Movie Review: Brooklyn

(Source)

Brooklyn (2015)

Directer: John Crowley
Producer: Amanda Posey, Finola Dwyer
Based on: Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures (United States), 20th Century Fox (International), Lionsgate (United Kingdom)
Release dates: 26 January 2015 (Sundance), 6 November 2015
Running time: 112 minutes
Country: Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom
Language: English
Rating: PG-13

Trailer

An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance with a local. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within. (Source)

This is a story about a woman in a different time and traveling between two different worlds. Trying to not only find her way but decide who she is and who she wants to be, which are two very different things.

Eilis leaves Ireland looking towards America and New York City as not only an escape her for small little life, but as a new hope of everything she might dream or of accomplish.
Everything is in place for her, a home, a job, a new life to build, a new world to explore.

She leaves behind an older sister and her mother, her sister now expected to care for her mother as she ages. Something that does bring tension to their relationship but is never really forced on Eilis, in the sense that's it's expected of her instead.

Homesickness plagues Eilis for months on end as she experiences her first winter in America, which is most colder and more extreme than she's used to. Making the world seem much less welcoming.

The only comfort she has are the girls in her boarding house, who are only occasionally friendly. However, she must still form a relationship with them. She has to live with them and they have been there longer and know more. They aren't always nasty or rude, just usually.
They do provide insight to subjects she's has no knowledge of. Such as eating spaghetti (which you see in the trailer).

Tragedy strikes back home in Ireland. Eilis must go away to be there.
Once there, she struggles with the reality that she left behind not being what she might have imagined for herself. Things begin to fall in place and she's left to decided which life is for her. As well as what she values more, the person she is or who she wanted to be.

The pace of this movie is fairly slow, however being in the time frame of almost 65 years ago, there's a bit of build up to explaining and showing insight into the lives of women during that time. What is expected of them, what sort of behaviour and manners they are held to, because it's all very different.
There's a large struggle of being independent. Not only as a women during those times, but simply as someone trying to make a new life for themselves, somewhere where the culture is different. You have to rely on those around you to show you the way. To teach you how life is different.

That said, I became upset and resentful of the main character at times. She comes off as quiet and timid, while she is such a clever intelligent women. I think part of branching out on her own, made her more comfortable. Not only with who she is, but openly expressing it.
Something she struggles to do when she has to return to Ireland. She sort of reverts backwards, sidetracking herself as she deliberates decisions for her future.

I quiet liked the movie, not for reasons of enjoyment. But as food for thought. It's a story that makes you think about yourself. Establishing that you have more power than you think.
Embrace yourself.

Recommend: Strong independent female role,  History, Romance, Personal development

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