Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13650 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-03-15
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 101 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
In America stars the incandescent Samantha Morton and Paddy Considine as two young Irish parents who have lost their only son. Trying to run away from their grief, they move (illegally) to a junkie-infested apartment building in New York City with their two daughters, Christy (Sarah Bolger) and Ariel (Emma Bolger). Though they struggle with meagre jobs and suffocatingly hot weather, a friendship with an artist in an apartment below them (Djimon Hounsou) becomes a catalyst that allows them to rebuild their family.

In America is splendidly acted throughout--of particular note are the two girls, real-life sisters whose on-screen charisma is clearly a family trait. But it's Morton who anchors the movie; her every emotion seems to glow from her skin. The commitment of the actors keeps the movie compelling, despite some dangerously sentimental patches. --Bret Fetzer

Special Features

• Jim Sheridan audio commentary
  
• 10 deleted scenes
  
• Featurette: A Personal Journey: The Making Of In America

DVD Technical Information:

• Running Time: 101 mins
  
• Region Code: 2
  
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Wide Screen/1.85 Wide Screen
  
• Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired
  
• Soundtrack: Dolby Digital 5.1: English

Synopsis
Jim Sheridan's autobiographical film, IN AMERICA, begins as Irish immigrants Johnny (Paddy Considine, ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS), his wife Sarah (Samantha Morton, SWEET & LOWDOWN), and their two daughters drive their wood-panelled station wagon across the Canadian border and into the United States. As they enter New York City at night, 10-year-old Christy (Emma Bolger) records the lights, skyscrapers, and general excitement on her camcorder. Her little sister Ariel (Sarah Bolger) coos at all there is to see, and the whole family is filled with new hope. With no money to live on, they settle into the top floor of a tenement block inhabited by transvestites and drug addicts. The dilapidated building is at first intimidating, but with a little redecorating and a change of perspective, the family turns it into a bohemian paradise. While Johnny goes to auditions, trying to get his break as an actor, Sarah works at the ice cream shop down the street and the girls go to Catholic school. A budding friendship with their ominous neighbour, Mateo (Djimon Hounsou), brings a much-needed spirituality to the family's happy but difficult struggle to survive.
A beautiful and touching film about the risks that families take striving for a colourful, successful, happy life, IN AMERICA is above all a tribute to New York City in all its glory: its diversity of people and opportunity, its violence and grit, and its sometimes overwhelming energy.

Customer Reviews

A real gem
Samantha Morton may well have deserved to win an Oscar based on this performance, but having seen the film again on the small screen I take comfort from the certain knowledge that she will one day win. Her performance as a grieving mother holding together her family and herself is subtle, moving and very powerful.
However, the role would mean nothing if she was not ably supported, and this is one of those films in which every single character extracts such realism that it is hard to believe that the dialogue spoken was ever just words on a piece of paper.
Paddy Considine is magnificent as the husband and father of a loving family that is breaking down from the inside, whilst struggling to find a role within this blackened unit.
But, the real wonder and find of this film are the two young girls.
Being real life sisters may have helped but, my god, they played with such resonance, such force that when watching the hospital scene I cried.
And I rarely cry.

Emotionally Honest and Fulfilling
Director Jim Sheridan ("In The Name Of The Father", "My Left Foot") has crafted one of the most emotionally honest and satisfying films in years. Paddy Considine (solid and tender) and Samantha Morton (emanating subtlety) star as Irish parents of two young girls who move to New York City to pursue Paddy's acting. The move is also a distraction from the recent loss of their young son. The summer heat is oppressive, the living conditions are near squalor and the local residents are junkies. Despite this gloom and terrible poverty, the family thrives happily, mostly due to the amazing resilience and resolve of the two young daughters. The loss of their son and an impending dangerous pregnancy are set against a backdrop of constant near danger and immense naivety (yet remarkable intuition) of the girls. Mateo, (Djimon Hounsou) the AIDS stricken painter downstairs befriends the girls and provides some of the most frightening and yet emotionally substantial moments in the film. Sheridan can take simple scenes like gambling the families rent money on a carnival doll for his child and turn it into pure suspense. The family is always in near crisis, yet they survive day by day, relishing everything those 'in America' take for granted. Sheridan portrays a wonderful story of loss, survival and love, but never becomes maudlin or overly sentimental. This is a rare film about real emotions.

In America
'In America' is a poignant film about an Irish family trying to survive in new york after the death of their young baby boy. The cast play their roles to perfection and Sam Morton excels as a mother trying to hold her family together. Paddy Considine is completely authentic as the father who fights to support his family, whilst fighting his own grief at the same time. The two delightful actresses who play his daughters (sisters in real life) are a joy to watch and are incredibly natural and unaffected in front of the camera. This film follows the family as they rebuild their lives and make friends with their artist neighbour who lives downstairs (played excellently by Djimon Hounsou) and it is wonderful to see the young siblings playing joyfully amidst the turmoil of their homelife, seemingly oblivious to the struggles the family has to endure. This is a touching film and one that will stay with you after you've watched it and it can easily be viewed again and again. Well worth a look.