In the Land of Women

In the Land of Women. (2007). DVD, Warner Home Video.
ASIN: B000VE4UHO

Classification: movie, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 11th-12th grade

Subjects: family, identity, love story, movie

Viewer's Annotation: Carter Webb goes to suburban Michigan to help his grandmother, to write his novel, and to recover from his breakup.

Summary: Carter Webb (played by Adam Brody of "The OC") gets dumped by his famous girlfriend whom he thought would be the love of his life. In an attempt to regroup, and to find a place to write the novel he's been putting off for a decade, he goes to suburban Michigan to care for his grandma who is sure she is dying. He befriends his grandmother's neighbors, Sarah (played by Meg Ryan) who has breast cancer, and her two daughters Lucy (played by Kristen Stewart, who will be Bella in the upcoming Twilight movie) and Paige. All three women have some level of crush on Carter and he certainly has tender feelings for both Sarah and Lucy. The movie is mostly about finding a livable definition of "love," both in the romantic and familial sense.

Reviews / Awards:

Common Sense Media Review

Author Info:
IMDB page

Potential Hotspots:

drinking, smoking, cancer, one fist fight, adultery

Watchalikes:

• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
  
• Juno
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
The stars in this movie will make it a draw to teens. Both Adam Brody from The OC and Kristen Stewart, from Twilight will be names that teens will recognize. Also, the tension between mother and daughter will be a familiar theme to YA readers and viewers.

Other:

Trailer:

Evaluation:

4 stars