My award for the cutest on-screen family EVER goes to In America‘s Sullivan family. There’s moon-faced mom Sarah (the cherubic Samantha Morton). There’s the scruffy yet sweet dad Johnny (Paddy Considine). And then there’s their two freakin’ adorable daughters Christy and Ariel (played by real-life sisters Sarah and Emma Bolger). You just want to scoop them all up and give them a big friendly cuddle.
But there is more than a hint of sadness in their good-natured smiles. The Sullivans recently lost a young son named Frankie. Emigrating from Ireland to the United States, they are hoping to make a new start and leave some of their soul-crushing sadness behind. But the memory of Frankie still lingers—even while valiantly attempting to create fresh happy memories in their new home (a decrepit New York City apartment building), the empty space that Frankie filled in their lives threatens to break apart what spirit they still have left.
Such is the simple yet sweet story of In America, a tale that is roughly based on events in director Jim Sheridan’s life (he co-wrote the screenplay with daughters Naomi and Kirsten Sheridan). This family is one of the most well-rounded families I’ve seen depicted on screen. All members get equal time: Johnny struggles to find work as an actor while moonlightling as a cab driver; Sarah, a trained teacher, works at an ice-cream shop; Ariel (who is so goddamned adorable I can’t even believe it) provides the light and hope in the family; and Christy stolidly keeps the family together, even though no one else realizes it.
All of the actors are excellent, including Oscar-nominated Djimon Hounsou, who plays Mateo, an initially frightening neighbor whose bitter outlook on his AIDS-afflicted life is softened with his friendship with the Sullivans. Special note must be made of the Bolger sisters. They are so natural on screen, and are never cloyingly cute like so many wink-at-the-camera child actors these days. Emma’s portrayal of innocence and hope will bring a tear to your eye while making you laugh with delight, and Sarah’s maturity will make you ache for all children that are forced to grow up too soon.
By the end of In America, people were honking their noses into their hankies all throughout the theater. But In America makes you cry in a good way. This is a sweet and life-affirming film about kindness and letting go, and we sure could use more “nice” movies like this one.
