Golden Door Greta Galliani

Greta Galliani

5°I

31 dicembre 2016

Golden Door

Date: September 8, 2006

Director: Emanuele Crialese
Starring: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vincenzo Amato
Awards: The film won six awards at the Venice Film Festival, including two awards for
Best Film (the CinemAvvenire and Pasinetti Awards), along with the FEDIC, SIGNIS,
Silver Lion, and UNICEF awards. It was also nominated for a Golden Lion award. The
film was also nominated for a European Film Award, for the Film of the Year. The film
was Italy's submission for the 79th Academy Awards, but was ultimately passed over in
final nominations.
Summary: Mancuso’s family decide to leave Sicily and to move to America. The family is
composed by Salvatore, the householder, his two sons Angelo and Pietro and his moth-
er, Fortunata. At the harbor they meet Lucy, an elegant English woman who also travels
to America. The voyage is very hard but then they finally arrive to Ellis Island and they
have to pass medical, physical and psychological checks. All women who want to enter
to America must be married so Lucy asks Salvatore to marry her and the couple got en-
gaged. Pietro (who is mute) and Fortunata do not pass their checks and they will have to
go back to Sicily, but in the end Pietro speaks so he is admitted to America.
Setting:
Years: Early 20th century
Geographical area: Petralia Sottana in Sicily and Ellis Island in America
Historical background: in the early 20th century Sicily was a very poor area. There was
no work and families had to struggle to survive. The unification with Italy did not, howev-
er, prove particularly beneficial to Sicily. Quickly deemed part of "the Southern problem,"
the Sicilians were forced to endure military conscription and a heavy tax burden. The
mafioso (or mafia), an underground element often linked with criminal activity, quickly
became a stronghold of power in Sicily. Efforts on the part of the Sicilians to revolt
against the new laws were quickly suppressed, often brutally.
Golden Door Greta Galliani

Reference to actual events: The film refers to the massive emigration from Italy (particu-
larly Southern Italy) to America
Description of two important characters: Salvatore is the householder. He cares for his
family and he is affectionate to his mother (taking her to America even against her will
because he doesn't want to leave her in Sicily) and his son Pietro (who is mute and will
not be admitted to America). He hopes for a better life and he dreams about the wealth
that the family will experience in America.
Fortunata is Salvatore’s mother. She is attached to Sicily and she does not want to leave
it. She is stubborn and she complains during the voyage to America. She will not be ad-
mitted because she is considered not enough intelligent. She refused to do some of her
checks, showing her stubbornness.
Main symbol used in the film: the river of milk and the big carrot are symbols of the
prosperity of America.
Message of the film: The film underlines the difficulties experienced by the immigrates of
the past during their voyage to America.
Webliography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuovomondo, https://www.rottentomatoes.-
com/m/golden_door/, http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Sicilian-Americans.html