film notable shown much is shown incredible poverty sicily th century gave way th life style made people dream new world america mancuso family live place even hamlet stone cottage set amid harsh unyielding stones country cannot offer even single blade green grass opening sequence sees mancuso males scrambling barefoot craggy hillside stones mouth offer shrine top exchange sign set new world remain are shows life aboard liner huddled masses indeed yearning breathe free conditions ellis island where journey still over interrogated examined prove fitness enter america shown ship longshot indeed shot would identify large oceangoing liner also shown anything would identify america clich view new york harbour statue liberty ellis island could anywhere country perhaps remarkable shot one camera crane looking hundreds people jammed together slowly almost imperceptibly two thirds people screen left begin separate third screen right realize left actually aboard ship right dock powerful statement society fragmented theres strong documentary feel throughout though following actual ship full immigrants even though carefully scripted clearly amalgam typical familiesconditions time almost nothing happening dramatic terms popcorn brigade multiplex rest us fine film indeed