In America (2002)
- Starring:
- Samantha Morton, Paddy Considine, (more)
- Director(s):
- Jim Sheridan
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG13
- Category:
- Independent Films
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After chronicling various chapters of Irish history in such films as In the Name of the Father and The Field, writer/director Jim Sheridan turns his lens upon his own family's experiences immigrating to the United States in the aptly titled In America. The loosely autobiographical script centers on Johnny (Paddy Considine), a young actor sneaking his wife, Sarah (Samantha Morton), and daughters, Christy and Ariel (real-life sisters Sarah and Emma Bolger, respectively), over the Canadian border in the hopes of jump-starting his career in New York City. They soon find that America is not the land of boundless opportunity, however, as they move into a dank, dilapidated apartment building populated by drug dealers, transients, and thugs. Johnny doesn't snag auditions as easily as he may have hoped, and he and Sarah are forced to take meager jobs after spending their savings on food, rent, and utilities. Still in grief over the untimely death of their toddler son back in Ireland, the couple find their relationship further strained by the pressures of life in the city. Little by little, however, things begin to look up for the fiercely protective family unit, especially when they befriend an eccentric artist neighbor named Mateo (Djimon Hounsou). In America saw its world premiere at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival and played to enthusiastic crowds at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival before its theatrical release in the fall of that year. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 105 mins
Complete Cast:
- Samantha Morton - Sarah Sullivan
- Sarah Bolger - Christy Sullivan
- Djimon Hounsou - Mateo
- Elaine Grollman - Nun On School Steps
- Michael Sean Tighe - Frank
- Des Bishop - Stockbroker In Taxi
- Frank Wood - Paediatrician
- Guy Carleton - Man At Fair
- Eilish Scanlon - Nun Playing Piano
- Nick Dunning - Gynaecologist
- Randall Carlton - Immigration Officer
- Juan Hernandez - Papo
- Jason Killalee - assistant theatre director
- Jason Salkey - Tony
- Nye Heron - Blind Man
- Rene Millan - Steve
- David Wike - Barker
- Jer O'Leary - Thomas Bakewell
- Paddy Considine - Johnny Sullivan
- Emma Bolger - Ariel Sullivan
- Tom Murphy - Actor In Queue
- Bernadette Quigley - Hospital Administrator
- Regina Roe - Nurse
- Adrian Martinez - Shopkeeper
- Rodrigo Pineda Sanchez - Mexican Man Guitarist
- Neal Jones - Immigration Officer
- Kathleen King - Prize-Giving Nun
- Regina Roe - Administrator
- Ciaran Cronin - Frankie Sullivan
- Jennifer Seifert - Angela
- Gabriela Quintero Lopez - Mexican Woman Guitarist
- Merrina Millsapp - Marina
- Chary O'Dea - Mexican Woman With Child
- Molly Glynn - Sarah Mateo
- Sarah James - Papo's Girlfriend
- Bob Gallico - Theatre Director
- Director(s):
- Jim Sheridan
- Writer(s):
- Kirsten Sheridan, Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan
- Producer(s):
- Jim Sheridan, Arthur Lappin
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG13(Adult Language, Adult Situations)
- Categories:
- Independent Films
- Closed Captioning:
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- Subtitles:
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- 2003 - AFI Fest - Audience Award
- 2003 - American Film Institute - Best Picture
- 2003 - Flanders International Film Festival - Best Picture
- 2003 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Cinematography
- 2003 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Supporting Actor
- 2003 - National Board of Review - Best Original Screenplay
- 2003 - National Board of Review - Best Original Screenplay
- 2003 - National Board of Review - Best Original Screenplay
