Tuesday, December 1, 2015

When I was suggested to see Brooklyn a few weeks ago, my expectations were very low. Not because all the artistic values, but because I felt that this movie wasn’t for me, the plot lean towards a female story just for women. I was pleasantly surprise and also wrong about my assumption.

Brooklyn tells the story of Ellis (Saoirse Ronan) a young woman living in a small town of Ireland. She lives with her sister, Ellis works in a small shop where the owner Mrs Kelly bully most of her employees. When you discover this character Ellis you noticed a very quiet and humble person, but also naive and innocent. Ellis sister Rose arrange to send Ellis to America where she can find better opportunities. The moment of revelation comes when she is onboard and stumble a female traveler who is just returning back to the USA after visiting her family in Ireland. This woman traveler is experienced which help Ellis thru her difficult journey to America. From how to behave on board, what to wear and how to react when you meet immigration officers in the USA

Ellis arrive to the US and everything is new and interesting, she start living in a Irish boarding house, she get a job in a department store. All her support come from Father Flood (Jim Broadbent) which quickly realized that Elllis is home sick and heavily depressed. Ellis also express her sadness in letters sent to Rose, Father Flood is informed and make sure to do something about it. Ellis is enrolled in bookkeeping classes where the audience noticed how her life improves and also is able to meet her new love Antonio Fiorello (Emory Cohen) Ellis story continues with ups and downs throughout the movie…

John Crowley directs Brooklyn a film that touch most of everyone’s heart. For an immigrant like me, I was able to connect with Ellis and understand what is like to be away from home in a new land, finding a way to fit, but also experience the sadness of loosing a love one and have to make my journey home without the option to say a proper goodbye. A phone call is that sudden message and you need the strength to go back and face that reality.

Brooklyn also represents a beautiful way of been an immigrant loving someone throughout the seasons, you start a relationship in the winter and develops thru spring and summer, but then becomes dramatic again in the fall and winter. The film is so colorful with the masterful art direction by François Séguin, Irene O Brien, Suzanne Cloutier and Robert Parle. The costume design by Odlie Dicks-Mireaux and cinematography by Yves Bélanger.

The story of Brooklyn is simple and very engaging, but also can be a little bit flat for easy and quick conclusion. Saoirse Ronan is a great and talented actress, Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters are the most noticeable performance besides Ronan. The films grow and shows Saoirse Ronan evolution in a cyclical story where she departs vulnerable and returns home stronger than ever.



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