Brooklyn
The brief
Saoirse Ronan delivers a beautifully restrained performance as a young Irish woman torn between the familiar comfort of home and the uncertain promise of 1950s Brooklyn. The film moves with the gentle, deliberate pace of memory itself, letting small moments - a letter from home, a dance lesson, a kind gesture - carry enormous emotional weight. It's old-fashioned in the best way, treating romance and immigration with equal seriousness and zero cynicism. Perfect for fans of Call Me By Your Name or anyone who believes the quietest movies often hit the hardest.
The verdict
If you appreciate gentle character studies that find profound emotion in everyday moments and have patience for deliberate pacing, this is a quietly powerful gem anchored by Saoirse Ronan's luminous performance. If you need faster plotting or more dramatic stakes to stay engaged, the film's contemplative rhythm and old-fashioned storytelling approach will likely test your attention span.
Watch with
- 👫 Perfect for a thoughtful date night
- 👤 Fans of quiet, character-driven stories
- ⚠️ May bore viewers seeking fast-paced plots
Heads up
- Brief implied sexual content (brief)
- Emotional themes of homesickness and loss (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- John Crowley
- Cast
- Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Jessica Paré, Eve Macklin
Official synopsis
In 1950s Ireland and New York, young Eilis Lacey has to choose between two men and two countries.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Whisper of the Heart (1995)
Both follow young women facing life-changing choices about love and future.
Total runtime: 1h 51m + 1h 51m = 3h 42m
