A beautiful story of love and loss, Saoirse Ronan’s acting stands out boldly in the role of Eilis as an Irish immigrant looking for work in America to support her family. Through tragic ends and new beginnings, Eilis goes from a young, innocent daughter to a New York woman.
As Eilis is forced to find work in America in the early 50s, she struggles to leave behind her home in Ireland. Eilis struggles living in the big city of New York and suffers terribly with homesickness. As she slowly but surely settles into American dream, Eilis meets an Italian/American man who she soon marries and is ready to settle down with. Everything seems to be falling into place, along with her successful job, up until a tragic event forces her to return to her hometown in Ireland. Eilis is suddenly reminded of the comforts of home as she returns. Once again everything seems to fall into place back at home as she is given a job and is welcomed back with open arms by old friends and family.
Eilis has to choose between her home and everything she has missed for so long, or her new blossoming life in the big city of New York. A whole new perspective on a coming of age film.