In America is a difficult watch – in a good way. It’s sad, disturbing and uplifting all at the same time.

An Irish family, possessing nothing more than what they can fit into a station wagon, sneak into America through Canada and find a run-down apartment to rent in a dodgy area of New York. Johnny (Paddy Considine), the father, works as a taxi driver while looking for work as an actor. Sarah (Samantha Morton), the mother, also finds employment to keep the family above water. Meanwhile, the children, Christy and Ariel (Sarah and Emma Bolger), go to school while discovering the wide world of New York.

The family faces various struggles in their new home that range from problems with an air conditioner to difficulties getting work, but the underlining problems in the family deal with the fact that the family previously lost a five-year old son to cancer. All of the family members still wrestle with the loss and none of them have yet been able to put it behind them.

Well, “put it behind them” is far too simplistic a description for what is one of the best films dealing with loss that I’ve ever seen. Their struggles feel genuine and so their healing feels genuine also.

In America is haunting in its stark portrayal of humanity and reality. A number of scenes are heart wrenching, including one where Johnny risks the family’s entire fortune for an E.T. doll – a scene far more intense than any action scene I’ve seen this year. Other moments that deal specifically with the family’s loss are just as poignant.

One element that adds both to the sense of loss as well as that of healing is the downstairs neighbor, Mateo (Djimon Hounsou). Though he’s dealing with his own problems of AIDS, this big, initially scary, African man helps the family work through their loss as they help him work through his.

I’m glad Hounsou and Morton received Oscar nomination for acting, but I especially thought Considine should have as well. Maybe it’s just me, but I could tell when he was hiding pain beneath a smile put forth for the benefit of his daughters. Just watching him for two hours, you can sense that there’s something wrong. It’s absolutely phenomenal. I could watch this film again for the acting alone.

In America manages to bring us as high up as it brought us down low. Touching, compelling, and absolutely life affirming, In America is a genuine film whose every moment is real and affecting.

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