My mom’s side of the family is Irish. Brooklyn’s story is as much about them as it is most American families. Anchored by Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn weaves the immigrant tale with an adorable romance like a warm sweater in a New York winter.
Rose (Fiona Glascott) is a plucky can doer in southern Ireland during a post WWII depression in the country. Since her sister Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) does not have the same opportunities as her, Rose arranges for here to go to the United States, Brooklyn in particular. Eilis gets a job and education through Father Flood (Jim Broadbent), finds love with an Italian (Emory Cohen), and creates a new life for herself. Circumstances eventually bring Eilis back to Ireland, where she becomes infatuated with Jim Farrell (Domhnall Gleeson) and the renewed possibility of life back in her hometown.
Brooklyn romanticizes the immigrant experience, but finds some truth in its rose colored outlook. During the post WWII era, those first couple months would have been very scary; the anticipation of that first letter builds the emotion to a fever pitch that each day it doesn’t arrive is agony. Eventually, you develop a support system, and use them to drive you to make something of yourself. And even later, this new place becomes your home. What Brooklyn does differently is it explores what happens when you return to your birthplace. The movie posits that your position in life can make the place you call home change. While Eilis recognizes all the places she was hanging out and knows all the people in Ireland when she returns, she has matured to a point where she feels like a stranger in her old home, even though it can be comforting.
In addition to the immigration, the love story will melt you into muttering “Awwwww.” The Italian-Irish courtship is very cute and era appropriate, replacing sexual flirtation with dances and family dinners. When Eilis returns to Ireland, its more of the same, but more green and ginger. What Brooklyn refreshingly does is give Eilis agency. While it is necessary at that time to marry a man, Eilis holds the cards. No man will force her into a decision, she does what she wants. This decision keeps the story focused on Eilis, as she is easily the most fascinating character in the film.
Saoirse Ronan has been trying hard for a breakout role for a long time. She makes poor movie choices, but she is usually the best thing in them. Brooklyn finally gives her material suitable for her talents. Ronan has deep penetrating eyes that convey each emotion earnestly, whether it be fear, confidence, love, or anger. Ronan uses that Irish brogue and stare to win your heart. Emory Cohen and Domhnall Gleeson are fine as the love interests, but they are underwritten to keep the movie focused on Ronan. Julie Walters is very funny as the head of the boarding house where Ronan lives, and Jessica Pare, Jim Broadbent, Fiona Glascott, Emily Bett Rickards, Eve Macklin, and Nora-Jane Noone are good with limited screen time.
I said Brooklyn was the classic immigrant story at the start of this review. I’d like to amend that. Brooklyn is EVERYONE’s story. Eventually, people evolve, grow up, and become strangers in their old lives. It is important to remember that while scary, that’s a good thing, that means you made your life your own.