The way it is told makes it hard for the viewer to immediately feel connected with the story and its characters. It takes a while to get the feeling to fully participate into the film's story, but when you do you will come to really enjoy the film and want to linger in it as long as you can. The problem however is that the film by then already is close to its end. The film features actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, who's soft and clear voice make her a person you want to get inside. With the red hair she is even more enchanting than she already normally is. Her presence on screen is absolutely lovely. She seems to be a real part of the diegetic world and gives a nice subtle performance as Lucy Reed. Vincenzo Amato is good as well, but it's Gainsbourg who really mesemerizes and comes to steal the show, even though her part is pretty small. The most interesting aspect of the film is it's style and the way it brings its story into life. It's very ambitious and at times surreal. Wonderful is the scene where the ship leaves the harbour and a gap is shown between the ship slowly moving into the sea and the side of theto harbour. Both ship and harbour is filled with people and as the ship starts to move away, so are the people. It gives a great image of the people who are going on their journey to this new world and the people who are left behind. The Golden Door is very poetic and has scenes that are almost like little paintings. The screen really seems to be a canvas that is filled with the most amazing things. Like a scene shows in which Salvatore and Lucy, the movie's two main characters, are shown in a big ocean of milk, holding on to a gigantic carrot. It's not completely explained what it all means, but it seems to be part of the characters' imagination of the new world and the good it will bring. Another scene shows Lucy sitting next to Salvatore's mother. For a moment time seems to stand still and only Lucy moves. It can be seen as a way of showing the change that she feels and the passing of her life. She's moving while everything around her stands still. In her mind so much is going on and only she knows how she feels. Scenes like these make the film interesting, but unfortunately they can't completely safe the film. Its topic is interesting and it's nice to see a sort of dream like depiction of immigration. It's part fantasy, drama and some light comedy. Its main problem, however, is the lacking of a good and interesting story. It isn't a bad thing when in a movie 'nothing' happens, but in the first part of The Golden Door there's nothing that makes you question or wonder. You're mind isn't challenged to figure things out. The movie doesn't imply anything that as a viewer might give you thought to agree or not. The ending comes kind of abruptly as well and is quite unexpected. But the scene with which it ends, makes up for that abruptness as is the music that kicks in before the end credits.What is it about?
Salvatore Mancuso together with his two sons, of which one seems to be a mute, and his old mother decides to immigrate to the United States after seeing pictures of golden coins that grow on trees and big chickens that are taller than human beings. Tempted by these
images he takes his family on a big ship to start their journey to the new world. On the ship he meets a British woman, Lucy Reed, who searches for a man she can marry. Salvatore who is mesmerized by the beauty of Lucy accepts the proposal, even if it's not about love. Love can grow eventually over the years Salvatore romantically believes. Once they arrive in the US they have to take tests to stay in the country. For a simple farmer as Salvatore the tests are very difficult. For Lucy however, they're very easy. A future marriage ahead, Salvatore's future and the furute of his family, lies in the hands of the American officers who have to give approval for their stay. Only time will tell if they will be able to stay and if the new found land is able to give them the better life they think they it will bring them.Final Verdict: ***1/2
Apart from some beautiful scenes, The Golden Door has not so much to offer. The story is pretty short and only shows a family trying to immigrate to an unknown land that they believe will bring them prosperity. The way it is told is done very beautifully, though. So, even though narratively the movie hasn't got much to offer, it doesn't mean the film is bad. The settings are great and overall the movie looks beautiful. It just doesn't completely work. The beginning feels a bit empty. You don't know exactly what to think of the first couple of minutes and it takes a while to become enchanted by the movie's beauty. It's strange how for me one particular scene changed my whole view of the movie and its story. Everything suddenly seemed to fit and the characters became interesting. Part of this probably has to do with the characters getting a purpose. The scene I'm referring to takes place on the ship to the United States. Salvatore and Lucy chase each other, curiously searching for each others gaze. The scene is underlined by
beautiful well fitting music and is shown in slow-motion. Every person who loves cinema will love this scene. But what this scene does is give the characters some meaning. Their love for each other becomes to show. Without really knowing each other they're prepared to marry and take a risk. Before this scene the two characters don't yet share a bond. But as soon as they are brought together, they start to come alive and as a viewer you start to care for them. And now when you see them you approach them with different eyes and crawl into their minds to think about the emotions that might run through them. It's a beautiful scene that changes the feel of the movie. Unfortunately it isn't enough for the movie to become extraordinary. The story afterall, stays to simple and uninteresting. The way the story is told is too soft or slow. Their isn't a real feeling the movie is going anywhere. At the end the film seems build up out of a couple of interesting scenes that don't really seem to have real coherence. Still the movie shows a beautiful portrayal of leaving to another world without being sure of what this world will bring. The cinematography is great, so are the costumes and the way the camera brings the move into life. The Golden Door is more of a painting, telling its story by images, than by a real narrative.
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