DVD movie commentary

Bored in New York? Nah.

Irish lass Eilis is far from New York. She is yawning during a church service, in her home town of Ireland. Her mother prays earnestly next to her, in Brooklyn (2015).

I have seen that sort of thing before, somewhere. There is also the one about a boy’s mind wandering in church, but the list of bored premises and stories is endless.

We get bored. That’s life at its most drab.

Eilis’ girlfriend appears to think that the local club rugby player will brighten her ordinary day.

Ireland seems very ordinary in this movie.

In this town, there might not be any nightclubs or exciting things like circuses and fairgrounds, but they have each other, which seems to matter the most.

Then, there is one of those potentially life changing events. Eilis is given an opportunity to go to Brooklyn, New York, in the United States, the ‘land of opportunity’.

Family is still important to her, but so is making something more of her life.

It’s the 1950s, so the post-war boom is in full swing in the States.  In Ireland, though they want to make a go of life, living is harder. Eilis takes a boat to New York and takes the land of opportunity by the horns.

New York is not boring. Charming Italian-American Tony approaches Eilis at an Irish dance hall and he may be looking for a marriage partner. To cut a long story short, love is in the air.

There is something else to factor in, of a different kind to boredom. This is about making a choice.

Eilis feels the pressure of family to stay in Ireland and pleasing them or make a life-long commitment in the States a country which has been good to her. This is less about New York being exciting and Ireland dull. This is a compelling choice for Eilis that will certainly change her life direction and affect the lives of others, either way she goes.

This is a challenge which is potentially painful for all involved, but a choice that must be taken.

For the simple things of life, like just being bored with the television.

Warnings—sex scene, brief coarse language

Notes:  Saoirse Ronan (Eilis), Emory Cohen (Tony), Nick Hornby (writer), based on the novel by Colm Toibin, John Crowley (director)