Nuovomondo

Nuovomondo, literally new world and also known as Golden Door, is a 2006 drama film based on a familys migration from Italy to New York, U.S.A. at the beginning of the 20th century. The film, written and directed by Emanuele Crialese, opens on location in Sicily and concludes in the United States. The Ellis Island sequences were shot in a Rome studio and in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vincent Schiavelli, whose character was originally planned to play a major part, died during the filming, forcing his role to become a supporting character.

At 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 old 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 Salvatores mother for insufficient intelligence. ........

Source: Wikipedia