Cold Mountain

It is the story of a beautiful city-bred preacher’s daughter named Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman) who meets a shy, handsome woodworker named Inman (Jude Law) in a secluded rural part of North Carolina at the outbreak of the Civil War. Though they exchange only a few formal words, their hearts respond to one another. When Inman enlists to fight for the South, they exchange photographs and a single parting kiss before he marches off to war. After the death of her father, Ada finds herself helpless, defenseless and pursued by a local bully named Teague. She manages to survive starvation with the aid of Ruby Thewes (Renee Zellweger), a brave, resourceful, illiterate farm girl. Daily Ada voices a heart-felt prayer for Inman to return. He risks death for desertion and travels the long dangerous road back to Cold Mountain. At one point he is given shelter by Sara (Natalie Portman), beautiful young woman with child, who offers herself to him. In spite of feeling a strong physical attraction for her, his longing for Ada prevents him from responding to her invitation. Inman eventually reaches Ada, conceives a child with her and then kills Teague before being mortally wounded himself. His love was powerful enough to find her and protect her and leave her with a son to raise. The strength of their affection could achieve this much despite the extreme social turmoil and destruction of war.