In America (2002)

An Irish immigrant family adjusts to life in the United States.

Director:

Jim Sheridan

Writers:

Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan,

Stars:

Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Sarah Bolger

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 22 wins & 33 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paddy Considine	...	Johnny
Samantha Morton	...	Sarah
Sarah Bolger	...	Christy
Emma Bolger	...	Ariel
Neal Jones	...	Immigration Officer #1
Randall Carlton	...	Immigration Officer #2
Ciaran Cronin	...	Frankie
Djimon Hounsou	...	Mateo
Juan Carlos Hernández	...	Papo (as Juan Hernandez)
Nye Heron	...	Blind Man
Jason Salkey	...	Tony
Rene Millan	...	Steve
Sara James	...	Papo's Girlfriend
Bob Gallico	...	Theatre Director
Jason Killalee	...	Assistant Theatre Director

Storyline

Following the tragic death of their two-year-old son Frankie, Irish couple Johnny and Sarah Sullivan and their remaining two offspring, 10 year old Christy Sullivan and 5 year old Ariel Sullivan, emigrate illegally to the United States via Canada with little in their pockets. Their final destination is Manhattan where Johnny hopes to work as a stage actor. They move into a unit in a run town tenement housed primarily with drug addicts, transvestites and one tenant coined "the man who screams". They do whatever they can to eke out a supportive family environment in this difficult situation, the support which ultimately extends to those around them, most specifically "the screamer" who turns out to be an African-American artist named Mateo with AIDS. But the memory of Frankie hangs over the family in good and bad ways, especially as Sarah learns she's pregnant. Christy, who records their life's goings-on with her beloved camcorder, believes that the angel of Frankie has granted her ...

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Plot Keywords:

irish | actor | new york | neighbor | irish immigrant | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality, drug references, brief violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox [br] Fox Searchlight [us]

Country:

Ireland UK

Language:

English Spanish Irish

Release Date:

31 October 2003 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Tierra de sueños

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$205,229 (USA) (28 November 2003)

Gross:

$15,539,266 (USA) (4 June 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hell's Kitchen Films, East of Harlem (UK) Ltd., Irish Film Industry, Government of Ireland

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The child actors (Sarah Bolger and Emma Bolger) called "cut" and "action" in every scene. This was decided by the director and the girls early during filming, so that it would make the acting easier for them.

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Goofs

When Christy is helping Johnny learn his lines at the café (after visiting Sarah in the hospital), Ariel's two front teeth are adult teeth. In the next scene, when Ariel and Christy are in bed, they are back to being baby teeth.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Christy: [voiceover] There's some things you should wish for and some things you shouldn't. That's what my little brother Frankie told me. He told me I only had three wishes, and I looked into his eyes, and I don't know why I believed him.

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Crazy Credits

Dedicated to Frankie Sheridan

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Connections

Referenced in Take Me Somewhere Nice (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Cherry Coke & Pizza Pie"
(1999)
Performed by The Mutts
Written by Håkan Åkesson
Courtesy of Lovecat Records
Published by Big Tiger Music (BMI)
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

Touched deeply

I have just finished watching the film and wanted to say how I was able to relate as a bereaved parent myself.. It is not very often that I have come across a film that portrays the heartache, pain and anguish that is left to behind to try to sort through and find a way to live your life peacefully & find some happiness..

For myself to watch in a film a father talk of his loss of faith and not being able to feel.. I understand that..

For myself to watch a mother try to deal and cope with guilt.. I understand that..

For myself to watch two siblings have to of suffered such heartache and such a young age.. I understand that because of my own children.

Well done it was beautiful and the two little girls of course were gorgeous..

Thankyou for sharing Franky's story, Frankys memory and hopefully opening up the eyes of others to the pain & struggles of bereaved parents.