From Page to Screen: Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

Movie:

Brooklyn is a beautiful film that captures the uncertainty and heartbreak of growing up and moving away from all you’ve known.

Saorise Ronan plays Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who travels to Brooklyn because of a decision made by her older sister, Rose, so that Eilis can find a better life. Eilis is caught between the home, family, and friends she left in a tiny Irish town and the one that is ahead of her in Brooklyn. In Ireland, her life was mapped out for her–working at the local shop, marrying someone she grew up with, living near her mother and sister, and knowing exactly what life holds for her. In Brooklyn, life is full of the unknown. Every day, strangers can turn into friends, romance blossoms, and she doesn’t know where the road may take her. You don’t have to be an immigrant to understand the emotions that consume Eilis; anyone who has moved far away from home is familiar with the aching homesickness and loneliness she experiences and the push & pull of her two worlds.

Saorise Ronan is simply spectacular. In her quiet countenance she conveys a world of emotion. You feel sad for her when she cries herself to sleep and when she’s overwhelmed with America. You celebrate with her when she finally comes into her own, stepping up at work, learning how to chat with customers, and discovering romance with an earnest and sweet Italian boy. Without giving any spoilers, you empathize with her when just as her life in Brooklyn is settling into something exciting, she’s called back to Ireland. You feel nostalgia for your hometown just as Eilis does when she returns to Ireland. Life there doesn’t seem so stifling as it once used to, and,  perhaps, knowing how your life will unfold isn’t so bad after all. Watching Eilis make a decisions between her two worlds will have you holding your breath, wondering which she will pick.

Aside from Ronan, the cast–Jim Broadbent, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen, Julie Walters, and the rest–were all wonderful. They each embodied their characters, aiding in the strength of the movie. Also, the cinematography was gorgeous. It was full of precisely crafted shots that reflected the inner emotions of the character and story. Brooklyn is definitely a strong contender for Oscar season.

Book:

Admittedly I read the book years ago, but this is one of the rare instances in which I have enjoyed the movie much better than the book. However, Colm Tóibín is a wonderful writer—for without him Eilis’s story would not be told. Tóibín’s writing is very evocative. Coming from a small town in Ireland himself, he paints a picture of life there that I’m sure made the transition from book to film quite easy.

I think one of the major differences between the book and film is how Eilis is portrayed. Unlike the film, where Eilis seems alright with leaving Ireland (although sad about it), Tóibín writes extensively of Eilis’s reluctance to leave. She had no issue with marrying, raising children, and staying in Ireland. Throughout Brooklyn, Eilis is passive in her own life, doing what her sister wants her to do (move to America), having a relationship with the first man who loves her, etc. Things seem to happen to her, and she responds rather than acting on desires. In the film, Eilis seems to make decisions, albeit quietly.

In the end, the movie is definitely more clear cut of what Eilis’s choice is and where it will lead her. It was more satisfying for me to have it somewhat wrapped up.

Verdict:

Movie: A

Book: B+

Photos Credit: Scribner / Fox Searchlight