Golden Door (Dir: Emanuele Crialese)

Most Ellis Island stories I have heard were romantic tales of oppressed pilgrims journeying to the altar of Lady Liberty. Director Crialese has a different kind of tale in mind. His story follows the Salvatore Mancuso and his family from their home in Sicily to the processing station at Ellis Island. They will undergo an arduous voyage packed too tightly into unsafe quarters far below deck and then find themselves at the mercy of a bureaucracy trying to keep the unfit from mingling in the gene pool.

"Golden Door" is an unsentimental tale that convinces the viewer that "this is how it really happened." The film offers a unique perspective on an over familiarly tale. We are given insight into the Christianity-laced mysticism of the Sicilian people and the tall tales of gigantic fruits and vegetables that drew eager Europeans to the New World. Crialese also dips into the surreal as we see Salvatore (Vincenzo Amato) swimming through California's fabled rivers of milk.

The film uses dialogue sparingly and relies on the power of its images and performances. The story is largely conveyed through the faces of those making the journey. There is also a romance of sorts as Vincenzo becomes fascinated with English woman Luce who is mysteriously traveling with Sicilians to America. The only misstep may be the anachronistic use of Nina Simone tunes, but they are somewhat in keeping with the movie's dips into the surreal.

There are images and moments in this film that will stick with you long after you have finished it. It's a quiet, remarkable film that is essential for movie lovers and those wanting to understand the experience of European immigrants in the early 20th century.