In America (2002)

A family of Irish immigrants adjust to life on the mean streets of Hell's Kitchen while also grieving the death of a child.

Director:

Jim Sheridan

Writers:

Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan

Stars:

Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Djimon Hounsou

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 27 wins & 61 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 five-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 | death | actor | irish immigrant | new york | 

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Taglines:

One family's coming of age story.

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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

Country:

Ireland UK USA

Language:

English Spanish Irish

Release Date:

6 February 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tierra de sueños

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£284,259 (United Kingdom), 2 November 2003, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$205,229, 30 November 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$15,539,266, 6 June 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The street fair scene was filmed on Parnell Street in Dublin, Ireland. The street was closed for three days for filming. A closed burger shop was used as a green room for cold extras.

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Goofs

In the ball throwing scene at the carnival, as Johnny throws the last ball and the camera goes to a blurry slow-motion movement, you can see that the ball is still in his hand as it goes down yet a ball is seen entering the hole.

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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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Connections

Featured in 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)

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Soundtracks

Finger of Suspicion
Pt. 1
Written by Harry Bluestone and Emil Cadkin
Courtesy of Carlin Recorded Music Library

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.