Brooklyn is really two love stories in one film. It is about an Irish immigrant's struggle to find a life in America and her relationship with a working class Italian whom she met at a Brooklyn dance club. Ellis (Saoirse Ronan) moved to America in 1952 to find a better life with the help of her bookkeeper sister who is staying in Southern Ireland to be with their mother. She struggles with homesickness until she met Tony (Emory Cohen), an Italian immigrant working as a plumber. Her sister Rose (Fiona Glascott) died of unknown cause that led her to come back home to comfort her mother (Jane Brennan). Back home she discovers a life that she nearly wanted before she went to America that led her to a crossroad.
So many things I liked about this film. Cinematography and design lend themselves well to the escapist fiction that this movie pushes for. Colors are bright and primary, lighting is crisp and styling is almost flawless. The direction sets the audience to an emotional ride, from sadness, to giddy to feeling romantic to feeling betrayed all these translates clearly from the screen with the help of such good actors, headed by Saoirse and very well supported by Emory, and the rest of the stunning support.
What really kept me from giving this film a perfect 5-star rating is the way the conflict was resolved. The turning point at which Ellis came to a decision choosing from staying in Ireland or coming back to America either flawed her character or made the decision too easy. Either way, it created a smudge in an otherwise shiny and spotless film.
Though the director employed a more traditional style of storytelling, it just made the presentation of the narrative clear and direct. I truly enjoyed watching this film because it took me to a time when relationships are sacred and people are more respectful. It reminded me of a time when America depended on immigrants to build their nation thus strengthening ties between countries and in effect erasing boundaries.
