John Cassavetes' son Nick directs this touching tale of family bonds and friendship in small-town America. Tomei plays a single mother attempting to keep her tumultuous life together, in contrast to Rowlands' secretly lonely matriarch. She gives Tomei's character and her offspring the stability they need while in return they inject some much needed love into her life. When Gerard Depardieu's truck-driving renaissance man comes onto the scene, Rowland's new-found independence takes on a whole different tack.

This is a deep-felt and heartwarming tale, without being self-indulgent or pretentious. The characters connect and although many would dismiss this as a touchy-feely chick movie, it has a lot to offer those who can handle the deliberate pace. Cassavetes shows that his directorial career is very promising indeed. (He is also an actor and you may have seen him playing the bald-headed baddie in John Woo's Face/Off.)

Bridgette has a small part in this film, playing the (at least verbally abused) pregnant wife of Rowlands' son.

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