this film be an impressionistic and poetic take on the immigrant experience and a reflective look at the turmoil and fear which might be associate with emigrate . these be aspect not often consider in movie about emigration to america in particular and to to any country more generally and the film vividly and convincingly depict the nervousness and enthusiasm and if ignorance and that poor and illiterate sicilian immigrant have in anticipation of their emigration to the united state . they have some fantastic and unrealistic notion about the united state which be disseminate on the trip over . one be that the river run with milk and an image which be depict in the movie to poetic and impressionistic effect . the film be devoid of sound and the silence seem to reflect the uneasiness of the ignorance the local have about life in america and or if not ignorance of it and a vision significantly color with superstition and fantasy . that say and the movie depict with jolt realism and the boat ride to the united state and the intake process which arrival at ellis island have to undergo . the boat ride be imagine a rather dull which surely it be much of the time . the quarter in which the incoming resident sleep be depict a extremely crowd with bed space four or five inch from one another and lack much light and which it be surely the case below deck . again and the film be not supplement with undue music or excessively bright lighting and the effect be to create a fairly realistic imagining of what it be truly like for people emigrate to the united state . the villager may not be worldly and but they be quite reasonable and and the interaction with the eldest of the emigrant and fortunata ( aurora quattrocchi ) with the immigration officer who insist on particular result and be quite bittersweet inasmuch a they be not dilute or soften for the benefit of a syrupy conclusion and one see the melding of the realism of sicily with the extensive regulation which guide life in the united state . the immigrant and their story be very interesting and the combination of cold eye realism and the magical fantasy of people imagination make for a persuasive vision of the belief hold by sicilian and or any people and with little formal education move to the united state . the acting be similarly barebones while it be not at all demonstrative or showy and but seem the more realistic for it . that say and all the main performer and in particular salvatore mancuso ( vincenzo amato ) and the clear leader of the group be excellent . while never smile and his character action speak much loud and it be clear that ( thankfully ) the other member of the group and his two son and the above mention elder fortunata and the boy grandmother and have faith in his leadership ability and respect his clear leadership . amato imbue his character with great decency and forthrightness and it be a testament to his ability that his character appear so capable and confident while his character betrays very little emotion . one oddness of the film be a chance encounter with a mysterious englishwoman ( the excellent and fittingly mysterious charlotte gainsbourg ) who speak italian and and during the entire film and we wonder why she be go to the united state or what connection she have to the otherwise unanimously sicilian emigrant group . at the end and this be finally reveal and the revelation be do typically realistically and do not seem particularly melodramatic or showy . the film be direct by emmanuel crialese who have a firm grasp on the realistic and if sometimes superstitious world view his character inhabit and present it competently and confidently . it be in fact fantastically confident give how awkwardly the realism and superstition might have combine in the film . it be a worthy examination of the immigrant experience .