THE GOLDEN DOOR

Nuovomondo (The Golden Door)
Directed by Emanuele Crialese
Produced by Bernard Bouix Tommaso Calevi Alexandre Mallet-Guy
Written by Emanuele Crialese
Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg Vincenzo Amato Francesco Casisa Filippo Pucillo Vincent Schiavelli
Music by Antonio Castrigano
Editing by Maryline Monthieux
Distributed by Miramax
Release date(s) May 25, 2007 (US limited) September 22, 2006 (Italy) Running time 120 min.
Country Italy
Language Italian, English
Budget ~ €10,000,000

Nuovomondo literally, new world (The Golden Door) is a 2006 drama based around a family's migration from Italy to New York during the beginning of the 20th Century. The film is set in both Italy and The United States. The film is written and directed by Emanuele Crialese. Vincent Schiavelli, whose character was originally planned to play a major part, died during the filming, forcing his role to become a supporting character.
The movie premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 8, 2006 to critical praise and seven nominations (with six wins) at the Festival. Many praised the director's focus on sound and visual composition. Others focused on the lack of typical iconography of the time (such as the Statue of Liberty).
Martin Scorsese will be featured in the marketing for the film. He will also introduce the film at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Plot summary
During the turn of the 20th Century, the poor Mancuso family (headed by the widowed Salvatore, Vincenzo Amato), from Sicily, Italy, emigrates to the United States. They dream of the land of opportunity, where giant vegetables are grown, people swim in milk, and coins fall from the sky. Salvatore takes his family, as well as his fiery and proud mother, Fortunata (Aurora Quattrocchi). While on the ship to America, many men find the British Lucy (Charlotte Gainsbourg) attractive. For administrative reasons, Lucy wants to marry Salvatore on arrival on Ellis Island. He agrees; he understands that she is not in love with him yet, but expects that will come.
At Ellis Island, the families undergo extensive and humiliating physical and psychological examinations and questioning. Pietro (Filippo Pucillo) is about to be sent back for being mute, and Salvatore's mother may be sent back for insufficient intelligence.
Critical reception
The film received generally favorable reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 72% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 74 reviews. Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 74 out of 100, based on 22 reviews.
Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post named it the 7th best film of 2007. Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe also named it the 7th best film of 2007.

Awards
The movie 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.

Click on the flags to see how each partner responded to the film.