Brooklyn Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A girl can’t decide between a plumber and a farmer while also trying to figure out if she likes Ireland or America more, so she just kinda… exists.

🍿 Brooklyn: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Leaving Ireland for Brooklyn

In 1951, Eilis Lacey, a young woman from a small Irish town, struggles to find opportunities. Her sister arranges for her to immigrate to Brooklyn, New York, with the help of Father Flood, a priest in Brooklyn. Eilis leaves behind her mother and sister, embarking on a journey to a new world filled with both promise and uncertainty. Eilis experiences severe seasickness during the voyage. Once she arrives in Brooklyn, she faces the challenges of adapting to a new culture and experiences intense homesickness. She finds solace in an Irish boarding house and begins working at a department store.

Finding Love and a New Life

Father Flood encourages Eilis to take bookkeeping classes, providing her with an opportunity to advance her career. At a local dance, she meets Tony Fiorello, a charming Italian plumber. Their relationship blossoms, and Eilis starts to feel more at home in Brooklyn. As Eilis becomes more confident and skilled, she excels in her studies and career. Her relationship with Tony deepens, and she is welcomed into his close-knit Italian family. Life in Brooklyn starts to feel like a true home.

Tragedy and a Return Home

Eilis receives devastating news that her sister, Rose, has passed away unexpectedly. Overwhelmed with grief and a sense of duty, she decides to return to Ireland to support her mother. Before leaving, Tony insists they get married secretly to solidify their commitment. Back in Ireland, Eilis finds herself drawn back into her old life. She is offered a promising job and catches the eye of Jim Farrell, a kind and eligible bachelor. Eilis is torn between her new life in Brooklyn with Tony and the familiar comforts of home.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan): A young Irish immigrant navigating love and identity between 1950s Brooklyn and her homeland.
• Tony Fiorello (Emory Cohen): A kind Italian plumber in Brooklyn who falls in love with Eilis.
• Jim Farrell (Domhnall Gleeson): An eligible bachelor in Ireland who complicates Eilis’s decision to return to Brooklyn.
• Rose Lacey (Fiona Glascott): Eilis’s caring older sister who arranges for her to immigrate to Brooklyn.
• Father Flood (Jim Broadbent): A kind priest in Brooklyn who sponsors Eilis’s immigration and helps her adjust to her new life.
• Mrs. Kehoe (Julie Walters): The traditionalist landlady of the Irish boarding house where Eilis lives in Brooklyn.
• Miss Kelly (Brid Brennan): The spiteful shopkeeper in Ireland who reveals Eilis’s secret marriage.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Eilis: “I’d forgotten what it was like.” – Eilis says this quietly upon returning to Ireland, realizing how much she had changed after living in Brooklyn.
• Mrs. Kehoe: “These are Italians. They know how to enjoy themselves.” – Mrs. Kehoe remarks about Tony’s family, highlighting the cultural differences and warmth Eilis experiences with them.
• Eilis: “I have to think like an American.” – Eilis expresses her determination to survive the homesickness, and her determination to make a life in America.
• Father Flood: “Homesickness is like most sicknesses. It will make you feel wretched, and it will pass.” – Father Flood comforts Eilis in her early days in Brooklyn, acknowledging the pain of being away from home.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $11,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $38,322,743
• Worldwide Gross: $62,402,155

💥 Brooklyn Reviews

Personal Review

I absolutely fell for “Brooklyn”. Saoirse Ronan’s performance is captivating. The scene where she’s homesick, staring out the window of her boarding house, just broke my heart. And then the joy when she meets Tony! I loved the Coney Island scenes, so vibrant and full of life. It’s a simple story, but it got me right in the feels. And the ending made me tear up of happiness.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of historical dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in immigration stories”
  • “Those who enjoy romance and coming-of-age films”
  • “Saoirse Ronan fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Brief mild language”
  • “Some thematic elements related to loss and grief”
  • “A scene involving seasickness”

Professional Reviews

• Awards Circuit: “Crowley and Hornby craft a beautiful love story with a classic style. Ronan delivers a confident performance, showing Ellis’s internal battle. Cohen is sensitive and charming, while Gleeson’s reservations are haunting. Impeccable construction from head to toe, capturing the heart and emotion of every word.
• Bob-the-movie-man: “A film for the “Marigold Hotel” set, Brooklyn delivers a beautifully told romantic story. Ronan is mesmeric, supported by an excellent cast including Julie Walters. Exquisite cinematography and period detail make the US scenes glow with nostalgia. A fill-em that should appeal to a broad audience.
• Dear Movie Goer: “Ronan brings a delicate performance to a romantic drama. The film chugs along at a leisurely pace as it fleshes out its interesting characters, even if their actions don’t always match their words. Warm nostalgic glow and the director provides some fine touches.

Audience Reactions

Ronan’s exceptional performance made the character and her choices feel authentic and relatable.: Viewers praised the film’s emotional depth, beautiful cinematography, and the performances of the cast, particularly Saoirse Ronan.

Overall Consensus: A heartwarming and beautifully acted period drama about love, loss, and the immigrant experience, with Saoirse Ronan’s performance being a standout.

Awards

1. BAFTA Award (Outstanding British Film)- 2016

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director John Crowley divided this movie into three different visual movements. The first movement is before Eilis Lacey leaves post-war Ireland and is with tight frames and filled with green tones. The second movement begins when Eilis leaves for Brooklyn, and the first proper wide shot is featured, while the colors become more playful as a nod to how America in 1952 was on the cusp of pop culture kicking off. The third movement is back in Ireland, brighter, more glamorous, and “subtly more colorful” than the first movement, showcasing how Eilis has changed.”
• “Curracloe Beach in County Wexford, Ireland, served as the filming location for the beach scenes in Ireland, providing an authentic backdrop for Eilis’s initial life.”
• “Screenwriter Nick Hornby, known for his adaptations of novels like “About a Boy,” brought his talent to adapt Colm Tóibín’s novel, ensuring a faithful yet cinematic portrayal of the story.”

🖥️ How to Watch Brooklyn?

Brooklyn is available to stream on various platforms. You can find it on Prime Video with a subscription or for purchase. It’s also available on Apple TV for purchase or rental. Other platforms offering it include Vudu, Google Play Movies, and YouTube Movies. Check your local listings for availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Brooklyn, you might like these similar films:

• The Immigrant (2013): A drama about a Polish immigrant in 1920s New York, facing similar struggles of adjusting to a new life and making difficult choices.
• Far and Away (1992): An epic historical romantic drama about Irish immigrants in America, specifically focusing on their journey and hardships.
• An American Tail (1986): An animated movie about a Russian mouse who immigrates to the United States, capturing the themes of immigration, hope, and the search for a better life during the same era.
• Call Me By Your Name (2017): Focuses on the themes of discovering identity, relationships, and finding oneself in a new cultural environment, particularly in the context of young love and exploration, similar to Eilis’s journey of self-discovery.

🛒 Brooklyn Related Products

• Brooklyn [Blu-ray]: Own the beautifully shot and acted film. The Blu-ray edition includes bonus features like behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes.
• Brooklyn (Colm Toibin) – Paperback: Read the award-winning novel by Colm Toibin that inspired the film, offering deeper insights into Eilis’s inner thoughts and experiences.
• Vintage 1950s Dresses: Inspired by the dresses worn in “Brooklyn”, these vintage-style dresses capture the essence of 1950s fashion.

🎧 Soundtrack

Brooklyn features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Teddy O’Neill” – performed by Traditional, Arranged by John Carty

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

SML Movie: Brooklyn Guy’s New Wife!

Join the millions who have watched and loved this hilarious and insightful analysis of Brooklyn Guy’s misadventures in finding a new wife. Get ready for a side-splitting yet thought-provoking dive into the movie’s characters and themes.

SML Movie: Brooklyn Guy The Babysitter!

Prepare for non-stop laughter as you watch Brooklyn Guy fumble through his babysitting duties in this hilarious video. With over 18 million views, it’s a testament to the engaging content and humor that fans of the movie will adore.

SML Movie: Brooklyn Guy’s Thanksgiving!

Get ready for a hilarious Thanksgiving feast with Brooklyn Guy! This video, with over 16 million views, captures the essence of the movie’s holiday spirit while delivering plenty of laughs.

SML Movie: Brooklyn Guy’s Dad!

Discover a new side to Brooklyn Guy as he interacts with his father in this heartwarming and humorous video. With over 13 million views, it’s a must-watch for fans seeking a deeper understanding of the character’s relationships.

✨ Rate