Movies

Check Out Natalie Portman’s Where the Heart Is if You Miss Quality Teen Drama

Check Out Natalie Portman’s Where the Heart Is if You Miss Quality Teen Drama
Image credit: 20th Century Studios

It’s a must-watch for Juno fans.

Recognized as one of the most demanded actresses in the cinema industry, Natalie Portman is truly a Hollywood star right now and a great drama performer, who has an Oscar for the leading role in Black Swan (2010).

It is also proved by her 2000 movie that was unfairly overshadowed by other teen dramas of that decade. Actually, titled Where the Heart Is, this film is a must-see gem that will take you back to the times when the onscreen dramas seemed really relatable.

What Is Where the Heart Is About?

The film’s plot revolves around Portman’s Novalee, a 17-year-old girl who is literally left barefoot in a WalMart parking lot by her reckless boyfriend. The point is, the girl is not only alone, she’s pregnant, and the child is about to be born.

Novalee decides to live within the store itself, and luckily, she meets a number of indifferent people who are willing to help her with the struggles of motherhood in a town where she feels she doesn’t belong at all.

Why Do You Need to Watch This Drama?

Firstly, such a wild premise is in fact taken from everyday life, where lots of young girls become single mothers and can’t make it through the challenges of poverty, unemployment and parenthood.

It’s here enhanced by the performances of the leads, as the movie stars Natalie Portman as Novalee and Ashley Judd as the nurse who befriends her. Their onscreen chemistry is so strong that you can literally feel the girls’ power in the air.

Besides, there is still some kind of a comic relief in Where the Heart Is, which makes it reminiscent of Drew Barrymore’s Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) and Elliot Page’s Juno (2007) that also speak about teen pregnancy.

Check Out Natalie Portman’s Where the Heart Is if You Miss Quality Teen Drama - image 1

“This is one of my ultimate comfort movies,” admits Redditor @viennawaits94. Yes, it may seem crazy due to the leitmotif of this flick, but be sure that the plot development will certainly uplift and relax you.

Where Can I Watch Where the Heart Is?

Portman’s drama is now available for streaming on Prime Video , HBO Max , and Apple TV+ , so don’t miss a chance to revise this hidden gem from the 2000s.