HOME Pick of the Week: Brooklyn

When hearing the synopsis of Brooklyn, one would expect that it would be a sickly sweet film about a young girl from Ireland, finding herself in the bright lights of New York. Brooklyn is however, so much more than that. It’s sweet, yes, and it’s charming, too—it will make you laugh and it will even make the hardest of souls cry.

Set at first in rural Ireland, we meet shy Eilis, who works in a local bakery and lives with her ageing mother and sister. Upon finding out that her sister has organised a job for her in Brooklyn, New York, through a local priest, she sets sail for the United States and begins her new life. Until an incident draws her back to her hometown, she must then decide whether her life is in Ireland or New York.

The first merit-worthy factor of Brooklyn is the cast. Saoirse Ronan, as always, is brilliant. We see her transform from a retreating country girl, to a woman changed by experience and life. At only 20, Ronan is an incredibly talented actress—she internally portrays and reacts how a young girl in her situation would do, showing fear and reproach perfectly; and happiness so vivid that you can feel the warmth in your brain. Julie Walters is also fantastic as her landlady—she adds a real comic element to the film. Rising tour de force Domhnall Gleeson appears later in the film as a love interest, too. The cast choice is scintillating in the way that they all mould together and perfectly convey their interests and motives.

Another reason why Brooklyn is a must-see, is because some of you might just empathise entirely with Eilis’s experience; the hesitant excitement as you say goodbye to your hometown, the nervousness as you travel to your new destination, the initial homesickness and the contentment when you finally settle into your new life… sounds familiar doesn’t it? That particular element of the film touched a nerve, and will most likely speak to the hearts of other students or those who have had to move away from home. One scene in particular, where Eilis emits a shy tear during a Christmas meal where an Irish man sings an old Gaelic tune is enough to tug tears from any eyes.

Brooklyn is essentially a young girl’s dilemma between ambition and loyalty. Eilis’s life is a constant struggle between fully utilising the opportunities that her sister and America have given her, and staying in Ireland to care for her elderly mother. The film could be praised for its strong female lead; for a film set in the 1950s you can imagine that the film might focus on issues of the heart, or Eilis’s duties as a carer or a nurturer of some sort. Satisfyingly, the film instead emphasises Eilis’s commitment to her studies, the importance of how her decisions should be best for her, and her caution when it comes to love. In one letter she writes to her sister “I now have a boyfriend… but he is important after my studies and work of course.” Not that the film encourages neglect of personal relationships, it simply highlights the struggle of maintaining those relationships when they come into conflict with each other and with ambition for a better life.

The cinematography is also beautiful—mossy greens and muddy browns accentuate the rawness of Ireland, gold and soaring blues encapsulate the new-found beauty of the United States. Visually, the film is a treat to watch.

All in all, Brooklyn is a fantastic piece of work. The cast ensemble is perfect, particularly Ronan as the strong and likeable Eilis, and the masterful cinematography only compliments this more. It should also be acclaimed for the way in which it does not approach life with rose-tinted glasses. Uplifting as it is, the film shines a light on how life is not just all romance and fireworks, life can also be hard, too. Either way, Brooklyn is a perfect watch for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

4/5