A Map of the World

REVIEW
Alice Goodwin (Weaver) lives on a struggling dairy farm in Wisconsin with her husband and two daughters. Her job as a school nurse supplements the family income and offers Alice a stability not found at home. Her best friend is Theresa, who also has two daughters. When one of them drowns under the supervision of Alice, the young girl's death causes Alice to suffer a breakdown, which sets the stage for a tragic turn of events. Based on Jane Hamilton's moving best-seller, this downbeat adaptation finds its biggest strength in Weaver, who is excellent as the physically strong but emotionally fragile Alice. But in spite of a good ensemble and some tearjerking dramatics, the film only occasionally involves, offering instead a series of somber moments which fail to truly come together as a whole.