immigrant in Ireland and America. Released in 1992 to mixed reviews, many feel this is

director Ron Howard’s ode to his Irish heritage and roots. Far and Away showcases Tom

Cruise’s and Nicole Kidman’s second onscreen collaboration (first being Days of

Thunder), and their onscreen chemistry help support the films storyline.

Far and Away opens up to Joseph Donnelly (Tom Cruise), an Irish tenant farmer and his

battles with his rich landowner after his father’s death over unpaid rent. A powerful scene takes

place within the first 10 minutes which shows Joseph Donnelly and his brother carrying their

father coffin while the rich landowners burn there house in the background for unpaid rent.

For revenge Joseph sought to kill the rich landowner, but ran into his daughter Shannon played by

Nicole Kidman. Upon entering the rich Landowners estate, Ron Howard really conveyed the

differences between the Irish economic classes. Joseph Donnelly lived of merger means on a

small, poorly constructed farmhouse living hand to mouth. The rich landowners lived in a polar

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