Brooklyn is the latest film from the Arthouse Film Festival Fall season. It is a screen adaptation of the novel of the same name, written by Colm Tóibín.
In the 1950s, Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) is the younger of two daughters living with their mother in Ireland. She has a part time job in a shop, and her job prospects are poor. Her sister Rose (Fiona Glascott) has arranged with a priest, Father Flood (Jim Broadbent), to sponsor her in the United States, in, as you guessed it, Brooklyn. Eilis makes the journey, and is set up at a boarding house, run by Mrs. Kehoe (Julie Walters), with several other Irish girls. Eilis gets a job as a Department Store ‘shop girl’, and is overseen by Miss Fortini (Jessica Paré), a somewhat cold, but encouraging manager. She emerges from her mousey self, and becomes quite good at her job. She and Rose exchange frequent letters, but is clear she’s homesick. Father Flood reaches out to her, and has Eilis help at a church function or two to overcome her fears. He also gets her to Enroll in Brooklyn College, where she studies bookkeeping, feeling that she can follow in her sister’s footsteps, although in America.
Eilis settles into a routine. On Fridays, she ends up at church dances, and manages to meet a guy, Tony (Emory Cohen), who is Italian, but has managed to get in to what is presumably an Irish-only event. She’s reluctant at first, but warms to him over time. The other boarders coach her on how to behave, and how to deal with someone from an Italian background. She meets his family, which is more traditionally Italian (Irish and Italians rarely interacted in those days).
One day, Eilis receives some unhappy news, and has to return to Ireland abruptly. When she returns home, everyone treats her well, far better than when she was growing up. She had only intended to be there for a short time, but circumstances force her to stay longer than planned. She’s pleased, but torn. Does she stay, or return to her love and the home she’s made in the US? Aye, there’s the rub.
It took me more than a while to determine what period this movie took place. There was no mention of World War 2, which threw me, until I remembered that Ireland was neutral, so it’s understandable that those events did not cast a shadow over what happened in the movie. The cast is full of fresh faces, one or two of which made me think they were someone else. The tone of the film is one of carrying on and endurance, in the face of solitude and internal reflection. There’s a scene in the film where Eilis is presented with a harsh reality, but is practically expressionless, however, Saoirse manages to emote without words. You’ll know it when you see it, as her face is one of many, but you are drawn to hers.
Our host, Chuck Rose, was implying Saoirse Ronan will receive an Oscar nod, but the competition will be tough.
I recommend this movie.