Once Upon a Time in America

The time: the 1920s. The place: New York City. The Lower East Side, on the southeast corner of Manhattan Island, is home to a great many Jewish immigrants who came to the United States, beginning in the late 19th century, from a Russia ravaged by political turmoil and an eastern Europe where they had experienced tremendous poverty. Despite the American dream that anyone can achieve success, for the Jewish immigrants in the Lower East Side this dream is difficult to make a reality. David “Noodles” Aaronson is born into this Jewish enclave, and from a very young age gets his hands dirty in the seedy underbelly of society. Along with his trusted companions Max, Cockeye, Patsy, and Dominic, Noodles lays down roots in the criminal underworld...

Directed by Shuichiro Koike, Once Upon a Time in America leans on a strong ensemble — Fuuto Nozomi, Maaya Kiho, Sakina Ayakaze — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2020.