Avalon, though fictionalized, is a very charming
semi-autobiographical movie about director/writer Barry
Levinson's multigenerational Russian-Jewish family who
immigrated to the USA at the time of WW1. The film begins
it's focus with Levinson's grandfather, Sam
Krichinsky(Armin Muller-Stahl), and then focuses on such
family members as Levinson himself, during his
childhood in the late 1940's, and who's role is played here
by Elijah Wood. Other figures include Joan Plowright as
Eva Krichinsky, and Elizabeth Perkins and Aidan Quinn as
Ann and Jules Kaye. The film has some very heartwarming and
even amusing moments, such as where when Sam and Izzy, when
they open up a TV store and turn on the TV's, the
youngsters crowd around just to look at the test patterns.
It's just like how my own Pop told me, that back in the
late 1940's and early 1950's, people would watch television
even to just see test patterns, which can be very amusing
when looked upon today. It's also great to have a story in
which immigrants were able to find prosperity rather than
hardship. One thing I wish though, is that Levinson had the
courage to also focus on the Jewish background of his
family, and hadn't skipped over it. Nevertheless, it's
still very well made, and it's a wonderful valentine to
suburban family life during the depression years.