Watch The Trip to Bountiful

The Trip to Bountiful is a touching drama movie from 1985 that explores the themes of longing and happiness. The movie stars Geraldine Page as Carrie Watts, an elderly woman who dreams of returning to her childhood home in the Bountiful region of Texas. The movie is set in the 1940s, and Carrie Watts is living with her son Ludie (played by John Heard) and his wife Jessie Mae (played by Carlin Glynn) in a small apartment in Houston. Carrie is lonely and yearns to go back to Bountiful, where she grew up and where her beloved family members are buried. However, Ludie and Jessie Mae believe that it's not a practical idea, and that Carrie should stay in the city with them, as she has health issues, and it's difficult for them to take care of her in the country.

Despite their objections, Carrie feels that she has to go back to Bountiful, if only for a little while, to relive some happy memories and say goodbye to her past. She decides to escape their watchful eyes and leave for Bountiful on her own.

The movie follows Carrie's journey as she embarks on a bus ride to Bountiful. On the way, she meets several people, some of whom show kindness while others are indifferent. She also reflects on her life and the choices she has made, as well as the joys and sorrows she has experienced.

When Carrie reaches Bountiful, she discovers that the town has changed a lot since she left, and that most of the people she used to know are gone. However, she manages to find the house where she grew up, which is now abandoned and dilapidated. She spends some time there, reminiscing about her childhood, and she even gets to meet a woman who knew her family and who shares some of her memories.

As Carrie spends some days in Bountiful, she realizes that her dream of returning to her past was unrealistic, and that she has to make peace with the present. She comes to understand that home is not a place, but a state of mind, and that happiness is not found in the past, but in the present.

Meanwhile, Ludie and Jessie Mae are worried sick about Carrie, and they hire a sheriff to find her. The sheriff eventually tracks Carrie down, and he brings her back to Houston. When they arrive, Jessie Mae berates Carrie for her selfishness and foolishness, but Ludie comforts his mother and tells her that he understands her need to return to Bountiful.

The Trip to Bountiful is a poignant movie that explores the complexities of family relationships, aging, and the power of memories. Geraldine Page gives an outstanding performance as Carrie Watts, conveying her character's mixture of strength, vulnerability, and determination. Page received her first Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for her role in this movie, and she won the award five years later for another movie.

John Heard and Carlin Glynn also give strong performances as Ludie and Jessie Mae, respectively. Heard's character is torn between his love and respect for his mother and his loyalty to his wife, while Glynn's character is both sympathetic and frustrating, as she tries to control the situation and act as the voice of reason.

The movie is directed by Peter Masterson and adapted by Horton Foote from his own play. Foote was a prolific writer who explored the lives of ordinary people in his works, and The Trip to Bountiful is no exception. The movie is a slow-paced, character-driven story that relies on dialogue, gestures, and facial expressions to convey its themes.

The movie was critically acclaimed upon its release and has become a classic of American cinema. It's a movie that touches the heart and reminds us of the power of hope and nostalgia. The Trip to Bountiful is a must-see for anyone who appreciates nuanced acting, sincere storytelling, and emotional depth.

The Trip to Bountiful is a 1985 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 81.