Choices of the Heart

Jean Donovan and the three Sisters meet at the El Salvador airport and pile into a van driven by Jean to return to the mission. Shortly after leaving the airport, the van is stopped by armed soldiers. The women then go missing, triggering a tense search to uncover their fate.

With the van missing and the women unaccounted for, U.S. Ambassador Robert White launches a government-led search for them. The investigation unfolds amid the tense political climate and mounting danger in El Salvador. His efforts underscore the international stakes of the violence.

Ambassador White eventually locates the women’s bodies buried in a shallow grave. The discovery confirms the worst fears and deepens the tragedy. White's pursuit continues for answers about what happened.

In flashbacks, Jean's college years in Dublin show her drinking and partying during a study abroad year. Father Phelan contacts her to help with his ministry to the local poor. Initially self-centered, she slowly becomes drawn to helping those in need.

Back in the US, Jean lands a high-paying job with a business consulting firm, enabling her to buy a new car and a motorcycle. Yet she feels a restlessness and dissatisfaction with her hedonistic lifestyle. The seeds of her future change begin to take root.

Jean enters a serious relationship with medical student Doug Cable. He warns that he will end their relationship if she doesn't return home. Their conflict foreshadows the pull between personal life and mission call, adding emotional tension.

Despite Doug's demand to return, Jean applies for a Catholic lay missionary program and is sent to El Salvador to serve the poor. Her decision marks the start of a profound personal transformation. The mission call begins to redefine her priorities.

Jean arrives in El Salvador and begins working with Sister Dorothy Kazel, partnering to help the local poor. The two women form a bond through shared mission and faith. Jean's presence strengthens the community's hope amid rising danger.

Jean's assertive stance against injustice draws the ire of the Salvadoran military, who harass and intimidate residents under their control. The environment becomes increasingly perilous for aid workers and the local community. The international spotlight on El Salvador intensifies the risk.

Armando, a local youth preparing for the priesthood, sneaks to Jean's house in the middle of the night. Jean realizes their feelings would be wrong and sends him away. The moment foreshadows the personal costs of taking a stand in a dangerous country.

As Armando leaves, he is shot dead by soldiers, devastating Jean. Her grief intensifies as violence closes in on the community she has come to protect. The tragedy broadens the sense of danger surrounding the aid workers.

Archbishop Oscar Romero, a beloved voice for justice, is assassinated by the military for speaking out against the regime. His death shocks the community and marks a turning point in the political climate. Jean's resolve to stay is tested by the escalating brutality.

Despite the mounting danger and Doug's ultimatum, Jean cannot bring herself to leave El Salvador. She remains committed to the children she has grown to love. The struggle pits personal safety against her calling to stay with those in need.

A military death squad rapes, tortures, and kills Jean Donovan along with Sisters Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, and Dorothy Kazel as they are being driven to the mission. The brutal act underscores the collapse of protection for humanitarian workers. The tragedy resonates beyond their immediate community.

Ambassador White's attempt to obtain justice for Jean and the others is frustrated by lack of cooperation from both Salvadoran and U.S. governments. The political barriers complicate accountability and highlight the limits of international intervention. The film ends on a note about the grim reality of seeking justice in such conflicts.