My Own Love Song

My Own Love Song
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Olivier Dahan
Produced by	Alain Goldman Olivier Dahan
Written by	Olivier Dahan
Starring	Renée Zellweger Forest Whitaker Madeline Zima Nick Nolte
Cinematography	Matthew Libatique
Editing by	Stan Collet Richard Marizy
Studio	Légende Studio 37 Orange Cinéma Séries Canal+
Distributed by	Lionsgate (US) Warner Bros./Pathé (UK)
Release date(s)	April 7, 2010 (2010-04-07) (France)
Country	United States France
Language	English

My Own Love Song is a 2010 road movie directed and written by Olivier Dahan and starring Renée Zellweger, Forest Whitaker, Madeline Zima and Nick Nolte. It premiered in Dahan's native France on April 7, 2010^[1] and in the United States at the Tribeca Film Festival between April 21 to May 2, 2010.^[2]

The soundtrack contains music written by Bob Dylan,^[1] including "Life is Hard" from his 2009 album Together Through Life.

Plot

In Marysville, Kansas, a paralyzed former singer, Jane, argues with her stuttering friend Joey about his belief that he can talk to the invisible world. One day, as she's out for some physiotherapy treatment, he messes up her house while searching for a book about angels that he has lent her but that she has not read. Frightening the neighbors, he is taken by the police to a hospital, where an angry Jane briefly visits.

The following night, Joey escapes from his room and comes back to his friend's house in order to tidy it as she sleeps. While he cleans everything up, he finds a letter from her young son inviting her to his upcoming communion in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he lives with his adoptive family. Later on, as she has woken up, he asks her if he can spend the night on the couch.

In the morning, the police knock on Jane's door and ask her if the escapee is in her house. She hesitates but eventually tells them that he's left. Decided not to go back to the psychiatric hospital nor to prison, Joey then begs Jane to join him on a planned trip to New Orleans, where a celebrated author writing about angels is due to hold a conference.

Soon after they start driving, problems begin. Their engine heats up and their car explodes. They buy a new one but this one is stolen. They then board a coach and, while Jane sleeps, Joey meets a young lady called Billie by helping her find her wedding ring on the floor. She tells him her husband has disappeared without giving an address.

Later on, the three passengers dine at Billie's sister with her friends. A romantic night follows and ends with fireworks. The next morning, Joey, Jane and Billie are driven to a restaurant by a relative, but Jane forgets her purse in the car. As nobody has enough money for the bill, Joey elaborates a plan to get them to the bus without paying. The plan does not work but they eventually get into the bus, where they argue about what they've just done. The bus driver abandons them on a road in the middle of nowhere. Jane decides to go back home and Joey has to reveal the existence of her son's letter.

At night, the three hear music and meet Caldwell, an old musician with whom they share some cake enhanced with drugs. The following day, Caldwell gives them a lift, as Jane reluctantly agrees to replace a singer who was due to sing two songs in a restaurant. In town, shortly before her planned show, Jane argues with Joey about his mothering her. She leaves the group and meets fellow travelers going to Iowa. The woman of the couple is ill and they are going their on their last trip to their children. This inspiring meeting persuades Jane to perform the show she was supposed to be at. She arrives on stage while Joey prays angels for her to come back. She sings "This Land Is Your Land" accompanied by Caldwell on electric guitar, to applause from the public in the club.

After the concert, as they drive towards New Orleans, they notice their stolen car on the road and chase the thief. An accident ensues and everybody is arrested and subsequently freed except Caldwell who is taken to prison. Jane manages to give him a song written for him, where she stresses the beauty of birds.

In New Orleans, Joey attends the conference about angels but discovers, while in the toilet, that the author is both a racist and a liar. He does not believe in what he writes and hates his Black and Mexican readership. Joey punches him in the face and the three travelers are expelled from the conference.

They get to the train station and are bound to Baton Rouge when Billie receives a call. Her husband is on the phone and seems ready to come back home. She leaves Jane and Joey just before their train departs.

In Baton Rouge, as they reach Jane's son's communion, she hesitates to get in, afraid that she will not recognize him seven years after her accident and subsequent coma. Joey tells her to sing, so that he will find her. She listens to his advice, and just like Joey had predicted, her son, who was just about to leave the place with his adoptive family, stops in front of her as he hears her sing.

The final scene is set later back in Kansas. Joey and Jane are sitting in front of a lake, talking. Her son and his adoptive parents arrive for a visit. Jane and Joey hold their hands as the three approach.

Cast

• Renée Zellweger, as Jane^[3]
• Forest Whitaker, as Joey^[3]
• Madeline Zima, as Billie^[3]
• Nick Nolte, as Caldwell^[4]

Production

Production began in October 2008 in Kansas and Louisiana.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "My Own Love Song de Olivier Dahan". Mars Distribution. http://www.marsfilms.com/film/my_own_love_song. Retrieved April 11, 2010. 
2. ^ Elfman, Mali (March 29, 2010). "Tribeca Film Festival Adds Freakonomics, My Own Love Song, Letters to Juliet". Screencrave. uCrave. http://screencrave.com/2010-03-29/tribeca-film-festival-adds-freakonomics-my-own-love-song-letters-to-juliet/. Retrieved March 29, 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Dave McNary (2008-09-03). "Whitaker, Zellweger find 'Love'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991573.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Elsa Keslassy (2008-11-06). "Nick Nolte joins 'My Own Love Song'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117995409.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 

External links

• My Own Love Song at the Internet Movie Database