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Movie Review

WHERE THE HEART IS

Sometimes, we are touched most by a simple story well told; such is offered by "Where the Heart Is". Natalie Portman plays Novalee Nation is pregnant in the movie. In a world of confusion and cynicism where young women are so often brought down by pregnancies , Novalee achieves her success by her head-strong and determination with an innocence that seeks the best for people around her. Everyone she knows, even those who have betrayed her, are touched. Novalee, however, does not view herself the same way as others. In her own being, she is full of doubt about her worth.

Novalee leaves Tennessee in an old car with her handsome, white trash boyfriend (Willy Jack played by Dylan Bruno) on a trek to California. They are, however, not going to Hollywood or the beach, but are headed for Bakersfield, a central California farm town. The thought of living with Novalee and taking responsibility for the child are just too much for Willy Jack. He abandons Novalee at a Wal-Mart in Oklahoma. In order to survive, she stays in the store every night. James Frain ,Novalee’s friend Forney is a librarian who has to take care of his mentally disturbed sister. He takes part in Novalee's life by smashing through the plate glass window of the Wal-Mart in order to get Novalee to the hospital to deliver her baby, Americus. The critical element of the story is for Novalee and Forney to find a deeper love for each other, but they have to communicate and overcome their lack of self-confidence since they are good friends.

"Where the Heart is" is not a fairy tale. It comes from the heart of a white, trailer trash, unwed teen mother who ultimately transforms her life and that of others by the purity of love and innocence that conquers cynicism.