In America: A Portrait of the Film

Sheridan's poignant film about an Irish immigrant family's 1980s move to New York receives a thorough treatment in this illustrated screenplay. The three forewords--written by Jim Sheridan and his daughters Naomi and Kirsten, who collaborated on the film--tell the story of the film's provenance: the movie is largely autobiographical, featuring an Irish man who comes to America with his wife and two daughters to make it in show business (much as Sheridan did himself). The lack of special effects sets this book apart from other illustrated screenplays; there isn't a whole lot on how the filmmakers created intricate scenes or costumes. However, the screenplay's moving story should be of interest not only to lovers of the film, but also to those fascinated by the experience of coming to a new country in search of a better life. The book also includes short essays on Sheridan's directing style, Declan Quinn's cinematography and shooting the film in New York (In America was one of the first productions to shoot in the city after September 11).