When Eilis leaves Ireland for New York she is at once excited about her new opportunities and sad about leaving her mother and sister behind. After a year in Brooklyn she has overcome her homesickness, met a man she loves, and enrolled in night school to further her education. When her sister suddenly dies Eilis feels the need to go back to Ireland to visit her Mum.

The dilemma comes when Eilis finds a very different and more prosperous homeland; she seems to waiver about her return to New York and the life she has made for herself there.

We watched one season of Grace and Frankie on Netflix and were very disappointed so we weren’t sure about this movie. The trailers looked good though and, since we always like a movie night, off we went.

This is Lily Tomlin as I remember her (but not from her “one ring dingy” days) – funny, quick witted and not letting anyone push her around. Julia Garner plays the part of the granddaughter who needs money from her Grandma for an abortion. Unfortunately Grandma is broke and has recently cut up her credit cards to make a windchime. There are lots of laughs as the two try to borrow the money from Grandma friends.

The movie is based on the life of James Gralton, the only Irishman ever deported from Ireland.

Jimmy emigrated to the United States in 1909, but returned in the early 30’s to help his mother run the family farm. Prior to his emigration, a hall stood on the property and offered free activities (dancing, singing, educational classes) for the poorer children in the county. When Jimmy returns he is encouraged to re-open the hall and, after he does, the Catholic Church denounces him from the pulpit and lines are drawn as to supporters of the Church and supporters of Jimmy Gralton.

Eventually the church and wealthy landowners win and Jimmy is arrested and deported back to the United States.

Ben, played by Robert De Niro, is taking part in an intern program that puts seniors to work in a high-tech internet company. Ben is assigned to Jules (Anne Hathaway), the owner of the company, but she doesn’t remember approving the internship program and she certainly doesn’t have time to be bothered with one. De Niro and Hathaway are well suited to play off each other; they are both great comedians.

You can probably see it eventually on NetFlix but you don’t want to wait that long!