In a time when immigration often carries a negative connotation in our highly sensitive culture, In America breaks many boundaries. It tells the story of an Irish immigrant family struggling to survive, both physically and emotionally, in New York City during the early 1980s. Directed and co-written by Jim Sheridan, the story serves as a semi-autobiographical outlet for his touching experiences as a child.

Johnny (Paddy Considine) and Sarah (Samantha Morton) move from Ireland to New York City with their two young daughters, Christy and Ariel (Sarah and Emma Bolger), after losing their son, Frankie, to a brain tumor. Their journey begins through a checkpoint station at the Canadian border into the United States, and then a new world opens up to them as they arrive in New York City. They move into an apartment filled with drug addicts and prostitutes, but manage to build home inside the filthy walls. The two young daughters, played by real-life sisters, adapt quickly to the American culture. When roaming the halls looking for treats on Halloween, they meet their neighbor, an isolated, African-American artist, Mateo (Djimon Hounsou). The resulting interaction between the characters sparks a surprising and climactic plot.

Finding a central theme in the film is difficult. Elements of fate, courage, struggle, and discovery are all included. The story is essentially told from the perspective of Christy, the 11 year-old daughter, but Jim Sheridan’s direction plunges into the depths of each character’s struggle. Johnny’s emotional void, caused by his son’s death, causes a rift within his own family. Sarah constantly struggles to keep the family strong through the difficulties faced by her husband’s struggling acting career. Mateo’s story is eventually told, adding to the somber mood of the first half of the film. The two daughters, however, seem to uplift everyone around them. The story is not about loss, rather the rebuilding done afterwards.

Some events in the film seem miraculous, only explained by three wishes made by Christy, given to her by her deceased brother Frankie. In America uses these magical moments to balance the struggles faced by Johnny and Sarah as they try to provide for their two daughters. The pain of losing a child still shows vividly in Johnny and Sarah’s actions, but the impact of Mateo’s encouragement allows a turning point in the film.
To enjoy a film like Jim Sheridan’s In America, the audience must be open to watching the family’s slow journey back to being “normal.” After coping with a complete change of environment, in addition to losing a family member, the Irish family ultimately finds comfort.

The film is dramatic and at times depressing, but certainly uplifting. The personal story of Jim Sheridan is touching and worthy of praise. His characters are intense and extremely real, conveyed simply through minimal dialogue. In America serves as not only a film describing the difficulty of surviving as a poor modern immigrant, but also as a triumphant tale of a family overcoming incredible odds. It certainly earned its three Oscar nominations through flawless acting and a strong, intimate story by Jim Sheridan.