Synopsis

Kelley Morse, a privileged young man spending the summer in a small Minnesota town, gets into a reckless road race with local resident Jasper Arnold. When the joyride wrecks a family restaurant, a judge orders both young men to help rebuild it. Their punishment draws Kelley into the Cavanaugh family and into a complicated romance with Samantha, whose existing relationship with Jasper turns the summer into a painful test of loyalty, class, and maturity.

Factoids & Trivia

• Principal photography took place in Minnesota from June 21 through August 5, 1999. Locations included Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Welch, Goodhue County, St. Paul, and Miesville.

• The film was produced by Fox 2000 Pictures and Friendly Productions and distributed by 20th Century Fox.

• Andrea Morricone composed the score. The accompanying soundtrack album leaned heavily toward contemporary pop and alternative music, featuring songs by Jessica Simpson, Sixpence None the Richer, the Foo Fighters, Tori Amos, Stereophonics, and Beth Orton.

• The soundtrack also included "Birches," a spoken dialogue track featuring Chris Klein and Leelee Sobieski, as well as a separate "Here on Earth Score Suite."

• Made on a reported $15 million budget, the film earned approximately $10.9 million worldwide. Its domestic opening weekend brought in about $4.5 million.