A small film by the yardstick of the $100 million plus Hollywood films, Jim Sheridan's In America tells several heart-tugging stories. Inspired by his own life in America, Sheridan tells the story of an Irish couple and their two young daughters.

Suffused with warmth and keen insights into family dynamics, the lively film is a holiday treat. There are times you feel Sheridan is not telling a story that happened more than 20 years ago as many of the situations, including the struggles new immigrants have to face in New York, seem as real today.

Though the film deals with weighty issues like family guilt, loss, unpleasant memories and the seemingly wide-eyed innocence of the two girls, it is given a coherent shape by the mastery director.

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Sheridan, whose films have garnered 13 Oscar nominations winning two for their actors, has described the film as the story of a family finding its soul. The soul of Sheridan's film remains intact throughout its 103 minutes.

The phrase 'life affirming' has been over worked but if you insist on using it to describe one recent film, here is the candidate. The film, which roots for family values and unity, works on the theme without resorting to unwarranted sentimentality and verbose dialogue. In the hands of a director like Stanley Kramer (Guess Who's Coming To Dinner), this may have turned into a heavy film with hammy acting.

In America is more gripping and touching than Sheridan's In The Name Of The Father. It comes close to his My Left Foot in terms of performances and ability to jolt the viewer. Though in falters in some places -- for instance, in dealing with a young boy's death and the consequent feelings -- on the whole, this is more than a satisfying film. It is also superbly acted, especially by Djimon Hounsou, who after working for such directors in Steven Spielberg in the misdirected Amistad, burns the screen with intensity. He also provides the film some of its most tender moments.

A big hit at film festivals including the one in Toronto, In America is slowly expanding across America after a strong opening in New York and Los Angeles. This Friday, it will add to over 50 screens to its 11-screen count. It may turn out to be a fly-through-the-roof kind of hit but it could get a warm welcome in art houses in major North American cities.

If there is any justice, the film should get multiple Oscar nominations for acting, and also nods in the best picture, director and script category. Not to forget the camerawork (Declan Quinn) that shows the gritty side of New York without missing the bustling and thriving city.

Sheridan who wrote the script with his daughters, tells the story of an Irish family whose son Frankie has died. There is enough emotional baggage the parents carry as they manage to smuggle into America through Canada with their two daughters. The movie is told from the perspective of 11-year-old daughter Christy (Sarah Bolger).

This family is struggling as the father, Johnny (Paddy Considine), fails to find work as an actor and mother Sarah (Samantha Morton) has to carry a huge burden. On one hand, she has to work long hours and on the other, she has to work even harder to keep the family morale up.

But as the film progresses, one feels the real morale boosters are the children who are made utterly believable by their remarkably natural, sharp and intuitive acting. Christy and her younger sister Ariel (Emma Bolger) are not worried about the crumbling building they are living in or the drug addicts. What they want to know is whether they get to keep the pigeons.

One of the highlights of the film has the two sisters (who are real life siblings) marking their first Halloween in America. They seem to be least intimidated by some of the rough looking denizens in their building. And that is how they discover and slowly befriend the seemingly mysterious and aloof painter called Mateo (Djimon Hounsou). His life becomes immediately connected to theirs.

Apart from Hounsou and the girls, Considine and Morton shine too. Though we see the affable side of Johnny, Considine subtly shows us the inner and physical burdens he carries. We are startled whenever his anguish erupts. Morton, never a dull actress, is even more impressive here than in such films as Minority Report. She brings out the determination and frustration in her character without resorting to any crippling melodrama.

CREDITS
Cast: Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Djimon Hounsou, Sarah Bolger, Emma Bolger
Director: Jim Sheridan
Writers: Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan, Kirsten Sheridan
Running time: 103 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for some sexuality, drug references, brief violence and language.
Released by: Fox Searchlight Pictures