In America

"A new home. A new life. Seen through eyes that see everything."

Feb 6 2004 PG-13 1h 45m
Drama

A family of Irish immigrants adjusts to life on the mean streets of Hell's Kitchen while also grieving the death of a child.

Plot

Following the tragic death of their five-year-old son Frankie, Irish couple Johnny and Sarah Sullivan and their remaining two offspring, 10 year old Christy Sullivan and 5 year old Ariel Sullivan, emigrate illegally to the United States via Canada with little in their pockets. Their final destination is Manhattan where Johnny hopes to work as a stage actor. They move into a unit in a run town tenement housed primarily with drug addicts, transvestites and one tenant coined "the man who screams". They do whatever they can to eke out a supportive family environment in this difficult situation, the support which ultimately extends to those around them, most specifically "the screamer" who turns out to be an African-American artist named Mateo with AIDS. But the memory of Frankie hangs over the family in good and bad ways, especially as Sarah learns she's pregnant. Christy, who records their life's goings-on with her beloved camcorder, believes that the angel of Frankie has granted her three wishes, which she guards until absolutely needed.

Written by

Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan, Kirsten Sheridan

Directed by

Jim Sheridan

Production Countries

United States of America, Ireland

Production Companies

Irish Film Industry, Hell's Kitchen Films, East of Harlem (UK) Ltd

Languages

Español, English, Gaeilge

Awards

Nominated for 3 Oscars. 26 wins & 66 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
44,804
Average Rating
7.7 out of 10
Metascore
76
Popularity
NA