A Walk on the Moon

A Walk on the Moon

Year: 1999

Runtime: 107 min

Language: English

DramaRomance

In 1969, as the world watches the moon landing, Pearl Kantrowitz finds her life unexpectedly changed by a passionate affair with Walker Jerome. Seeking escape from the routine of her marriage to Marty, she embarks on a forbidden romance that challenges the boundaries of her conventional existence and threatens to unravel her world.

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Timeline & Setting – A Walk on the Moon (1999)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Walk on the Moon (1999). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1969

The movie is set in the summer of 1969, a pivotal time known for the Vietnam War, counterculture movements, and the legendary Woodstock festival. It was an era marked by social change, exploration of freedoms, and cultural milestones, such as Neil Armstrong’s historic moon landing. This period deeply influences the characters’ lives and decisions.

Location

Woodstock, Holiday Camp

The story takes place at a holiday camp designed for Jewish families near Woodstock, a locale known for its cultural significance during the summer of 1969. Woodstock also hosts the iconic festival that embodies the spirit of peace and music, drawing flower children and attendees from all over. The camp serves as a backdrop for family dynamics, love, and personal awakenings.

🏕️ Camp 🎉 Festival

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:43

Main Characters – A Walk on the Moon (1999)

Meet the key characters of A Walk on the Moon (1999), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Pearl

Pearl is depicted as a beautiful yet weary woman, burdened by the responsibilities of motherhood and the sacrifices made for her children. She embodies the struggle between domestic duties and the yearning for personal freedom. Her tumultuous affair forces her to confront her past and reassess her desires.

👩‍👧 Motherhood 💔 Infidelity

Marty

Marty is primarily characterized by his absence due to work commitments, representing the struggles of a man caught in the pressures of domestic life and livelihood. As the story unfolds, he experiences a personal awakening confronting the reality of his crumbling marriage, leading him to seek understanding and reconciliation.

🛠️ Labor 💔 Marriage Struggles

Alison

Alison, a teenager on the brink of adulthood, grapples with her first love while witnessing her mother's crisis. She is portrayed as curious and sensitive, attempting to navigate her emotions amid the vibrant yet complex social landscape of the 1960s. Her experiences reflect a mix of youthful exuberance and coming-of-age challenges.

❤️ First Love 🌼 Coming of Age

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:43

Major Themes – A Walk on the Moon (1999)

Explore the central themes of A Walk on the Moon (1999), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Infidelity

The film explores themes of infidelity and the emotional turmoil it brings to familial relationships. Pearl’s encounter with a charming salesman represents a departure from her mundane life, inciting both excitement and guilt. This theme dives into the complexities of love, longing, and the consequences of choices made in vulnerable moments.

🌸 Self-Discovery

Amidst the chaos of the summer, both Alison and Pearl journey through self-discovery. Alison navigates her first romantic relationship, while Pearl rekindles her own desires and dreams left dormant. Their interactions reflect a quest for personal identity and fulfillment, set against the backdrop of a transformative era.

🎶 Reconnection

Reconnection emerges as a core theme as Pearl and Marty strive to mend their fractured marriage. Their eventual dance symbolizes not just a physical coming together but a deeper emotional and historical reconnection. It highlights the enduring bonds of family and love, even in the face of adversity.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:43

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about life-changing summers like A Walk on the Moon

A season of passion and consequence that irrevocably changes a life.This collection features movies like 'A Walk on the Moon' where a single summer becomes a pivotal turning point. If you enjoyed the story of Pearl's passionate affair and personal awakening, you'll find similar bittersweet dramas about forbidden love, midlife crises, and self-discovery set during transformative seasonal escapes.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear, character-driven arc often beginning with a sense of stagnation or yearning. A catalyst—usually a new person or experience—ignites a passionate but complicated journey. The climax involves a confrontation with the consequences of these choices, leading to an ending that is neither purely happy nor sad, but acknowledges the irreversible change and complex emotional trade-offs.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together by their shared mood of nostalgic yearning and a bittersweet tone, centered on a specific, intense period of time that alters the protagonist's path. They blend the exhilaration of new experiences with the melancholy of loss or compromise, all unfolding at a steady, reflective pace that lets the emotional weight settle.

Dramas about marital affairs and family strain like A Walk on the Moon

Stories where a forbidden affair threatens the delicate balance of family life.If you liked the emotional turmoil of 'A Walk on the Moon,' explore these similar dramas about infidelity and its consequences. This list features character-driven stories where a passionate forbidden love challenges a stable but unfulfilling marriage, creating tense family dynamics and leading to a bittersweet reckoning.

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Narrative Summary

The plot typically centers on a protagonist feeling trapped or unseen in their long-term relationship. The arrival of an enticing outsider offers escape and passion, creating a powerful internal conflict between duty and desire. The story builds tension as the secret affair inevitably collides with domestic reality, forcing characters to confront broken trust and make painful decisions about their future, often concluding with a complicated, realistic resolution rather than a tidy ending.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a strong thematic focus on forbidden love and its impact on the family unit. They are united by a medium emotional weight, a steady pacing that allows for character depth, and a consistently bittersweet tone that acknowledges the complexity of human desires and the costs of following them.

Unlock the Full Story of A Walk on the Moon

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Walk on the Moon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Walk on the Moon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Walk on the Moon Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Walk on the Moon, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Walk on the Moon Summary

A Walk on the Moon Timeline

Track the full timeline of A Walk on the Moon with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

A Walk on the Moon Timeline

A Walk on the Moon Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Walk on the Moon that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

A Walk on the Moon Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Walk on the Moon

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Walk on the Moon: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About A Walk on the Moon

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