In America (2002)

Director:

Jim Sheridan

Writers (WGA):

Jim Sheridan (written by) &
Naomi Sheridan (written by) ...

Release Date:

31 October 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Sister Sister Relationship | Irish Catholic | Hell's Kitchen | Flag | Hell's Kitchen New York

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 32 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

East of Harlem (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality, drug references, brief violence and language. (edited version)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

Ireland | UK

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Malaysia:(Banned) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:11 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) (certificate #39306) | USA:R (original rating) | Ireland:12PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Jim Sheridan wanted a 12 or 13 year old girl to play Christy, but Sarah Bolger was so impressive that she won the part despite being only 10.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Johnny is carrying the air conditioner, he turns and we see through the grill that's it's empty.

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.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars (1977)

Soundtrack:

Angel of the Morning

Angels in Manhattan

Two of the reasons for going to see this film are: Emma and Christy Bolger. They steal the movie from under more established stars. They make us see their new world through their eyes. It is magic to them to be in a new city, where they discover new things every day. They are disarming.

America, the land that receives so many immigrants can be a hostile environment for a lot of people. For Johnny and Sarah, New York is a place full of surprises, as it must be to a lot of people whose dream is to make it there. This film is about their struggle to survive in pursuing a dream that turns out to be a nightmare for them, in many respects.

Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton make the struggling Irish immigrants very real under the direction of Jim Sheridan, who is supposed to be the Johnny of the story. What they have to deal with in their new home, eventually make them conquer a world that's not kind to them. Nothing is given to them on a silver platter, which is the case with most illegal people in the country, so their tale is very believable and true to the pioneer spirit they have within themselves.

It is the fantastic performance of the two Bolger sisters, as the daughters, which brings this film into focus. They have their feet on the ground and they know the ordeal their parents are facing. Their luminous faces and natural endear them to us in a special way.

We owe Mr. Sheridan and family a lot for their courage to show us what they went through at their arrival in America.