Love Field MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: -1 1/2

Lurene (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a beautician, living in Dallas in 1963 with her husband Ray. She idolizes President Kennedy and the First Lady. Hours after she just misses shaking hands with them, President Kennedy is assassinated. Heartbroken, Lurene wants to attend his funeral in Washington, but Ray forbids her to go. She boards a bus for the nation's capitol anyway, and befriends a black man, Paul (Dennis Haybert), and his daughter Joanelle. During the trip, Lurene discovers signs of physical abuse on Joanelle. She calls the FBI from the bus station, thinking that Paul has kidnapped the little girl. When she learns that Paul has taken Joanelle from an abusive foster home, Lurene feels responsible and flees with Paul and Joanelle. As they make their way north, she sees the horrors of discrimination as Paul is beaten just for being black. Lurene is torn between her husband, her quest to attend the funeral, and her growing relationship with Paul. LOVE FIELD is a moving, interesting twist on the "road film," and features strong performances by Pfeiffer and Haybert.

Strong language pervades the film, including one s-word, one f-word and nine regular profanities. When Lurene and Paul stop at the home of a friend when escaping to the north, they kiss. Sex apparently follows, but it is not shown. Ray slaps Lurene several times, and Paul is beaten with hoses and chains by three white men. At the same time, the story contains a strong positive message of love breaking through racial barriers and stereotypes. Nevertheless, Paul and Lurene are still committing adultery . Their action is presented as acceptable with no adverse consequences. This misguided implication, coupled with obscenities and profanity, earn a negative acceptability for LOVE FIELD.

Preview Reviewer: Pete Zimowski
Distributor: Orion Pictures Corp., 711 5th Ave., NY, NY 10019