The Immigrant (2013)

1921. An innocent immigrant woman is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician tries to save her and reunite her with her sister who is being held in the confines of Ellis Island.

Director:

James Gray

Writers:

James Gray, Ric Menello (as Richard Menello)

Stars:

Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner

15 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marion Cotillard	...	Ewa Cybulska
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Bruno Weiss
Jeremy Renner	...	Orlando the Magician / Emil
Dagmara Dominczyk	...	Belva
Jicky Schnee	...	Clara
Elena Solovey	...	Rosie Hertz (as Yelena Solovey)
Maja Wampuszyc	...	Edyta Bistricky
Ilia Volok	...	Wojtek Bistricky
Angela Sarafyan	...	Magda Cybulska
Antoni Corone	...	Customs Officer Thomas MacNally
Patrick Husted	...	Priest
Patrick Holden O'Neill	...	Leo Straub (as Patrick O'Neill)
Sam Tsoutsouvas	...	Oskar Straub
Robert Clohessy	...	Immigration Official
Adam Rothenberg	...	Officer DeKeiffer

Storyline

1921. In search of a new start and the American dream, Ewa Cybulska and her sister Magda sail to New York from their native Poland. When they reach Ellis Island, doctors discover that Magda is ill, and the two women are separated. Ewa is released onto the mean streets of Manhattan while her sister is quarantined. Alone, with nowhere to turn and desperate to reunite with Magda, she quickly falls prey to Bruno, a charming but wicked man who takes her in and forces her into prostitution. And then one day, Ewa encounters Bruno's cousin, the debonair magician Orlando. He sweeps Ewa off her feet and quickly becomes her only chance to escape the nightmare in which she finds herself.

---

Plot Keywords:

prostitution | immigration | immigrant | magician | money | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, nudity and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Europa Filmes [Brazil] Official site [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Polish Latin

Release Date:

23 May 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nightingale

Filming Locations:

Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$44,064 (USA) (16 May 2014)

Gross:

$1,984,743 (USA) (27 June 2014)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Worldview Entertainment, Keep Your Head, Kingsgate Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last film written by Ric Menello, who died from a heart attack on March 1, 2013, before the film was released.

---

Goofs

The famous opera singer Enrico Caruso did sing at Ellis Island, but not in February 1921. Carusos's last performance was in late December 1920, after which his health deteriorated.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Ewa Cybulska: [standing in line at Ellis Island speaking Polish] We're almost there.
Magda Cybulska: [coughing]
Ewa Cybulska: The doctors are looking, try to hold it in. You're just nervous. That brings it on. Try to close your ears and say a prayer, to the Mother of God.
Magda Cybulska: I will.
Ewa Cybulska: We'll find Aunt Edyta soon, and we'll be safe. We'll be together. We'll make our own families, have lots of children.

---

Connections

Featured in Huffpost Live: Marion Cotillard LIVE (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Il Trovatore
Written by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Thomas Schippers, Franco Corelli, Orchestra Del Teatro Dell'Opera, Roma, Gabriella Tucci, Robert Merrill, Luciana Moneta, Angelo Mercuriali, Mario Rainaudo and Orchestra e Coro del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
Courtesy of EMI Classic
Under License from EMI Film & Tevelsion Music

User Reviews

Worth a view for Cotillard alone

James Gray's beautifully shot 1920s New York period drama about the American dream gone to seed for a Polish woman, never stumbles into soap opera melodrama and the film is actually restrained considering the heaps of drama thrown at this woman. Marion Cotillard gives a wonderful performance as the immigrant who finds herself exploited in prostitution and the script wisely never makes her blind to the fact that things will be quickly heading south for her - she's a strong, smart woman who's hostage to a miserable situation. Jeremy Renner makes the most of his small but pivotal role and is the only character who seems to be having a good enough time and he injects some munch needed energy into this story. It's Phoenix, whose shyster character is the most complicated, that never comes across convincing. And while Phoenix is never for a moment boring to watch and for the most part doesn't over act, his acting decisions seem too thought out and theatrical. While Cotillard, Renner and the rest of the cast give performances that feel natural and embody these characters, it always feels like Phoenix is acting. Though locations are minimal and the few exterior shots are usually in a tunnel, the period detail is convincing and it's a nice too see a period film actually shot on film instead of digital. The Immigrant is a good showcase for Cotillard's talents and despite its flaws, definitely worth a watch.