'Brooklyn' – directed by John Crowley
Setting: Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford & Brooklyn, New York
Time period: Early 1950s
Genre: Romantic coming-of-age drama
Charcaters: Eilish Lacey - main character
Mrs Lacey - Eilish’s mother
Rose - Eilish’s older sister
Miss Kelly - snobbish employer, shop owner
Tony Fiorello - Italian-American boyfriend, later Eilish’s husband
Jim Farrell - Eilish’s suitor (love interest) in Wexford
Mrs Kehoe - Boarding house matriarch
Georgina - savvy, witty Irish woman she meets on the boat
Nancy - Eilish’s best friend
George Sheridan Nancy’s suitor (love interest)
Frankie - Tony’s younger brother
Father Flood - Catholic priest in New York
Miss Fortini - Eilish’s boss in New York
Opening -> Arrival in USA
1. Literary Genre (LG)
Consider the title of this film, Brooklyn, as compared to The Great Gatsby. What connotations and expectations do the two titles have in relation to what you know about the texts so far? Which of the titles is more interesting and why?
What mise en scene / directorial choices are used to establish location? What do they tell us about this world that we are about to enter?
Consider the choice of camerawork when the ship is leaving the port. What mood is evoked and how?
How is comedy used in the opening sequence and to what effect?
How is dialogue used to emphasise social class, and how is this similar to The Great Gatsby?
What might the boat be a metaphor for in this text?
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
As viewers, where does the opening sequence place us? How is atmosphere created and what does it say about the director’s perception of Ireland in the 1950s?
What kind of person is Miss Kelly through her actions and words, and what kind of influence does she have over Eilish? How does she contrast to Georgina later in the sequence and what might this tells us about Eilish’s move to America in general?
As a villain in this text how does Miss Kelly compare to Tom Buchanan in GG?
Do you consider Eilish’s home life to be supportive and what gives you this impression or otherwise?
Do you think the opening sequence is generally a hopeful, optimistic view of the world or not, and why?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
How would you describe Eilish’s personality at the start of the text and what are the main influences on this in your opinion?
When Eilish goes out with Nancy, what are her impressions of her current life, and how does nacy respond?
How does Eilish’s “escape” to the USA compare or contrast to Nick’s moving to the east coast at the start of GG? Which of the two seems more sincere to you and who has the most to learn?
Who would you consider more secure in their identity on our first meeting of them – Eilish or Jay Gatsby – and why?
Arrival in USA -> The Dance
1. Literary Genre (LG)
How does the director use humour in this sequence, and to what effect? Are there any instances of humour used by Fitzgerald in GG and, if so, how do they compare?
What parallels do we see between Ireland and the USA? What are the main differences and by what means does the director portray these?
In the scenes where Eilish is reading her letters, how is time shown to move on? Consider the montage used by the director – what changes do we notice in Eilish over this time?
How are 1) clothing and 2) music/songs used as a cinematic tools in this film, and how do they compare/contrast to how Fitzgerald uses them in GG?
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
What are our first impressions, as viewers, of the USA, and how is it portrayed as different to Ireland? What juxtapositions are used and where exactly do we find them?
What do you notice about the night class that Eilish is attending, and what does it tell us about the perception of women in 1950s USA? How is this similar or different to GG?
How is Eilish treated in the boarding house and what does this say about the author’s percetion of relationships in America? Is it an optimistic or pessimistic outlook, and how does this compare to how relationships are perceived in GG?
How do you feel when watching the Christmas scene at the charity kitchen? What does this say about the American Dream, and how is this different to Gatsby’s vision of it?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
Does Eilish’s character develop a little throughout this sequence, and how is this noticeable?
What characters help to support Eilish’s settling in to her new environment and in what ways?
How is Eilish’s loneliness portrayed in this sequence and how does she cope with this?
Which of the two characters, Eilish in Brooklyn or Nick in GG, do you consider to have a stronger sense of identity in the early part of the two texts? Give a number of reasons for your answer.
The Dance -> “I love you too”
1. Literary Genre (LG)
What possible symbols can you identify in this sequence and how do they contribute to the overall telling of the story?
How is dialogue used effectively to show ethnic differences in Brooklyn?
How is the motif of letters developing throughout the film, and what do they contribute to the overall mood?
Identify the key scene in this sequence and justify your choice.
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
What are our first impressions of Tony as a character? How is his character and his vision of the world different to 1) Jay Gatsby’s, and 2) the men that Eilish left behind in Ireland?
How is Eilish and Tony’s blossoming love relationship portrayed and what does this tell us about the film’s perception of love in general? What is seen to be important with regard to relationships as compared to GG?
How do Tony’s family treat Eilish around the dinner table? What impression of them do you get from their various interactions, and what does this say about the Italian-American community?
What do Frankie’s comments suggest about ethnic tensions in Brooklyn at the time? Why do you feel that the director chooses to address these in a hunorous / harmless way?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
How is Eilish seen to be developing in confidence throughout this sequence? Consider her interaction with others and the choices that she makes.
How does Tony put Eilish at ease in the early stages of their relationship and how does she respond to this in general?
Why, in your opinion, does the author choose for Eilish to delay in telling Tony that she loves him? What does she learn in the interim period when talking to Sheila?
“I love you too” -> Rose’s graveside
1. Literary Genre (LG)
How is colour used in this sequence and to what effect?
What contribution do letters make to the unfolding of the plot in this sequence?
How does the director handle the key moment of the news of Rose’s death?
How is humour used in this sequence and what does it reveal about certain characters?
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
How do various characters react to Eilish’s exam results? What does this say about their general attitude towards education? Would this be different to attitudes in Ireland in the 1950s, in your opinion?
Describe Tony’s dreams for their future lives together. What is he trying to do here do you think, and why? Does this compare to Gatsby’s behaviour in any way?
Compare / contrast the relationship of Eilish and Tony to that of Jay Gatsby and Daisy. Which is the more authentic, and why in your opinion? Which text’s vision and viewpoint of love is more optimistic?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
How is Eilish’s growing independence and maturity demonstrated in this sequence?
Identify the moment of complication in Eilish’s life. What further complications / problems are placed in her way, and how does Eilish deal with these?
What doubts does Eilish have after news of Rose’s death, and do you empathise with her dilemma?
What does Eilish say by Rose’s graveside and how important are these words / sentiments in relation to the storyline?
Rose’s graveside -> Jim’s proposal
1. Literary Genre (LG)
What parallels are made by the director to compare/contrast Ireland and the USA on Eilish’s return? Consider the following: the beach scene, meeting of parents, dinner in the restaurant, the marriage proposal, etc.
How is the letters motif developed and how does it further the plot?
What symbols can be found in this sequence? Consider the mise en scene.
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
What does Eilish’s return to Ireland highlight regarding the differences in outlook of the characters (and, by extension, the author) in contrast to the USA?
How does Jim contrast to Tony in his courtship of Eilish? What is important to Jim that may not be as important to Tony?
Do you sympathise with Eilish’s mother’s predicament? What does she do to try to hold on to Eilish? How does she compare/contrast to Gatsby’s father?
What are the positives and negatives of small-town Ireland as evidenced in this sequence?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
How do Eilish’s friends and family react to her return, and how does Eilish respond to this?
How is Eilish’s behavior different in Ireland to how she is in the USA?
What are her impressions of Irish men at first and how and why does this change over the course of her month back home?
Setting: Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford & Brooklyn, New York
Time period: Early 1950s
Genre: Romantic coming-of-age drama
Charcaters: Eilish Lacey - main character
Mrs Lacey - Eilish’s mother
Rose - Eilish’s older sister
Miss Kelly - snobbish employer, shop owner
Tony Fiorello - Italian-American boyfriend, later Eilish’s husband
Jim Farrell - Eilish’s suitor (love interest) in Wexford
Mrs Kehoe - Boarding house matriarch
Georgina - savvy, witty Irish woman she meets on the boat
Nancy - Eilish’s best friend
George Sheridan Nancy’s suitor (love interest)
Frankie - Tony’s younger brother
Father Flood - Catholic priest in New York
Miss Fortini - Eilish’s boss in New York
Opening -> Arrival in USA
1. Literary Genre (LG)
Consider the title of this film, Brooklyn, as compared to The Great Gatsby. What connotations and expectations do the two titles have in relation to what you know about the texts so far? Which of the titles is more interesting and why?
What mise en scene / directorial choices are used to establish location? What do they tell us about this world that we are about to enter?
Consider the choice of camerawork when the ship is leaving the port. What mood is evoked and how?
How is comedy used in the opening sequence and to what effect?
How is dialogue used to emphasise social class, and how is this similar to The Great Gatsby?
What might the boat be a metaphor for in this text?
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
As viewers, where does the opening sequence place us? How is atmosphere created and what does it say about the director’s perception of Ireland in the 1950s?
What kind of person is Miss Kelly through her actions and words, and what kind of influence does she have over Eilish? How does she contrast to Georgina later in the sequence and what might this tells us about Eilish’s move to America in general?
As a villain in this text how does Miss Kelly compare to Tom Buchanan in GG?
Do you consider Eilish’s home life to be supportive and what gives you this impression or otherwise?
Do you think the opening sequence is generally a hopeful, optimistic view of the world or not, and why?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
How would you describe Eilish’s personality at the start of the text and what are the main influences on this in your opinion?
When Eilish goes out with Nancy, what are her impressions of her current life, and how does nacy respond?
How does Eilish’s “escape” to the USA compare or contrast to Nick’s moving to the east coast at the start of GG? Which of the two seems more sincere to you and who has the most to learn?
Who would you consider more secure in their identity on our first meeting of them – Eilish or Jay Gatsby – and why?
Arrival in USA -> The Dance
1. Literary Genre (LG)
How does the director use humour in this sequence, and to what effect? Are there any instances of humour used by Fitzgerald in GG and, if so, how do they compare?
What parallels do we see between Ireland and the USA? What are the main differences and by what means does the director portray these?
In the scenes where Eilish is reading her letters, how is time shown to move on? Consider the montage used by the director – what changes do we notice in Eilish over this time?
How are 1) clothing and 2) music/songs used as a cinematic tools in this film, and how do they compare/contrast to how Fitzgerald uses them in GG?
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
What are our first impressions, as viewers, of the USA, and how is it portrayed as different to Ireland? What juxtapositions are used and where exactly do we find them?
What do you notice about the night class that Eilish is attending, and what does it tell us about the perception of women in 1950s USA? How is this similar or different to GG?
How is Eilish treated in the boarding house and what does this say about the author’s percetion of relationships in America? Is it an optimistic or pessimistic outlook, and how does this compare to how relationships are perceived in GG?
How do you feel when watching the Christmas scene at the charity kitchen? What does this say about the American Dream, and how is this different to Gatsby’s vision of it?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
Does Eilish’s character develop a little throughout this sequence, and how is this noticeable?
What characters help to support Eilish’s settling in to her new environment and in what ways?
How is Eilish’s loneliness portrayed in this sequence and how does she cope with this?
Which of the two characters, Eilish in Brooklyn or Nick in GG, do you consider to have a stronger sense of identity in the early part of the two texts? Give a number of reasons for your answer.
The Dance -> “I love you too”
1. Literary Genre (LG)
What possible symbols can you identify in this sequence and how do they contribute to the overall telling of the story?
How is dialogue used effectively to show ethnic differences in Brooklyn?
How is the motif of letters developing throughout the film, and what do they contribute to the overall mood?
Identify the key scene in this sequence and justify your choice.
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
What are our first impressions of Tony as a character? How is his character and his vision of the world different to 1) Jay Gatsby’s, and 2) the men that Eilish left behind in Ireland?
How is Eilish and Tony’s blossoming love relationship portrayed and what does this tell us about the film’s perception of love in general? What is seen to be important with regard to relationships as compared to GG?
How do Tony’s family treat Eilish around the dinner table? What impression of them do you get from their various interactions, and what does this say about the Italian-American community?
What do Frankie’s comments suggest about ethnic tensions in Brooklyn at the time? Why do you feel that the director chooses to address these in a hunorous / harmless way?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
How is Eilish seen to be developing in confidence throughout this sequence? Consider her interaction with others and the choices that she makes.
How does Tony put Eilish at ease in the early stages of their relationship and how does she respond to this in general?
Why, in your opinion, does the author choose for Eilish to delay in telling Tony that she loves him? What does she learn in the interim period when talking to Sheila?
“I love you too” -> Rose’s graveside
1. Literary Genre (LG)
How is colour used in this sequence and to what effect?
What contribution do letters make to the unfolding of the plot in this sequence?
How does the director handle the key moment of the news of Rose’s death?
How is humour used in this sequence and what does it reveal about certain characters?
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
How do various characters react to Eilish’s exam results? What does this say about their general attitude towards education? Would this be different to attitudes in Ireland in the 1950s, in your opinion?
Describe Tony’s dreams for their future lives together. What is he trying to do here do you think, and why? Does this compare to Gatsby’s behaviour in any way?
Compare / contrast the relationship of Eilish and Tony to that of Jay Gatsby and Daisy. Which is the more authentic, and why in your opinion? Which text’s vision and viewpoint of love is more optimistic?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
How is Eilish’s growing independence and maturity demonstrated in this sequence?
Identify the moment of complication in Eilish’s life. What further complications / problems are placed in her way, and how does Eilish deal with these?
What doubts does Eilish have after news of Rose’s death, and do you empathise with her dilemma?
What does Eilish say by Rose’s graveside and how important are these words / sentiments in relation to the storyline?
Rose’s graveside -> Jim’s proposal
1. Literary Genre (LG)
What parallels are made by the director to compare/contrast Ireland and the USA on Eilish’s return? Consider the following: the beach scene, meeting of parents, dinner in the restaurant, the marriage proposal, etc.
How is the letters motif developed and how does it further the plot?
What symbols can be found in this sequence? Consider the mise en scene.
2. Vision and Viewpoint (VV)
What does Eilish’s return to Ireland highlight regarding the differences in outlook of the characters (and, by extension, the author) in contrast to the USA?
How does Jim contrast to Tony in his courtship of Eilish? What is important to Jim that may not be as important to Tony?
Do you sympathise with Eilish’s mother’s predicament? What does she do to try to hold on to Eilish? How does she compare/contrast to Gatsby’s father?
What are the positives and negatives of small-town Ireland as evidenced in this sequence?
3. Theme / Issue (The search for identity)
How do Eilish’s friends and family react to her return, and how does Eilish respond to this?
How is Eilish’s behavior different in Ireland to how she is in the USA?
What are her impressions of Irish men at first and how and why does this change over the course of her month back home?