The 49th Chicago Film Festival opened in Chicago on October 10th, 2013, with a showing of James Gray’s film “The Immigrant.” The festival is the longest-running festival in North America. Director James Gray appeared with his film, which stars Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner.
The story of a Polish immigrant in 1921 New York City, Marion Cotillard speaks Polish throughout the film. She arrives at Ellis Island with her sister, Magda, and the duo expects to be met by their aunt and uncle. They are fleeing Poland after their parents were murdered in front of them by armed horsemen.
Chaz Ebert, widow of film critic Roger Ebert, is interviewed on the Red Carpet at the opening of the Chicago Film Festival.
Unfortunately, Magda is ill with tuberculosis and the officials decree that she must spend 6 months quarantined in the infirmary on Ellis Island. Ewa makes it her mission to wait for her sister. She is initially helped by Joaquin Phoenix’s character of Bruno Weiss, who forces her into prostitution, despite her reluctance. Bruno is attracted to the luminous beauty, but, even though he wants her for himself, he has arranged for her to be put in the position of facing deportation (until he intervenes) and he puts her in this position, despite wanting her for hinself.
The plot thickens when Bruno’s cousin, Emil (Jeremy Renner), a magician who performs as Orlando the Magician, returns to the Bandits’ Roost. Emil has a bad habit of stealing Bruno’s girlfriends. This time, Emil’s intent seems to be no different, causing friction between Bruno and Emil.
Mayor Rahm Emmanuel enters the Chicago Theater for Opening Night of the Chicago Film Festival.
The performances are routinely fine, although Jeremy Renner is under-used, and his guy liner is off-putting. The recreation of 1921 New York City are outstanding. As the granddaughter of a Dutch woman who immigrated through Ellis Island at the age of 13 (and who has visited Ellis Island), you can literally see what it must have been like.
Mayor Rahm Emmanuel with a Festival judge at the 49th Chicago Film Festival.
The film feels “old timey.” It is a melodrama with the “eternal triangle” motivating much of it, and the blackmail of Bruno (“Don’t you want to help your sister”) keeping Ewa in the traces at the Bandits’ Roost. As the film ends, Bruno admits that he is responsible for Ewa’s entire situation and says, “You hate me and I don’t blame you for hating me.” The entire film focuses on “The things we do to survive” and emphasizes the message, “You’re desperate. We’ve all been desperate.”
The festival this year is dedicated to recently-deceased film critic Roger Ebert, and his wife, Chaz, spoke and attended with her children. Also attending was Director James Gray.
The Weinstein Brothers are distributing the film, and James Gray (“Two Lovers,” “We Own the Night”) is scheduled to direct a space epic (“To the Stars”) in mid-2014.