THEMES
The film’s main
characters are from two different worlds. Nola is very safe—she’s
homely, has created a stable life for herself, and rarely ventures from
her comfort zone. She is very dedicated to her work, and while she’s
always dreamed of traveling, she’s never left the Midwest. She
has never held a long-term relationship because of her hopes of finding
her “one and only.”
Her romantic interest,
referred to only as Traveler, is wealthy, freely gives his time to other
people, and has traveled the world extensively. He has experienced many
women, but has never experienced true love. He sincerely falls in love
with Nola and tries to show her this by being open and honest about
his history, which only makes her wary of their compatibility and really
freaks her out.
The title of the film
really embodies the central theme—that love is universal—because
it is about two people who find a common ground and fall in love despite
their differences. There are also themes of forgiveness and venturing
“outside of the box” to find happiness, as Nola has to learn
to be accepting of Traveler's past in order to be able to live with
him.