film, 1990, directed by
Barry Levinson.
A story about immigrants in America, and the move from the cities to the suburbs. It is also, indirectly, a story about how people attempt to find happiness in "place" instead of faith or family- which obviously refers back to the information above. This story, which is likely autobiographical to some extent for Levinson, is how second generation immigrants not only turned their back on their culture, but soon turned their backs on extended families as well. The search for a "better place" (an imagined Avalon) is shown as both inspiring and bittersweet. Levinson shows us regular people struggling with their fates and lets the audience make up it's mind about whether the change that occurs is inevitable, or flawed.
An underappreciated film, probably because there are no big name stars and no easy answers either.