Full Review

A largely autobiographical labor of love from co-writer/director Jim Sheridan ("My Left Foot," "In the Name of the Father"), the movie is seen from the innocent perspective of the couple's daughter, Christy (Sarah Bolger), who chronicles their first year in a teeming apartment building inhabited by the desperate and the addicted. Yet it is not a depressing opus; on the contrary it can be seen as a testament to faith, hope and charity, tried, tested and true.

Little by little we learn that parents Johnny and Sarah (Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton) have left Ireland unable to bear the daily reminders of their adored toddler son, tragically lost to a brain tumor. Wracked by grief, Johnny has bottled up all his emotions yet hopes to find work as an actor.

But harsh urban realities set in as he struggles to pay the rent as a night-shift cabbie and his ex-teacher wife makes minimum wage at an ice cream parlor. Their real focus, however, is on 6-year-old Ariel (Emma Bolger) and precocious Christy, who soon know everyone in the neighborhood, charming beggars and winos alike.

Settled in Catholic school, the small girls swallow their pride wearing homemade Halloween costumes and go from door to door in their building -- including to the forbidden door of The Man Who Screams, a sickly and angry African-American artist named Mateo (Djimon Hounsou). His ferocious demeanor soon cracks when the twosome show huge interest in him and his pitch-black paintings. Their mom invites him up to dinner and awkwardness gradually gives way to openness and friendship.

Conflict arises when Mom finds herself in a high-risk pregnancy, and, terrified at the thought of losing her, Dad implies she should terminate the pregnancy, something she won't consider for a moment. Mateo meanwhile is in his own crisis as what is obviously HIV begins a dance of death with him. As the little ones pray for their mom, the baby and their friend Mateo, Dad must confront his anger with God and fears for the future. The fact-based story rings true and is emotionally involving, especially because of the wonderfully natural performances of the young Bolger sisters. Their sweetness, curiosity and optimism in the face of poverty is entirely credible and fuels the heart of the story. And there is a true spiritual dimension to the story along the lines of love thy neighbor as thyself, and in the faith the mother and children exhibit, an example that helps to heal the father's hardened heart. Considine, Morton and Hounsou are also in top form in their roles navigating emotional roller coasters of grief, denial, rage and acceptance in the course of the story.

Co-written with Sheridan's two daughters, Naomi and Kirsten Sheridan, the script captures the bewildering frenzy of the overcrowded streets and the often disturbed or destitute denizens of the family's shabby apartment building.

The family's devotion to one another, hope, and sheer will power to survive come thoroughly strongly and movingly even as tragedy has scarred their past and may threaten their future.

Although it is a film about a family seeking the American dream, it's not suitable for the whole family given its sometimes edgy content dealing with a violent environment of substance abuse, harsh language and a bedroom scene with the parents.

Nonetheless, the transforming relationship between the family and the artist, set in the backdrop of the immigrant experience, makes "In America" a film of exceptional note and remarkable performances.

Due to a shadowy married sexual encounter with momentary nudity, fleeting violence and drug references, minimal profanity and an instance of rough language, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

These movies have been evaluated for artistic merit and moral suitability by the media reviewing division of Catholic News Service. The reviews include the CNS rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.

The classifications are as follows:

A-I -- general patronage;
A-II -- adults and adolescents;
A-III -- adults;
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
O -- morally offensive.

Note: Some movies previously were designated A-IV. Older films with this classification should be regarded as classified L.