A Favorite Scene From Brooklyn
Thursday, December 24, 2015 at 5:00PM
Murtada here with a favorite 2015 scene and a warning. Please note this post divulges plot points for Brooklyn.
The setup: Irish immigrant Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) has been seeing her Brooklyn Italian beau Tony (Emory Cohen) for a few weeks when he surprises her with a declaration of love. Not knowing if she loves him back or how to respond, she looks for an answer from one of her house mates at Miss Kehoe's, Sheila (Nora Jane Noone).
Eilis with her housemates including Sheila on her right
This scene could easily be missed, or dismissed as insignificant. But it shouldn’t because as another wise fictional woman knows “life is what happens when you're waiting for a table" or when waiting to use the bathroom. It is a microcosm of the movie’s themes. The immigrant’s longing for their past life even as they know that the life they are building is good.
Eilis needed a push, someone to spur her to open her mind to her new life and to look forward instead of backwards. So she asks Sheila if she wants to get married. Sheila’s answer is full of wisdom yet very simple:
Would I get married again? No. I want to be waiting outside the bathroom of my boarding-house forever.
Of course I do. That’s why I go to that wretched dance every week. I want to be waiting outside my own bathroom. While some bad tempered fella with hair growing out of his ears reads the newspaper on the toilet.
And then she clinches it as only the all-knowing among us can:
And then I’ll wish I was back here, talking to you.
That’s what we all do. Aching for what we had and seldom enjoying what we have at the moment it is happening to us. Eilis knows this new life in Brooklyn - with or without Tony - is much better than what she had in Ireland. Yet she can’t help her broken heart that still brims with love for what she had. In the following scene she accepts Tony’s love, but it would take her many more months and a trip back home to finally get what Sheila was saying.
The scene is memorable for showing us the camaraderie that is enriching Eilis’ new life. That sense of a different community away from home is why we understand her final choice.
What was the moment that moved you most in Brooklyn?
Reader Comments (11)
Seriously, I was crying within ten minutes. Every moment between Emory Cohen and Saoirse Ronan. That ending. It's just so moving in it's sentiment.
That last voice over paired with the last scene was terrific; I'll admit it choked me up bit.
Absolutely loved every second of Brooklyn. Especially EVERY scene in the boarding house. I don't understand how Julie Walters isn't on every Supporting Actress shortlist - talk about your scene stealing, and without too much scenery chewing; an absolute master class. This scene is a perfect example of how generous the film is and how warmly it feels about each and every one of its characters. It's not entirely necessary that this message comes from Sheila, but I love that it does, giving the character and the actress a chance to shine.
Also: Brooklyn has EASILY the best ensemble of the year - so many different types and levels of fame, each creating vibrant, memorable characters, and working together seamlessly.
All the scenes where characters urged Eilis to move on, to accept her new life and work through the homesickness were the most rewarding for me. This scene was a standout, but also Miss Fortini giving icy counsel but especially when older sister Rose doesn't wait for the ship to start moving before leaving and pulling their mother with her. Crafty Rose, who set up the whole thing for Eilis to live in Brooklyn for a better life, knew that waving goodbye while the ship started pulling away would tug too hard at her little sister's heartstrings, so she didn't let it happen and shoved her sister headlong into a new world.
I love this post and the moment so much. One of so many great moments. This movie has really been staying with me - definitely one of the best of the year!!
Agree with everything. In a just world, this would win best picture.
In a harsh and cynical world sometimes truly good films still get made, and Brooklyn is well acted, well-crafted, and has so much heart. Why it isn't as big as "Boyhood" remains a mystery to me... but it does seem to have good word of mouth.
I have made two big moves in my life, and the homesickness rang true, but it's the scenes when Ronan first comes to New York. The newness and wonder of everything is mixed with the fear of how to survive. I love all of those boarding house scenes for conveying how she is soaking up everything and trying to cope.
As for the ending, I've seen this film twice and I cried both times.
Let's hope there is a little justice in the film world - best picture of the year and Ronan is best actress for me.
I am from India. i have not seen this movie,but my all my friends in America have seen 3 to 4 times .They told it is great movie from the last 5 years ,They told Oscar might be given to Saoirse Ronan this time,HOPE THAT HAPPENS THIS TIME. Saoirse Ronan is a timeless actress after Meryl Streep,Ronan is like young Meryl Streep ,when she was young, acting in great character roles
I had tears rolling down on the simplicity of the season,the way the voice over is articulated,the way Cohen gives his bag and goes over to Ronan,no big runs or swirling her round,the simpllcity of the film and the timelss themes is what made me well up.
I don't really have a favorite scene in Brooklyn even though I love the movie so much. But if I had to choose, I'd say any scene with Emory Cohen. He gives the film even more heart than it already had. I find it criminal that he is getting overlooked this awards season.
Brooklyn is one of my favorite movies of the year...