I’ve been meaning to watch Brooklyn for a while now but never really got the chance to, what with university and (let’s face it) TV shows that have been a distraction. I finally got around to watching it this week and I have to say that I regret never watching it in the cinema.
Set in the early 1950s, a young girl from a small town in Ireland receives an opportunity to move to Brooklyn for work. The opportunity transformed her life in ways more than one (after conquering her homesickness, of course). Not only did she have a decently paid job and education that assists her towards her goals but also a boyfriend who was able to make Brooklyn feel somewhat like home.
As the movie progresses, Eilis (played by Saoirse Ronan) changes from shy and plain to confident and stylish. It was definitely interesting to see how taking a small town girl and placing her in the big city would change her way of thinking, dressing and acting. She began wearing high heels, sunglasses, makeup and started dressing in brighter dresses which signified her moving out of her shell which was difficult for her to do so when she was in Ireland.
Saoirse Ronan was a superb actress, she was able to convey the emotions of her character’s situation beautifully. She was able to execute the transformations very well. She definitely stole the show in my opinion.
A character I thought was hilarious was Mrs Kehoe (played by Julie Walters) who is the owner of the boarding house that took Eilis in along with four other girls.
Mrs Kehoe was sarcastic and strict while still open minded and caring towards the girls. It was definitely interesting watching the dynamic between her and the girls at the dinner table throughout the movie.
Overall, the movie is worth watching, it really depicts what young adults go through when moving to a country far from home. As many of us here have experienced similar circumstances, the movie can be considered to be quite relatable. Of course, there are significant differences such as how Eilis had to travel to the USA by ship while we had the opportunity to travel by air and how communication was done solely by letters between Eilis and her family while we have the ability to use social media to connect with our families.
Additionally, it was a tear and chuckle-inducing which makes the movie all the while better. However, it’s the kind of movie that may be great to some and boring for others so I would suggest you watch the trailer before going through watching the movie and having to stop because of regrets.
Featured Image Credit: (ReinventionGirl.com Photo)
EYAS 