There are lots of romance stories based on the abduction of women from the frontier lands, who then fall in love with their Indian captors, and struggle to re-adapt when they are subsequently 'rescued'. Such stories inevitably result in the white woman deciding her heart belongs with the gentle, spiritual people who snatched her, rather than the morally suspect/hypocritical/emotionally restrained fiance/husband she was snatched from. So this film covers no new territory, but nor does it treat its hackneyed material with any particular depth. Feelings are not developed and motives not explored sufficiently to gain real empathy with any of the characters, whether it be the female protagonist, her indian lover, or the men she left behind and are desperately searching for her. Therefore the finale falls a little flat, unable to produce the emotional satisfaction of an anticipated reunion, or the closure that would have resulted from a more neat resolution of the plot (there are still too many questions left unanswered, and the viewer is left feeling that this is rather a falsely convenient ending) Although it could never have risen above the 'Dr Quin: Medicine Woman' drama league with its 'meaningful glance' acting and saccarine dialogue, this might have been a good romance, if only it had achieved a little more depth and character focus.
Review of Stolen Women, Captured Hearts
Stolen Women, Captured Hearts
(1997 TV Movie)
Made for TV Mills and Boon style Historical Romance
30 April 2004