Synopsis

Mary Jo Walker has spent years moving from town to town with her daughter Ava, leaving behind unstable relationships and fresh starts. After settling in a Southern California community, the restless mother tries to build a steadier life while Ava navigates adolescence, school, and her own need for security. Their bond is tested as old habits collide with new possibilities.

Factoids & Trivia

• The story grew out of Angela Shelton's unpublished memoir about traveling with her mother, who married and divorced several times during Shelton's childhood.

• Shelton and her writing collaborator began developing the screenplay after marrying in 1994. Although they divorced in 1996, they continued revising the script together.

• The production was made for an estimated $312,000 and filmed in just 24 days during October 1998. Locations included Agoura Hills, North Hollywood, Malibu, and Eagle Rock.

• Janet McTeer was making her first starring appearance in an American film. She adopted a Southern voice for the role, preparing by studying regional speech and watching *Bastard Out of Carolina* repeatedly.

• The film premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Dramatic Filmmakers Trophy. Its festival reception helped secure distribution from Fine Line Features.

• McTeer's performance earned her the 2000 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

• The soundtrack combines country, folk, and roots recordings, including songs associated with Lyle Lovett, Buck Owens, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, and Johnny Cash.