Review of Brooklyn (2015) by Athallah A — 28 Mar 2016

Saoirse Ronan stars in Brooklyn, a coming-of-age period drama. Set in the 1950s, an Irish immigrant makes a new life for herself in America, falling in love and getting an education, but when the death of her sister calls her back to Ireland she's torn between returning to her old life and embracing her new one.

Ronan gives a very strong and nuanced performance; doing an impressive job at showing the transformation of her character from a timid and frighten girl to a self-confident woman. Additionally, the costumes and set designs are extraordinarily well-done, giving an incredibly authentic feel for the time period.

But the pacing is rather slow and monotonous, and several of the characters are underdeveloped. Yet overall, Brooklyn is a compelling film about the immigration experience.