Colin farrell russell crowe and jessica brown findlay star in this romantic drama adapted from the 1983 novel by mark helprin set in manhattan in 1916 the film follows thief peter lake farrell who meets beverly penn brown findlay a young woman he is about to rob instead he begins to talk to her and they soon fall in love but he later discovers that she is terminally ill meanwhile peter is being pursued by his old boss ruthless gangster pearly soames crowe to whom he owes a debt but he is s