Golden Door Podcast

In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the film "The Golden Door," which explores the Italian Great Migration. They analyze the portrayal of Ellis Island in the film and debate whether it accurately depicts the immigration process. They discuss the reasons behind Italian immigration, such as poverty and hardship, and the significance of Ellis Island as an immigration center. One host believes the film accurately portrays Ellis Island as a prison-like place, while the other argues that it romanticizes the experience. They discuss the unity among Italians and the exploration of the American dream in the film. Hello, hello to all our listeners out there. I hope you're having a wonderful day so far. Speaking is one of the hosts of this wonderful podcast, Campfire Films. My name is Jack Kostic, and I'll be here to walk you through our interpretation of Emanuele Coselli's take on the Italian Great Migration, alongside a great buddy of mine. Hey y'all, Sage here. Really excited about today's episode. We've gathered a bunch of great information to dive into this really fascinating movie that breaks down and explores the concept of immigration. I hope you all enjoy and stay tuned for a special surprise at the end. The Golden Door, a film directed by Emanuele Criolacci, which premiered in 2006. In this film, a concept of Italian migration is explored and examined, the decision of one Sicilian family to leave their home country in hopes of living a better life in America. Hmm, that's really interesting. But why are we analyzing this film today? Well, let me tell you, Sage. We're analyzing this film because it depicts an interesting portrayal of the immigration process and the journey undergone by many immigrants in order to pass through Ellis Island, which has left many viewers and critics alike to debate the overall accuracy employed throughout this film. Since this film is so heavily debated, we want to make sure you, our viewers, have all the base information needed to come to your own conclusion. Since this film explores the immigration journey of an Italian family, it's important to discuss what the Italian immigration really was. The Great Immigration occurred between the years of 1880 and 1920, in which four and a half million Italians left their home country, majority residents of the southern part of the country, and traveled towards America in hopes of reaping the benefits of the New World. Thanks for that insight, Sage. But I got one question. Why were so many immigrants leaving Italy? Well, Jack, the main reason for this mass immigration was the dire poverty, with many peasants being plagued with hardship, exploitation, violence, and even famine. I see, I see. But upon arrival to this New World, where was their initial destination? Ellis Island. And why this place had so much relevance is due to the fact that Ellis Island was an immigration center capable of processing thousands of immigrants each and every day with tests that could range from a couple hours to several days if the individual was unlucky. This held enormous stakes as a rejection or approval into the New World let on the immigration officer's decision as to whether an individual was good enough or not in their eyes. Wow. Thanks so much again, Sage, for getting us all up to date. Coming up next, we will explore if Emmanuel was able to detail an accurate depiction of Ellis Island or if his efforts fell short. And why this matters and the relevancy behind analyzing Ellis Island is due to the fact that this was a journey that many people really had to go through, and it would only be justified if it was depicted in an accurate manner. Hey, Jack, Emmanuel's depiction of Ellis Island, favorable or unfavorable? What a great question, Sage. You know what? I'm going to let you take the floor on this one. Well, I can definitely express that I'm unfavorable with this portrayal, and this is for a couple of reasons. It's important to note that the viewer first gets to see Ellis Island. There is no clear shot of the New World because the fog has blocked the entire view. This is a fantastic way to begin the analysis of Ellis Island, because this fog creates a suspicion and leaves a lot up for interpretation. Okay, so you're saying there's fog blocking this view, and what is that supposed to mean? This could mean a variety of things. Could it have just been a bad weather day? Well, sure, maybe, but what I think it depicts is the no-man's land that Ellis Island really was. These immigrants were in a strange and desolate place away from their home country, but not in the New World. Ellis Island can be described in some words as the Land of Tears, where their fates were decided and all they could do was to be subjected to this prison that they were enclosed in. Did you just say prison? Prison. This was a place where they were granted freedom, Sage, a new life. How could Ellis Island possibly be a prison? Well, let me tell you how, Jack. Among initial entry into the station, Emmanuel immediately imposed the fear of the immigrants to the viewers. He does so by including the iron railings and the bars that can be seen everywhere. In Marie-Christine Michaud's journal article, Nuevo Mundo, Ellis Island, and Italian Immigrants, she states there are vertical and horizontal lines in nearly all the rooms in the center, bars on the beds, in the dormitories, and in the hospital, tiles on the floor, window panes, all these accumulates to a sensory experience of reclusion. After reading this quote, I begin to think, what is the purpose of this? I don't know, Sage. Couldn't it be the way the architecture just was back then? Could it even just have been a coincidence? I simply don't think that it's coincidental. These bars and railings have meaning and were skillfully implemented into the film by Emmanuel to drive home the idea of confinement. Between each examination in this film, immigrants can be seen gathering on benches or in lines between the bars, almost resembling a sort of cattle process. This point is further hit home through the use of his high-angle shots capturing the vulnerability of the masses as they pass through this graded assembly line. These bars and grids appear so much, it would be laughable not to draw the conclusion that Ellis Island resembles a detention center. Alright, alright, Sage. Let's say you're right. Maybe he does depict Ellis Island in somewhat of a prison-like fashion. But I heard you mention cattle processing. Let's not get rash. The immigrants aren't actually shown being treated like cattle. Jack, are you sure that we even watched the same movie? Let me start here. When immigrants arrived at Ellis Island, there was a ton of confusion in the behavior that they needed to adopt and assimilate to. This was masterfully displayed by a manual and an important scene to note in which the immigration officer asked the immigrant, how many legs are combined on a cow and a hen? The immigrant's response was, they walk. A close-up shot of this immigrant's face was used to highlight the blank expression that he had no clue what he had done wrong. Okay, and why does this matter? Well, I think that this matters because the lack of understanding of most immigrants is what allowed for this mistreatment to continuously occur. Take into account the scene in which Pietro, the protagonist's son, who was mute when he was asked to remove his pants. While this is already a dehumanizing and humiliating task, Pietro is unaware of the procedure and therefore very reluctant to comply. This leads to further examination and this tension, again, which is highlighted by a manual through the close-up shot of faces. By detailing the examination period that occurred, the manual gives the viewer a detailed and accurate picture of the humiliation and interferences among individual intimacy that all immigrants had to undergo. All of these ideas led me to believe that this depiction of Ellis Island is accurate and really emphasizes that this entry point could be seen as a prison in which members must obey all the rules if they even want to think about freedom. Okay, Sage, I completely respect that interpretation, but I'm going to have to say that I beg to differ. In all honesty, I believe that the Ellis Island that is depicted in this film is actually romanticized. And when I say romanticized, I mean detailed in a way that makes this whole experience, this whole Ellis Island, seem as though that it is a welcome, friendly, and enjoyable place. It almost makes the viewer seem as though that they should go out and experience this journey for themselves. Oh, really? Well, please explain, because I'm all ears. Sure. We can begin by looking at Salvatore, the main protagonist of the film, and his relations with other Italians. Both on the ship and at Ellis Island, he is seen socializing with other Italians. This creates a sense of Italian unity, which is visibly received by the viewer of this film. I tend to protest this because it romanticizes this journey, once again printing this friendlier picture that would not have been in there in reality. The Italian nation had just been born at this time. This means that there would not have been this solidarity amongst Italians, and the national sentiment would definitely not have been present. If we're taking a look back at Italian history, the concept of what an Italian is is something that has always plagued the nation, and for Emanuel to create it here just seems unrealistic. Hmm. I see your point, but I still don't think I'm sold yet. Well, let's see if this helps, Sage. Salvatore even says it himself, on the ship, that he was unaware that other Italians from different regions were considered citizens, and he was surprised to see that they were speaking the same language. Given this information, they seem to still stick together and create some form of coalition, and I believe that this is an attempt by Emanuel to contrast the theme of isolation, which is ever so present throughout this film. Well, once again, Jack, I see your point, but is that really all that you've got? Really, Sage? Of course not. Emanuel further goes on to romanticize Ellis Island by diving into an exploration of the American dream. Salvatore, along with his neighboring immigrants, are given white bread, which is remarked to be tasteless by Salvatore. The immigrants beside him respond by stating that the food was a gift from God. When analyzing the scene, even though Salvatore remarks of the bland taste, it is almost as if, when the bread touches his lips, new life is sprung into him. This whole idea of America being this plentiful resource, the land that was able to enrich all its newcomers, is just an over-the-top depiction by Creolese. Did you not take the time to consider that this scene possibly is reflecting the fact that the Italian immigrants from this period, especially from southern Italy, were not accustomed to eating white bread? This reaction could have been a mere attempt to capture a first-time experience. I actually did take this into account, Sage, but this unrealistic depiction of America is detailed multiple times throughout this film. Recall back to one of the opening scenes, in which Salvatore's family are still in their home village. They happen to have been delivered some postcards that have been sent from America. On those cards, there are carrots the size of trees, onions too big to fit in wheelbarrows, and hens the size of horses, Sage. This is clearly an attempt by Emanuel to paint this picture of an unrealistic, fruitful, plentiful America, which would leave many immigrants with aspirations and dreams that would not be met by the revered new world. Coming up next, we will discuss and debate Emanuel's use of surrealism and how it impacts the overall understanding of this film. Hello and welcome back to all of our listeners. If you recall, we had just begun to discuss the use of surrealism and how it is used multiple times throughout this film. Which he incorporated matchfully, if I might add. See, Sage, I personally believe that his use of surrealism in a few pivotal scenes actually takes away from the overall meaning of the movie. I thought the main purpose of this film was to bring attention to and provide an accurate information of what it was like to be an Italian immigrant in the early 1900s. Well, sure, but what's exactly your point here, Jack? Well, Sage, let's start by taking a look at the closing scene. The Mancuso family had just passed through Ellis Island and the camera cuts to a close-up shot of Lucy, a friend of the family that has accompanied them on this journey. She's swimming in an odd liquid. What could that be, I might ask? One by one, the Mancuso family pops up out of this liquid and begins to swim. The camera then zooms out to display an aerial shot of all the immigrants who have passed through Ellis Island. Well, okay, but are you going to tell me? What's this strange liquid? Milk. Yes, I said milk, Sage. And the reason why Emanuel uses milk for this scene is because of its connotation. Milk is often referred to as a liquid for the gods, being one of the most nutritional foods symbolizing immortality. Milk is used in this scene to once again paint an unrealistic picture of what America was at this time. A blissful land with endless riches? I don't think so. Samanatha Mili-Konawoko states in her journal, Emanuel Creseli's Nuevo Mundo and the Triumph of the Mediterranean Heritage, the biblical reference is clear in this example, recalling the representation of the Promised Land as a land of milk and honey. The audacity for Emanuel to use a biblical reference is hysterical, as he is referring to America as a holy land, which could not have been less true. Jack, have you considered that this is actually an inaccurate description, or are you just interpreting the use of surrealism all wrong? Wrong? All wrong. Please go on. In order to really grasp what the use of surrealism is intending to show, it's important to understand where these immigrants were coming from. Salvatore and his family are illiterate peasants from the southern part of Italy. During the early 19th century, life in southern Italy was anything but cupcakes and rainbows. Poverty is all many people knew, and food was hard to come by. So difficult that meat was only eaten once or twice a year for some families. These circumstances are what contribute to the quote from the movie stating, Give us a sign, just a sign. We'll wait here. We won't move. Salvatore was in such despair that all he needed was the slightest hint and he'd be willing to pack up all his things and head for the new world. I understand the circumstances, Sage, but what does this have to do with Emmanuel's use of surrealism? It has importance because it aids in the interpretation of his use of surrealism. You had it all wrong, Jack. Emmanuel is not trying to depict a wonderful and unrealistic America, but rather give insight into the hope that many of these immigrants were feeling. The use of milk in the last scene is viewed as a symbolic means of expressing the hope that Salvatore has for his family as they just completed that difficult and painful journey. He has hoped to experience new riches and to be given opportunities accompanied by capitalism and to finally reap the benefits of being an American citizen. Looking at Emmanuel's use of surrealism is kind of like looking at a glass of water that is half full and your interpretation is what you make of it. To all there that are still out there listening, I would like to take this time to thank you for sticking around and I hope that we were able to provide insight into this film to allow you to walk away with your own interpretation.