<P> In 1931 , during the Great Depression , Michael Sullivan , Sr. is an enforcer for Irish mob boss John Rooney in Rock Island , Illinois . Rooney raised the orphan Sullivan and loves him more than his own biological son , Connor . Rooney sends Connor and Sullivan to meet with disgruntled associate Finn McGovern , but Connor shoots McGovern , resulting in Sullivan gunning down McGovern 's men . Sullivan 's twelve - year - old son Michael , Jr. had hidden in his father 's car and witnesses the event . Despite Sullivan swearing his son to secrecy and Rooney pressuring Connor to apologize for the reckless action , Connor murders Sullivan 's wife Annie and younger son Peter . At the same time , he sends Sullivan to an ambush at a speakeasy . Sullivan realizes it 's a set - up , kills two men at the bar , and escapes . He goes to Chicago with his son to seek Al Capone , for work and to discover the location of Connor , who has gone into hiding . </P>
where does the movie road to perdition take place
Chicago