The Very Thought of You (1999) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place primarily in Pasadena, California, where most of the family dynamics unfold. Key locations include Caltech, which serves as a backdrop for emotional connections, and Mount Wilson, which offers a scenic romantic escape. The story also references Attu Island in the Aleutian campaign, representing the harsh isolating experiences of war that the characters confront.

• pasadena
• caltech
• mount wilson
• attu island
• setting
• locations

The movie is set during World War II era. This time period is central to the narrative, as the film explores the challenges faced by soldiers returning home after long deployments and the impact of global conflict on family structures and personal relationships.

• world war ii
• ww2
• era
• time period
• 1940s

The film explores three interconnected themes: Love & Sacrifice, showing how war affects romantic relationships and the challenges couples face; Family Dynamics, depicting how Janet's family initially resists her relationship with a soldier but ultimately comes together; and War's Impact, illustrating the emotional turmoil caused by separation and military service.

• love
• sacrifice
• family
• war impact
• themes
• relationships

Dave is a soldier portrayed by Joseph Fiennes whose deep love for Janet drives the narrative. Having spent years in war, he longs for connection and stability. His character represents the sacrifices made by soldiers, and his journey involves facing family disapproval and the harsh realities of military life while maintaining his relationship with Janet.

• dave
• soldier
• joseph fiennes
• main character
• military

Janet, played by Monica Potter, is depicted as a nurturing figure who navigates family expectations while maintaining her love for Dave. She represents the challenges many women faced during WWII, showing strength in the face of adversity and becoming a supportive partner amidst the struggles brought by war. Her journey reflects resilience and the emotional toll of waiting.

• janet
• monica potter
• character
• woman
• wartime

Pasadena serves as the primary domestic setting where the characters experience Thanksgiving gatherings filled with tension and family dynamics. The contrast between the suburban American home life in Pasadena and the harsh wartime environments like Attu Island highlights the emotional distance and challenges the characters must navigate.

• pasadena
• family home
• thanksgiving
• domestic setting

Janet's family is initially resistant to her relationship with a soldier, creating underlying tensions that drive much of the emotional conflict. However, the challenges they face together ultimately bring the family closer, highlighting themes of understanding and reconciliation. The family serves as both a source of conflict and emotional support.

• family
• parents
• conflict
• reconciliation
• approval

The film portrays war as a force that strains romantic relationships through separation, uncertainty, and the emotional toll of military service. Characters must navigate the emotional turmoil caused by deployment and the looming threat of danger. The consequences of war ripple through their lives, transforming relationships and prompting shifts in family dynamics.

• war
• separation
• relationships
• deployment
• military service

Attu Island represents the harsh and isolating experiences of soldiers during the Aleutian campaign in World War II. This remote location symbolizes the dangers and hardships Dave faces during his military service, contrasting sharply with the domestic life and family warmth he left behind in Pasadena.

• attu island
• aleutian campaign
• war location
• soldier
• pacific theater

The film has a fundamentally bittersweet tone, weaving the hopeful joy of a whirlwind romance with the melancholic strain of wartime separation and family disapproval. While there is emotional weight from the serious context of war, injury, and familial strife, it remains consistently anchored by a central, hopeful love story that leads to a satisfying emotional closure.

• tone
• bittersweet
• romance
• emotional
• wartime love

Caltech, a prestigious institute in Pasadena, serves as a backdrop for the characters' emotional connections. The academic setting provides a contrast to the wartime military experience and represents the intellectual and emotional growth the characters undergo as they navigate their relationships and future together.

• caltech
• university
• education
• intellectual
• pasadena