Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 crime movie directed by Sergio Leone. The film is an epic tale that spans over three decades, from the Prohibition era to the 1960s. The story revolves around the life of David Aaronson, a Jewish gangster from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, who rises to power during the Prohibition era alongside his friends Max and Patsy.
However, their success is short-lived as David is betrayed and sent to prison for over a decade. Upon his release, David returns to the Lower East Side to find that his old gang has disbanded, and his former accomplices have either died or moved on.
With nothing left to lose, David sets out to reconnect with his past and seek revenge against those who wronged him. Along the way, he confronts the ghosts and regrets of his old life, including his relationships with women, from his childhood love to a prostitute who becomes his mistress.
The film features an all-star cast, including Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, and Joe Pesci. The movie explores themes of nostalgia, regret, and the price of power. It is considered one of the greatest gangster films of all time and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of epic filmmaking.