cope with the death of the youngest member of the family.

With limited income, the family moves into a drug-infested apartment complex that feels more like a halfway house than anything. While the environment is far from kid friendly, the girls find an unlikely friend in fellow tenant, Mateo, played by Djimon Hounsou. His performance is flawless and sincere. No kidding; we cried.

The acting is, in a word, superb. The children, in particular, deliver exquisite performances that put kid Hollywood starlets like Dakota Fanning to shame. We became completely absorbed in the unique story and heartfelt performances.

It seems like the storyline of a struggling actor trying to make it in the big city is pretty played out. For that reason alone, we have to applaud In America for approaching the angle in fresh way. Not to mention, immigration is a touchy subject nowadays, so a film that features immigration as a major theme has the opportunity to provide conversational fodder for both sides of the issue—though we can’t help but wonder how the film would have changed if it had been an immigrant family from Mexico instead. Would it have been as well-received? Discuss amongst yourselves, but be sure to comment…

All in all, we highly recommend In America to anyone. You’ve got to see this movie. Since it made us laugh, cry, empathize, sympathize, and even do some deep thinking, there’s only one way to rate it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars