This film doesn't want to tell only a love story but the story about how a young woman helps a confused young marine to discover his own better nature. Every word of the screenplay is absolutely perfect and Savoca directs with great care creating moments of surprising tenderness (like that in which Birdlace and Rose make love) and other of enormous strength (like that in which Rose finds out about "dogfight" and attacks Birdlace). River Phoenix is excellent (the best actor of 90s even though he is unfortunately gone) and Lily Taylor absolutely superb. A beautiful movie. I love the end, in which no word is used to explain what an embrace can explain much better in a scene of extraordinary intensity.
