America, America

The idealization of the American dream is a little overbearing but the film does a good job of portraying the human drama. Kazan keeps it interesting for nearly three hours by letting the viewer feel the lead's sense of ambition mixed with desperation and the hope that carries him through it.

It has it problems (some acting of varying quality to name one) but I'll let it slide purely for the grandiose, heartfelt, no bullshit way Kazan hams this very human drama home.

For me good films are those who can show you a part of human nature and you feel connected through another person's experiences to a bigger human community. Watching this movie I remember this because the story Elia puts is very personal and he speaks about his roots, he doesn't compromise for commercial taste. Watching the complex characters struggling was painful and the choices and people left behind in those choices where even more painful. The three hours passed by like nothing.

81.500

Exceptional and beautiful drama, a kind of auto-biopic for its director's family, one of the most poignant depictions of immigrant's struggles ever committed to fiction film.

The topic of mass migration period always kept me fascinated. The story Elia Kazan's uncle is true drama that is interesting to watch even for three hours. Just think I would feel the same if were him and could reach the land of opportunities in the beginning of the XX century.

#613

Elia Kazan's story of his uncle's epic journey from Turkey to Ellis Island. The trail is frought with hardship and treachery and terrible lessons. It's an excellent film all around, from Haskell Wexler's superb cinematography to the pacing (although quite long, it flows along smoothly) to the performances. I can't really think of any significant problems with it, except that it lacks a certain something to make it special. Still, a very fine piece of work, quite watchable and worthwhile.

562

668

# 659

Long and heavy, but Elia Kazan knows how to make 'em