Brooklyn
In 1950s Ireland and New York, young Eilis Lacey has to choose between two men and two countries.
Despite its tight budget of $11.0M, Brooklyn became a commercial success, earning $62.1M worldwide—a 464% return. The film's compelling narrative found its audience, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Brooklyn (2015) exhibits deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of John Crowley's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Eilis Lacey
Tony Fiorello
Jim Farrell
Rose Lacey
Mary Lacey
Father Flood
Miss Kelly
Madge Kehoe
Main Cast & Characters
Eilis Lacey
Played by Saoirse Ronan
A young Irish immigrant navigating love and identity between two countries
Tony Fiorello
Played by Emory Cohen
A charming Italian-American plumber who falls in love with Eilis
Jim Farrell
Played by Domhnall Gleeson
A kind Irish gentleman who represents Eilis's potential life back home
Rose Lacey
Played by Fiona Glascott
Eilis's supportive older sister who sacrifices for her family
Mary Lacey
Played by Jane Brennan
Eilis's traditional Irish mother struggling with her daughter's departure
Father Flood
Played by Jim Broadbent
An Irish priest in Brooklyn who guides and supports Eilis
Miss Kelly
Played by Brid Brennan
A gossipy, judgmental shopkeeper in Eilis's Irish hometown
Madge Kehoe
Played by Eileen O'Higgins
Eilis's employer at the Irish shop, rigid and class-conscious
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Eilis works at the shop in Enniscorthy, Ireland, serving wealthy customers while living a constrained, small-town life with her mother and sister Rose. She is shy, reserved, and clearly unfulfilled.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Eilis boards the ship to America, leaving her mother and Rose behind at the dock. The severance from her homeland and family is complete, launching her into the unknown journey across the Atlantic.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Eilis makes the active choice to attend the parish dance organized by Father Flood. Despite her shyness and homesickness, she decides to engage with her new life rather than retreat. This is her choice to participate in Brooklyn rather than merely exist there., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Eilis and Tony secretly marry at City Hall. This false victory seems to cement her American future and her commitment to Brooklyn. She is at her happiest, fully integrated into her new life, but has not told her family in Ireland about the marriage., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, In Ireland, Eilis is courted by Jim Farrell, a kind, successful local man. Her old employer Miss Kelly offers her Rose's former job. Her mother and community expect her to stay. The death of Rose (literal) and the death of her Brooklyn identity (metaphorical) leave Eilis torn between two worlds, unable to choose., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 82% of the runtime. Miss Kelly cruelly reveals she knows about Eilis's marriage and threatens to expose her deception. This confrontation forces Eilis to see clearly: staying in Ireland means living in fear and smallness, returning to Brooklyn means honoring her choice and her true self. She realizes home is where she chose to build a life, not where she was born., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Brooklyn's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Brooklyn against these established plot points, we can identify how John Crowley utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Brooklyn within the romance genre.
John Crowley's Structural Approach
Among the 4 John Crowley films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Brooklyn takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Crowley filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana. For more John Crowley analyses, see We Live in Time, Intermission and Closed Circuit.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Eilis works at the shop in Enniscorthy, Ireland, serving wealthy customers while living a constrained, small-town life with her mother and sister Rose. She is shy, reserved, and clearly unfulfilled.
Theme
Father Flood tells Eilis that her sister Rose has arranged for her to go to America, saying "You'll feel so homesick that you'll want to die, and there's nothing you can do about it apart from endure it." The theme of home, belonging, and the immigrant experience is stated.
Worldbuilding
Eilis's life in Ireland is established: her close relationship with Rose, her domineering employer Miss Kelly, the limited opportunities in 1950s Ireland, and the community that both nurtures and stifles her. Rose has secretly been saving money and making arrangements for Eilis to emigrate.
Disruption
Eilis boards the ship to America, leaving her mother and Rose behind at the dock. The severance from her homeland and family is complete, launching her into the unknown journey across the Atlantic.
Resistance
Eilis endures a difficult passage (seasickness, loneliness), arrives in Brooklyn, and struggles with culture shock. Father Flood guides her to boarding house, secures her a job at Bartocci's department store. She is homesick, isolated, and uncertain. She writes letters home but can barely function in this new world.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Eilis makes the active choice to attend the parish dance organized by Father Flood. Despite her shyness and homesickness, she decides to engage with her new life rather than retreat. This is her choice to participate in Brooklyn rather than merely exist there.
Mirror World
Eilis meets Tony Fiorello at the dance. He is charming, direct, and immediately taken with her. Their connection represents the new life and new identity available to her in America - someone who sees her for who she is, not who she was in Ireland.
Premise
Eilis blossoms in Brooklyn. She dates Tony, gains confidence at work, enrolls in night school for bookkeeping, learns to navigate the city. The promise of the immigrant experience - reinvention, opportunity, romance - is fulfilled. She transforms from a timid girl into a confident young woman.
Midpoint
Eilis and Tony secretly marry at City Hall. This false victory seems to cement her American future and her commitment to Brooklyn. She is at her happiest, fully integrated into her new life, but has not told her family in Ireland about the marriage.
Opposition
News arrives that Rose has died suddenly. Eilis is devastated and must return to Ireland for the funeral. The life she built in Brooklyn is now in conflict with her obligations to her grieving mother. Tony is worried she won't return, but she promises she will. Back in Ireland, she is drawn back into her old life.
Collapse
In Ireland, Eilis is courted by Jim Farrell, a kind, successful local man. Her old employer Miss Kelly offers her Rose's former job. Her mother and community expect her to stay. The death of Rose (literal) and the death of her Brooklyn identity (metaphorical) leave Eilis torn between two worlds, unable to choose.
Crisis
Eilis begins to settle back into Irish life, attending social events with Jim, considering staying permanently. She does not mention Tony or her marriage. She is living a lie, paralyzed between her two lives, losing herself in the process. Her transformation seems to be reversing.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Miss Kelly cruelly reveals she knows about Eilis's marriage and threatens to expose her deception. This confrontation forces Eilis to see clearly: staying in Ireland means living in fear and smallness, returning to Brooklyn means honoring her choice and her true self. She realizes home is where she chose to build a life, not where she was born.
Synthesis
Eilis tells her mother about Tony and her marriage, reclaims her Brooklyn identity, and books passage back to America. She says goodbye to Jim honestly, returns to New York, and reunites with Tony. She helps a young Irish immigrant on the ship, passing on the wisdom she's gained.
Transformation
Eilis walks confidently through the streets of Brooklyn to meet Tony, now fully herself - no longer the timid girl from Ireland or the uncertain immigrant, but a woman who has chosen her home and her life. She advises the young immigrant girl on the ship with the same words Father Flood told her, having completed her journey from homesick girl to confident American.