Sommersby

Set in the Deep South just after the Civil War, the Sommersbys struggle to keep their farm going while Laurel copes with life without her husband, presumed dead in the fighting. A man arrives claiming to be Jack Sommersby and quickly becomes part of the household, bringing relief, doubt, and a chance at a renewed future. Laurel watches the changes in him with a mix of warmth and wariness, unsure if the man she once knew can truly return. The story centers on questions of trust, belonging, and the cost of reopening a life that danger and rumor have kept closed.

Directed by Jon Amiel, Sommersby is a 1993 period drama written by Nicholas Meyer, Anthony Shaffer and Sarah Kernochan. It stars Jodie Foster and Richard Gere in a tale that blends romance with mystery in a Reconstruction era setting, supported by Bill Pullman and James Earl Jones. The film was released to moderate acclaim and drew attention for its performances.

Budget was about 30 million. The film grossed approximately 140,081,992 worldwide, reflecting a solid return for a prestige drama with romantic and thriller elements. It performed well internationally and helped sustain the careers of its star leads during the 1990s.

While not a household name today Sommersby contributed to the 1990s trend of serious period dramas that fuse romance, suspense and questions about identity. Critics and audiences often reference Foster and Gere as a notable screen pairing of the era, and the film is cited in discussions of postwar narratives in cinema.

Critics generally praised the film for its polished craft and the emotional tension between Laurel and Jack, with Foster delivering a morally complex performance and Gere showing restrained magnetism. The story probes how memory and place shape trust, how desire can endure doubt, and how a community can test loyalties in a fragile postwar world.