In America is the story of a young Irish family that illegally relocates to New York City from Canada. The movie focuses on the emotional, spiritual, and financial challenges Johnny (Paddy Considine), Sarah (Samantha Morton), and their young daughters Christy and Ariel face as they begin a new life. The family settles in a rundown tenement apartment in a neighborhood known for its drug trafficking.

The family befriends a reclusive African-American man in their building who is seriously ill. Mateo is mysterious. He is a gifted artist from a wealthy background but is nonetheless living in this rundown neighborhood. When Sarah discovers she is pregnant, Mateo predicts the child will enrich their impoverished lives. As the pregnancy develops, doctors find that the baby has significant problems and may not survive. As hospital bills mount, Johnny promises payment, yet he is incapable of raising the thousands of dollars needed.

After Sarah gives birth, the premature baby lies in an incubator struggling for life as the parents look on worriedly. At that moment, Mateo is in the same hospital near death. His face grimaces in pain as his head rears back and his eyes open. At that exact moment, the baby's eyes open, he draws his little hand near his face emitting a hungry cry. Johnny and Sarah smile broadly. They each reach an index finger toward the baby through an opening in the Plexiglas.

Mateo's eyes grow big and then close for the last time. As the nurse holds his hand, it falls limp. Meanwhile, Johnny's retracts his index finger from the baby's clutching fist. A close up on the baby's little hand shows fingers stretching fully alive.

The scene shifts to the area of the hospital where bills are paid. The business manager's voice is heard. "The hospital bill arrived. It came to $30,420.20."

Johnny's voice can be heard. He is on the phone with an agent begging for a job to begin to pay down this enormous medical expense.

"The bill's been paid," the business manager says in a matter of fact voice while scrolling down her computer screen.

Johnny asks in disbelief, "What do you mean?"

"A Mateo Kwame paid it," she adds hitting the enter button on her computer. "There's no balance."

Content: Rated PG-13

Elapsed Time: Measured from the studio logo, 01:29:50 to 01:33:00