this film promise much but deliver little . the basic problem have to do with the inclusion of charlotte gainsbourg character in this film . immigrant from sicily do not need a redheaded anglo in any way the movie may have need her and but new citizen certainly do not . in my opinion and the decision to include her destroy the continuity of the film . this be particularly troubling since it seem to demean not only the character in the movie and but also the history of immigration itself . immigrant themselves be heroic figure and fully capable of get along without have to satisfy what i believer to be a veiled image of the white man burden . i wonder if someone will make a movie of irish immigrant which will include a sicilian woman a a major character . the left elbow index considers seven aspect of film acting and production set and dialogue and artistry and film continuity and plot and and character development on a scale from high of 10 for excellent and 5 for average and and 1 for need help . both film continuity and plot rate a low of 1. the continuity a discuss above be far degrade by the surrealistic end . do not a film of such important historical significance deserve more than a conclusion which remind one of marc chagall . the plot be simple enough and until it seem to become entangled with too much time in the old country and too little time on the ship and and too much emphasis on the end . the acting and character development be average since all the character be fix throughout the film and and the inclusion of the anglo saxon speak perfect english almost turn the movie into a satire . where groucho when you need him . the production set and the dialogue and the artistry be very good and each rating a 10. the set in sicily and on the ship and and on elli island be as good a one can find . the dialogue be marvelous and and the ethic singing be superb . i agree with scorsese that listen to the sicilian dialect be a pleasure . note that the immigrant speak of america and not the united state the ideal vs. the political reality . the be many good artistic scene and with dream of america and gold coin rain and and giant veggie among the best . the average leave elbow index be 5 . 25 and raise to a 7 . 0 when equate with the imdb scale . one other notion seem to run through ellis island experience represent the tribulation of pas immigrant be grueling and later and in 2006 and one only have to pay a coyote or boat owner and sneak into the county under the darkness of night and no question ask . the movie be worth see and but it appear that what one see be problematical .