Tumbleweeds

Tumbleweeds

Year: 1999

Runtime: 102 min

Language: English

Director: Gavin O'Connor

DramaComedy

Fleeing a troubled past, single mother Mary Jo Walker and her daughter Ava live a nomadic life on the road. Seeking stability, they eventually settle in San Diego, where they are helped by trucker Jack Ranson. As Ava discovers a passion for performing, Mary Jo grapples with finding happiness, which leads her into a complicated and controlling relationship. She must now decide whether to run once again or confront her challenges and build a more settled future.

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Timeline & Setting – Tumbleweeds (1999)

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

Time period

Location

Missouri, San Diego

Missouri marks the starting point of Mary Jo and Ava's journey toward a new life. The road trip through the American heartland frames their evolving relationship and the sacrifices they make for change. Their eventual settlement in San Diego signals a shift to stability and a new chapter.

🗺️ Road trip 🌆 City life

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:25

Main Characters – Tumbleweeds (1999)

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

Mary Jo Walker (Janet McTeer)

Mary Jo is a strong-willed single mother who habitually packs up her life in search of greener pastures. Her quickness to move and seek romance often overshadows Ava's stability, leaving her daughter to adapt to constant change. Throughout their journey, she confronts the consequences of her choices and learns to value steadiness and presence.

💪 Strong-willed 🧭 Restless 💞 Protective

Ava Walker (Kimberly J. Brown)

Ava is a precocious pre-teen who gains a starring school role in Romeo and Juliet, showcasing her acting talent and desire for recognition. She forms friendships, experiences jealousy, and begins to crave stability as she resists her mother's constant moving. Her pushback leads to a turning point where she asserts her needs, while also finding resilience in her bond with her mother.

🎭 Talented 🧒 Curious 🏫 Schoolgirl

Jack Ranson

A long-distance trucker who helps Mary Jo and Ava on their journey, reappearing after they settle in San Diego. He initially appears supportive but reveals a verbally aggressive side, complicating Mary Jo's attempt at independence. His presence underscores the film's tension between safety, dependency, and autonomy.

🚚 Trucker 🗯️ Abrasive 💬 Volatile

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:25

Major Themes – Tumbleweeds (1999)

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

🧭 Self-Discovery

On the road, Mary Jo and Ava are forced to confront what they really want from life. Mary Jo's constant flight from the past becomes a catalyst for Ava's own growth, as she learns to voice her needs and talents. The journey becomes less about finding a place and more about understanding who they are as a pair. The film uses travel as a mechanism to reveal hidden desires and reshape their bond.

👩‍👧 Mother-Daughter

The relationship between Mary Jo and Ava is the emotional core, tested by instability and changing landscapes. Ava seeks stability and a sense of belonging, while Mary Jo wrestles with independence and responsibility. They clash and reconcile, learning to balance love with accountability. By road's end they rebuild trust and commit to a shared future.

🌅 Reinvention

Change triggers a reinvention of both characters as Mary Jo takes a nursery job and Ava reconnects with friends. They learn to define themselves beyond the roles they have played during the trip. The new life in San Diego marks a turning point where past patterns are left behind. The film honors resilience and the possibility of starting anew.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:25

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Tumbleweeds Summary

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Tumbleweeds Summary

Tumbleweeds Timeline

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Tumbleweeds Timeline

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