Search - In America on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Adult Language Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 05/11/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 45 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Total Copies: 45 Genres: Comedy Drama, Family Drama, Childhood Drama

After chronicling various chapters of Irish history in such films as In the Name of the Father and The Field, writer/director Jim Sheridan turns his lens upon his own family's experiences immigrating to the United States in the aptly titled In America. The loosely autobiographical script centers on Johnny (Paddy Considine), a young actor sneaking his wife, Sarah (Samantha Morton), and daughters, Christy and Ariel (real-life sisters Sarah and Emma Bolger, respectively), over the Canadian border in the hopes of jump-starting his career in New York City. They soon find that America is not the land of boundless opportunity, however, as they move into a dank, dilapidated apartment building populated by drug dealers, transients, and thugs. Johnny doesn't snag auditions as easily as he may have hoped, and he and Sarah are forced to take meager jobs after spending their savings on food, rent, and utilities. Still in grief over the untimely death of their toddler son back in Ireland, the couple find their relationship further strained by the pressures of life in the city. Little by little, however, things begin to look up for the fiercely protective family unit, especially when they befriend an eccentric artist neighbor named Mateo (Djimon Hounsou). In America saw its world premiere at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival and played to enthusiastic crowds at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival before its theatrical release in the fall of that year. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Samantha Morton - Sarah Sullivan
Paddy Considine - Johnny Sullivan
Sarah Bolger - Christy Sullivan
Emma Bolger - Ariel Sullivan
Djimon Hounsou - Mateo

Jim Sheridan's autobiographical tale of immigrant life in New York City, In America, makes its debut on DVD with a pair of transfers. The widescreen anamorphic transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is preferable to the standard full-frame image. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, while Spanish and French soundtracks have been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Sheridan in which he discusses how he took elements from his own life and put them into the film. Deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, and an alternate ending round out this solid package from 20th Century Fox. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide