Synopsis

In a struggling Alaskan town, former fisherman Joe Gastineau begins a relationship with singer Donna De Angelo and her rebellious daughter, Noelle. When Joe's troubled half-brother draws him into a deadly confrontation, the three flee into the wilderness. Stranded on a remote island with dwindling supplies, they confront old wounds and uncertain dangers while waiting for a rescue that may never come.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was shot entirely on location in Alaska, with Juneau serving as a principal filming area.

• It premiered in competition at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival on May 22, before receiving a limited U.S. theatrical release on June 4, 1999.

• The film was the first theatrical release from the revived Screen Gems label.

• Its setting reflects the economic changes affecting many Alaskan communities, particularly the shift from traditional industries such as canneries and paper mills toward tourism.

• The deliberately unresolved ending became one of the film's most discussed features. It leaves the characters' fate uncertain and reflects the story's recurring concern with risk, survival, and the possibility of starting over.

• The soundtrack includes "Lift Me Up," an original song by Bruce Springsteen. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio also performs several songs in the film, including Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell."