Aurora and Emma are mother and daughter who march to different drummers. Beginning with Emma’s marriage, Aurora shows how difficult and loving she can be. The movie covers several years of their lives as each finds different reasons to go on living and find joy. Aurora’s interludes with Garrett Breedlove, retired astronaut and next door neighbor are quite striking.

Union soldiers in search of food descend on the farm of a Confederate family and decide to stay until one in their ranks’ wounds have healed. While the war weary Union captain (Chris Cooper) falls for the mother of the family (Patricia Clarkson) – whose husband is off fighting for the rebels – her son plots revenge on the dirty, double-dealing Yankees. Co-stars Kris Kristofferson.