Directed by John Crowley, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Jim Broadbent, Domhnall Gleeson, and Julie Walters. Eilis Lacey (Ronan) is a young woman who lives in a small Irish town with her mother and older sister, Rose. Believing that Eilis would have a better chance at a future away from the confines of their hometown, Rose arranges for Eilis to move to Brooklyn, New York, where a friendly priest (Broadbent) arranges a job for Eilis at a department store and lodging at a women's boardinghouse run by Mrs. Keogh (Walters). Although she initially experiences gutting homesickness, Eilis soon becomes involved with Tony (Cohen), a plumber from Italian descent. When she just begins to settle into her life in Brooklyn, Eilis receives news that presses her back to Ireland, and she finds herself having to decide between the pull of her native land and the prospective new life she could lead with Tony in New York. The best part of the film is undoubtedly Ronan's performance. She expertly conveys the often conflicting, complex emotions that Eilis experiences as a displaced and lonely immigrant. Ronan is one of the best young actresses around today, a status cemented by this perfectly nuanced performance. The film touches upon many powerful themes, such as the strength of family ties and the search for one's "home," and addresses them in a story that's deeply moving without being at all melodramatic. Brooklyn is a beautifully-crafted coming-of-age period film that I highly enjoyed and recommend.
Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A
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