Brooklyn

Main Plot

"Brooklyn" is a romantic drama that follows the journey of Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who emigrates from her small town in Ireland to Brooklyn, New York, in the 1950s. Seeking a better life, Eilis leaves behind her beloved sister and widowed mother to embark on her new journey. Upon arriving in Brooklyn, she initially struggles with homesickness but gradually adapitates to her new surroundings with the help of Father Flood, a kind priest who arranged for her travel to America. Eilis finds employment at a department store and enrolls in bookkeeping classes, aiming to improve her prospects. Her life takes a positive turn when she meets Tony, an Italian-American plumber. They fall in love, and Eilis begins to feel more at home in Brooklyn. However, her past catches up with her when she receives devastating news from Ireland, forcing her to choose between her old life and her new one. The film explores themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience, highlighting the emotional complexities of starting anew in a foreign land.

Characters

• Saoirse Ronan plays Eilis Lacey, a young Irish immigrant navigating love and life in 1950s Brooklyn, torn between her homeland and her new life in America.
• Emory Cohen plays Tony Fiorello, an Italian-American plumber who becomes the romantic interest of the Irish immigrant protagonist, Eilis, helping her navigate life in America.
• Domhnall Gleeson plays Jim Farrell, a potential love interest for the protagonist, Eilis, offering her a life in Ireland that competes with her American opportunities.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of the film "Brooklyn," directed by John Crowley, the protagonist Eilis Lacey, who has emigrated from Ireland to Brooklyn in the 1950s, faces a pivotal decision about her future. After returning to Ireland following her sister's death, Eilis becomes entangled in her old life, reconnecting with people from her past, including a former suitor, Jim Farrell. This reconnection presents Eilis with a potential life in Ireland that contrasts sharply with the one she began to build in Brooklyn with her Italian-American husband, Tony. Despite the appealing aspects of staying in Ireland, Eilis chooses to return to Brooklyn, her decision solidified by a sense of duty and love for Tony, as well as the realization that the opportunities and independence she has in America are more aligned with her personal growth and aspirations. The film ends with Eilis reuniting with Tony, affirming her commitment to her life in Brooklyn and to their future together. This conclusion underscores themes of self-discovery, choice, and the search for belonging, as Eilis navigates her complex identities and desires in two very different worlds.