Anywhere But Here

Adele August, Susan Sarandon, leaves her Wisconsin hometown with her reluctant teenage daughter Ann, Natalie Portman, and the pair relocates to Beverly Hills in search of a brighter future. Adele hopes Ann will become a Hollywood actress, while Ann dreams of attending Brown University.

They rent a run-down apartment, and Adele begins work as a speech-language pathologist at a high school in a rough neighborhood, trying to keep up with bills that often fall behind.

On a sunny beach afternoon, Adele meets a handsome orthodontist, Josh; they begin dating and sharing a physical romance, but he ultimately dumps her for a younger woman. Left to improvise day by day, Adele struggles to pay the bills and eventually quits her job.

Adele and Ann pass their days together, but over time Ann grows tired of her mother’s eccentric behavior and starts to dream about running away from it all.

Ann’s cousin Benny arrives in Los Angeles for a visit, and after his trip home Adele learns that Benny has died in a car accident, leaving Ann devastated. They attend his funeral in Bay City, where Adele has a tense confrontation with her intoxicated brother-in-law.

Back at home, Ann starts dating her crush Peter, hoping for her first sexual experience after turning seventeen. Her friends help her reach out to her estranged father, though he is not pleased to hear from her.

Meanwhile, Adele secures a new job as a speech therapist at a care home, where she also offers makeup and style tips to the elderly residents. Ann works part-time at a supermarket and continues to audition for acting roles, keeping her hope of Brown alive.

In time, Adele sells her expensive Mercedes to help support Ann and, at the same time, begins to pursue her own dream with renewed resolve.

The two say goodbye at the airport when Ann leaves for college. They share a heartfelt moment, and Ann acknowledges that, even though her mother can drive her crazy, she cannot imagine life without her.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58