Brooklyn (2015)
Written by Nick Hornby (screenplay), Colm Tóibín (novel)
Directed by John Crowley

“You have to think like an American. You’ll feel so homesick that you’ll want to die, and there’s nothing you can do about it apart from endure it. But you will, and it won’t kill you. And one day, the sun will come out you might not even notice straight away-it’ll be that faint. And then you’ll catch yourself thinking about something or someone who has no connection with the past. Someone who’s only yours.And you’ll realize that this is where your life is.” ~ Eilis

I knew from the trailer, the first time I saw it, that I would love this film. The epicness of it, the beauty, the coming-of-age/coming-into-one’s-own nature, the romance, and the story that seemed to be there drew me in near immediately. I expected to love this movie.

I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did, though. Nor did I expect to cry pretty much throughout the film. I also didn’t realize how blown away by Saoirse Ronan I would be. Her performance in this is incredible. There are moments where no words are used, yet a variety of emotions and complexities still paint across her skin in a way that says everything.

The cinematography is breathtaking, and the story unfolds in ways that were also unexpected to me. I do not want to spoil anything, but I will say that I was glad to see that this was not just about which man Eilis chooses, or that her happiness is somehow dependent on/solely delivered by either man, but because of her. Eilis finds her way, and herself, in this moving and important way that I love to see on-screen.

The supporting cast are great, too (though this is definitely Saorise’s film). Both Domhnall Gleeson and Emory Cohen give subtle performances that are brimming with emotion, and Jim Broadbent is brilliant, as always. I wished he’d been in more scenes.

The score, by Michael Brook, is gorgeous, too.

I already want to see it again.

Trailer