The story is set at the beginning of the 20th century in Sicily. Salvatore, a very poor farmer, and a widower, decides to emigrate to the US with all his family, including his old mother. Before they embark, they meet Lucy. She is supposed to be a British lady and wants to come back to the States. Lucy, or Luce as Salvatore calls her, for unknown reasons wants to marry someone before to arrive to Ellis Island in New York. Salvatore accepts the proposal. Once they arrive in Ellis Island they spend the quarantine period trying to pass the examinations to be admitted to the States. Tests are not so simple for poor farmers coming from Sicily. Their destiny is in the hands of the custom officers.
Directed by Emanuele Crialese
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Lucy Reed
Vincenzo Amato
Salvatore Mancuso
Aurora Quattrocchi
Fortunata Mancuso
Francesco Casisa
Angelo Mancuso
Filippo Pucillo
Pietro Mancuso
Vincent Schiavelli
Don Luigi
Federica De Cola
Rita D'Agostini
Isabella Ragonese
Rosa Napolitano
