Brooklyn (12A)

Directed by John Crowley
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domnhall Gleeson, Julie Walters

1950s Brooklyn is the new home of Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) a young woman who leaves her mother and sister for a new life in America. The film follows her struggles to adapt and deal with homesickness being thousands of miles away from her beloved family. When Eilis meets a young man, things are looking up, however news from home throws a spanner in the works!
An old fashioned drama, this is a slow moving but beautifully drawn tale anchored by a subtle leading turn by Ronan, one of the best young actors around. There is no melodrama or histrionics to her acting and it is probably not a showy enough role to win her the big awards but she is the heart and soul of the film. (NOTE: Actually Ronan IS being mentioned for awards which is great to see!)
The film will strike a chord with anyone who has had experience of leaving home excited for a new challenge and then finding it hard to adjust to being away from loved one and the places you know. Ronan's nuanced performance really portrays that tricky transition very well, as does Nick Hornby's script.
Very entertaining support from Julie Walters in another of her turns as an old Irish woman and I enjoyed seeing Felicity from Arrow (minus her glasses) pop up as one of the girls at the boarding house.
A tad slow moving but a touching story and beautifully made. Ronan is wonderful!

8/10

November 2015