New York City in the mid-19th century: Rival gangs fight for supremacy in the infamous “Five Points” slum. Butcher William Cutting leads American-born “natives” who make life miserable for newly arrived immigrants. Irish “priest” Vallon and his gang “Dead Rabbits” rise up against brutal oppression. Their revolt is crushed in a bloody street battle. William Cutting, feared as “Bill the Butcher”, stabs his rival Vallon. However, out of respect for his nemesis’ courage, he spares his little son.
When Amsterdam Vallon returns from the orphanage 16 years later, Cutting reigns supreme over “Five Points”. Dead Rabbit’s former fighters are now his vassals and the politicians are in his hands. Thieves like Johnny Sirocco, whose gang Amsterdam joins, also hand over a considerable part of their loot to the “Butcher”. Only the beautiful thief Jenny Everdeane enjoys the special favor of not having to give anything to the boss of the gang. She soon took Amsterdam under her wing, not suspecting who her new pupil really was. Amsterdam is waiting for the right moment to implement its revenge plan.
In “Gangs of New York,” Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese recounts a nearly forgotten chapter in American history spanning from the great immigration wave in the 1840s to the time of the Civil War. The reckoning takes place before the bloody conscription riots of 1863, which included mass protests, looting and lynchings, which ultimately required the intervention of the army. In the thrilling epic film, Academy Award winners Daniel Day-Lewis square off as the charismatic ruler of the underworld and Leonardo DiCaprio as the avenger. Cameraman Michael Ballhaus provided impressive images for the masterpiece, which was nominated in ten categories at the Oscars.
