In America (2002/2003)
Note: Some spoilers.
It's odd how, after seeing "In America,"
you think of the characters as leading "charmed" existences.
The family we see here is so wonderful, so lovely
and so gracious, that all the drama, tension, hard
work and anguish that exists in their lives seems
to melt away. We like these characters, we understand
these characters and we are desperate to see them
happy and becomming successful. It is rare to feel
this deeply about fictional people up on the movie
screen. Maybe because the film is somewhat autobiographical,
filmmaker Jim Sheridan is able to captivate us seemingly
so easily. Maybe it's also because he has a hell of
a cast.
We meet the Irish family at the
beginning of the film as they attempt to cross into
America via the Canadian border (we never learn how
they got that far to begin with). From this moment
on, our lives seem connected to theirs. They come
to New York City and set up house in the only apartment
they can get, a walk-up in a building known as "the
junkie house," populated by addicts, transvestites
and "the screaming man." The father has aspiration
of becoming an actor but, as the film unfolds, we
see that perhaps the entire family is simply running
away from its past, a dark and troublesome time where
one of their children, there only son, has died in
an accident.
The surviving children in the family
are two girls and we see the film mainly through the
eyes of the eldest, Christy. With her camcorder in
tow, she begins her life as a narrator, a storyteller,
explaining her family to us, their history, their
problems, and their dreams.
The plot of the film can be hokey
and seem very contrived at times and yet, we don't
care. We love these characters and we want to see
them succeed. One of the most intense scenes in the
film is set at a carnival where the father is trying
to win an E.T. doll for one of his young daughters.
Although we've seen this bit of drama play out many
times in movies throughout the years, it has never
seemed as dramastic and engrossing as it does here.
We pray for the typical outcome. We want him to win
the E.T. doll. (The script is so good that the character
and themes of E.T. become important to the film and
its conclusion). Sheridan's amazing filmmaking skill
allows him to easily wrap us around his finger.
The acting here is simply amazing.
Although Paddy Considine occasionally hams it up as
the father, we still find him a remarkably strong
and agreeable man. He has a lot on his plate and yet
he never fails to be the hero to us that he also is
to his small daughters. I was consistently reminded
of my own father's work ethic and strong-willed nature,
to provide for the family, when I watched Considine
here. Samantha Morton provides a strong but less vocal
counterpoint in the mother and her work is nothing
short of Oscar worthy. She really amazes us here.
Morton has played some lousy characters in the past
(its hard to forgive her Morvern Callar), but she
really shines here. And Djimon Hounsou may be stuck
in the stereotypical "black man as mystical figure"
role, but he edges out of such contrivances to offer
up a character that provides just the right juxtaposition
between the main characters and his own so that we
may see just how fortunate and how beautiful they
are. In fact, my only complaint with the adult cast
is minor, it is hard to understand them at times because
of their thick accents. Luckily, it is easy to understand
their actions and emotions. Words are not necessary
for this.
Regardless, the true stars of "In
America" are sisters Sarah and Emma Bolger, who play
the young sisters here. We love these girls. We care
deeply for them. We see them as our guides to the
story and yet we also see them through the eyes of
their father, their mother, and the admiring Hounsou.
These girls captivate us and win us over at every
turn, without contrivence or pretnse. They become
like daughters to us and we want to see everyone around
them succeeding and happy because we desperately want
these beautiful young ladies to have a normal life
and to have all that they need and desire to make
it in the world. Rarely do child actors provide as
much as the two girls here do. They are the story.
Sheridan seems to be working from
his real life experiences. The script for this film
is written by he and Naomi Sheridan and Kirsten Sheridan.
We can only presume this is a family project. And
since it is set in the 80's, we also presume it is
autobiographical. Whatever its impetus, "In America"
reminds us all of just how hard immigrants have to
struggle in this country, how much history they bring
with them, how much change the must undergo, how much
work they must undertake. Upon the reflection engaged
by this film, it seems amazing that any of them are
able to make it. Perhaps it isn't they who are charmed
so much as the land unto which they come. Perhaps
it is because in America, it is exactly history, change
and hard work that helps to keep the dream alive.
Do you believe in magic?
Note:
The film was at one time known as
"East of Harlem."
The 60's pop song "Do You Believe
in Magic" (isn't it by The Loving Spoonful?) is used
as is a schmaltzy version of a patriotic song. Sarah
sings "Desperado" on camera in the film. Score by
Gavin Friday.
Filmed in NYC.
The filmed debuted at the Toronto
Film Festival in 2002. It was also screened at Sundance.
It begins a limited arthouse release in America in
November 2003.
Kristen is a filmmaker like her
father.
Kate Hudson and Ewen MMacGregor
had once been considered for the lead roles.
The film was initially rated R by
the MPAA but was resubmitted, perhaps with some cuts
to a steamy sex scene between Morton and Considine,
and was re-rated as a PG-13.
Viewed
at AFF 2003
