This is a delightful film about a Southern belle, Grace King Bichon
(Julia Roberts), who chafes under the domination of her
brook-no-dissent father, and is cheated on by her husband. Grace
works for her father on his horse farm, and her suppressed
resentment of his iron rule has likely helped derail her marriage to
Eddie. In any event, the film is ultimately about the love and
strength of family relationships and the power of forgiveness, as
well as finding one's own path in life. All actors turn in great
performances: Julia Roberts as the heroine and wronged wife;
Robert Duvall as the family patriarch; Gena Rowlands as the
beautiful and devoted spouse and mother; and Kyra Sedgwick as
the transgressive sister. Dennis Quaid as Grace's philandering
husband is very appealing, so it's hard not to be rooting for he and
Grace to reconcile. Finally, good cinematography and a portrait of
gracious Southern living make this film an enjoyable view.