In a nod to the social realism of American cinema in the late silent era, The Immigrant is an operatic take on a city full of charlatans, pimps, and immigrants. Its citizens are larger than life and drawn as broadly as a sepia photograph in fading newsprint. But like Bruno and Ewa, they are carving out a living in whatever way they can, leaving behind the wars and pogroms of fading homelands. What happens in The Immigrant‘s central love triangle is at first a bit of a shock. But then it just continues to crescendo as Gray conducts the performances of Pheonix, Cotillard, and Renner into themes of cruelty, kindness, and humanizing loyalty. Though the film is classic and familiar, its refrains of grace are timeless. The Immigrant is an indelible spiritual reflection in an era of cinema always looking for something new. — M. Leary (Filmwell)(2014)
- Directed by: James Gray
- Produced by: James Gray Christopher Woodrow
- Written by: James Gray Ric Manello
- Music by: Christopher Spelman
- Cinematography by: Darius Khondji
- Editing by: John Axelrad Kayla Emter
- Release Date: 2013
- Running Time: 120
- Language: English
Arts & Faith Lists:
2014 Arts & Faith Ecumenical Jury — #4
2020 Top 100 — #91