The idea of Irish immigrants coming to the United States in order to break the bonds of poverty and turn their lives around sounds like a story straight out of a 19th-century novel. But apparently, this type of situation was still playing out in the early 1980s — and could very well still be going on today for all I know. The 2002 film In America presents just such a case as it details the struggles of a family of four as they try to survive in New York City.
Plot summary (with possible spoilers): Johnny (played by Paddy Considine), wife Sarah (Samantha Morton), and daughters Christy (Sarah Bolger) and Ariel (Emma Bolger) drive into the the United States from Canada, where they tell the border patrol that they’re simply planning on taking a short holiday. Their real goal, however, is to start over in New York City, even though they don’t know anyone there and don’t have any money to make the transition easier. Indeed, they end up taking an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen, a neighborhood known more for its junkies and dealers than anything else, because it’s all they can afford. They have to sell their car in order to come up with rent for the first few months.
Sarah then gets a job at a nearby ice cream parlor to bring in some cash, while Johnny, instead of finding regular employment that would provide the family with a steady income, goes to various auditions on Broadway. He spends most of his time reading scripts and taking care of the girls, but his lack of significant financial contribution puts a strain on the marriage. Moreover, it seems as though a past tragedy — the death of two-year-old son Frankie — casts a continual pall over the entire family.
Things come to a head when Sarah learns that she is pregnant again. Johnny must give up his dream of being an actor and get a “real” job driving cabs. Financial pressures continue to build, especially when Sarah’s hospital bills start to mount. Fortunately, the family has befriended Mateo (Djimon Hounsou), a tenant in their building who is dying of AIDS. After Mateo succumbs to the deadly virus, Johnny learns that he has paid off Sarah’s $30,000+ hospital fees, giving the family — and their new baby — a fresh start.
My Reaction: Although In America wasn’t a bad film, there was something “off” about it that prevented me from either sympathizing with the characters or caring about their plight. I can’t put my finger on just what it was about the film that turned me off; perhaps it was a combination of lots of minor issues that cropped up along the way.
For instance, for a family that clearly had financial difficulties right from the start, I couldn’t believe how completely irresponsible Johnny was. Why did it take him so long to stop going to auditions and get a real job? That should have been his first move, if you ask me. If he was so intent on becoming an actor, he could have worked the night shift or got a gig as a waiter — something where he’d still be able to attend auditions during the day.
And do I even need to talk about that ridiculous gambling scene at the carnival? While I have to admit that it was a good, tension-filled scene (as far as the movie goes), it was just about the most irresponsible thing a parent could have done in that situation. Well, make that “parents”, because Sarah kept feeding Johnny’s insanity during the episode. Digging into the rent money in an attempt to win a stupid E.T. doll? That was so dumb that I instantly lost all respect for the guy right then and there.
Maybe I was also a bit put off by the fact that their Hell’s Kitchen apartment was bigger and more nicely furnished than several of the places I’ve lived in. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I just had to sell my car for rent, the last thing I’d be spending the leftover money on is interior paint so I could decorate the place. Wouldn’t food, clothing, and necessary appliances be more of a priority? Again, though this might be a minor point in the grand scheme of things, it just served to reinforce my negative feelings about the film.
Overall, I thought In America could have been a good story if executed in a different way. The characters simply weren’t very likable, so I didn’t care for them one way or the other. Maybe if there had been more of a genuine struggle with poverty instead of people just throwing their money away, I would have become more interested in their plight. As the film stands, however, I give it 6.0 stars out of 10.