Writer Nick Hornby adapted the screenplay from Colm Tóibín's novel of the same name.

The plot follows Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish woman who emigrates to Brooklyn to find employment.

There she marries an Italian plumber called Tony (Emory Cohen), before being forced to choose between her home town of Enniscorthy or her new life in Brooklyn.

[2] Brooklyn gathered awards and nominations in a variety of categories with particular praise for Ronan's performance, Crowley's direction and Hornby's screenplay.

Hornby's script received a USC Scripter Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.