"There are some things you should wish for, and some you shouldn't."
-- Christy, IN AMERICA
From master storyteller Jim Sheridan ("My Left Foot," "In The Name of the Father") comes a deeply personal and emotionally raw tale of a family finding its soul IN AMERICA. Through the wide-open eyes of two young heroines, Sheridan transforms a devastating human tragedy into a riveting, humor-tinged story about memory, secrets, love, loss, coming together and starting over .
To begin all over again is a classic American dream. But it's remarkably hard to do, as Irish émigrés Johnny and Sarah (PADDY CONSIDINE and SAMANTHA MORTON) discover when they hit the streets of modern-day Manhattan, their two spunky young daughters in tow, and emerge into a realm as comical and adventure-filled as it is strange and terrifying. The family faces a dizzying new future -- but first they must face down a past that haunts every single one of them.
With no cash to spare, Johnny and Sarah settle into a chaotic New York tenement and attempt to turn the dilapidated setting into a true home. From dragging an iffy-looking air conditioner across Manhattan to finding make-do jobs, nothing comes without a fight for the couple. And yet, while they see America as rife with challenges, dangers and weirdness, their daughters see it as a magical place where anything can happen, a place that might release them all from the anguish of what has come before. Then, on Halloween, Christy and Ariel (sisters SARAH and EMMA BOLGER) dare to knock on the door of "the screaming man," a reclusive neighbor named Mateo (DJIMON HOUNSOU), and everything changes. As the family heads for a crisis, Mateo becomes their unlikely ally in the territory where hope, faith and even magic hold sway.
Based in part on Jim Sheridan's own autobiographical experiences coming to the United States, IN AMERICA is directed by Sheridan from a script by Sheridan and his two daughters, Naomi Sheridan and Kirsten Sheridan. The cast includes Academy Award® nominee for "Sweet and Lowdown" Samantha Morton ("Minority Report"), Paddy Considine ("24 Hour Party People"), Djimon Hounsou ("Amistad," "Gladiator") and sisters Sara Bolger ("A Love Divided") and Emma Bolger (in her feature film debut). The film is produced by Jim Sheridan and Arthur Lappin
SAMANTHA MORTON (Sarah)
Samantha Morton earned an Academy Award nomination in 2000 for her role opposite Sean Penn in Woody Allen's SWEET AND LOWDOWN. She was most recently in Steven Spielberg's sci-fi epic MINORITY REPORT opposite Tom Cruise; in Alison McLean's JESUS' SON based on the book by Denis Johnson; and drew critical acclaim in the title role of Lynne Ramsay's MORVERN CALLAR. Morton will next be seen with Tim Robbins in Michael Winterbottom's CODE 46.
Morton's feature film debut in Carine Adler's UNDER THE SKIN received widespread critical attention, garnering Best Actress from The Boston Society of Film Critics, and a nomination for Best Actress at the British Independent Film Awards in 1998. Her additional credits include Julien Temple's PANDAEMONIUM; Amos Gitae's EDEN; THIS IS THE SEA, with Gabriel Byrne; DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES, opposite Rupert Graves; and THE LAST YELLOW, directed by Julian Farino. She has been seen in the television films "Jane Eyre" (as Jane Eyre), "Tom Jones" (for BBC TV), and the mini-series "Emma," based on Jane Austen's novel.
DJIMON HOUNSOU (Mateo)
Djimon Hounsou received a Golden Globe® nomination for his performance as Cinque, the rebel slave leader in AMISTAD. He went on to star in the Academy Award-winning epic GLADIATOR, in which he played Juba, the fiery warrior who befriends Maximus (Russell Crowe). His recent work includes Shekhar Kapur's THE FOUR FEATHERS, BIKER BOYZ with Laurence Fishburne, LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE directed by Jan De Bont, and the forthcoming MURAYA from director Jan Kounen.
Born in Benin, West Africa, Hounsou moved to Paris at the age of 13 for his education. At 22, he was discovered by fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who immediately featured him in several of his design campaigns, as well as in his book Thierry Mugler Photographs. Hounsou was also a subject in the late Herb Ritts' book Men and Women. Hounsou was subsequently spotted by director David Fincher (FIGHT CLUB, SEVEN), who cast him in three music videos: Steve Winwood's "Roll With It," Madonna's "Express Yourself" and Paula Abdul's "Straight Up." Once established as an international model, Hounsou made the move to Los Angeles where he taught himself English (largely by watching television documentaries) and broke into acting. A featured role in the Janet Jackson video "Love Will Never Do Without You" caught the attention of agents and casting directors and led to roles in such films as STARGATE, UNLAWFUL ENTRY and DEEP RISING, before landing the career-making role in Steven Spielberg's AMISTAD. Hounsou has also been seen in a recurring role on televison's popular "E.R."
PADDY CONSIDINE (Johnny)
Paddy Considine was most recently seen in Michael Winterbottom's critically acclaimed story of the Manchester music scene, 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE. He first came to the fore as the obsessive loner in the British indie A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, directed by Shane Meadows, and drew further accolades for his work as the love-sick Alfie in Pawel Pawlikowski's award-winning THE LAST RESORT.
Considine's other films include DR. SLEEP with Goran Visnjic, HAPPY NOW, THE MARTINS, BORN ROMANTIC and the short film MY WRONGS #8245-8249 & 117 which won the BAFTA Award. Considine's upcoming films include Shane Meadows' untitled project, which is co-written by Considine.
