Sarah, Plain and Tall is a movie based from a book written by Patricia MacLachlan. It tells the story of a Kansas family living on the prairie in the 1800’s. The widowed father, Jacob Witting, sends an ad in the newspaper for a mail-order bride. Sarah Weaton who is from Maine, answers the ad and decides to journey to Kansas. Jacob lives on his farm with his daughter Anna and son Caleb. The story journeys through the dynamic change of family life as Sarah arrives and a central theme in the film is if Sarah will stay or leave at the end of harvest. This is a love story of not only man and woman, but of the whole family and the prairie.

I remember reading the book in middle school for an assignment. Yet, I had been watching Sarah, Plain and Tall with my mother as long as I can remember. At the beginning of the movie, Sarah tells her brother-in-law, who is hesitant of her going, “If I don’t go now, I’ll never know what it’s like to have my own life”. As I re-watched this film this week. I realized that this is the same line that I used when I left my home, Kansas, and moved to California. I never realized this until this week, even though I have probably watched the movie 8 times in the last 4 years. I feel an even deeper connection to this movie now.

I think that there are multiple reasons that this film had an impact on me. My mother always reminded me of the past generations and what they had to endure on the prairie. There is a deep sense of gratitude and respect for the past generations of the land. I remember when I first watched it I was not only fascinated with the film but I was also intrigued by the clothing, farm equipment, and slowed down nature of the time. It was something my mother and I did together, and we will continue the tradition.

I think I see the film differently in the aspect that I have an even greater respect for my place of birth and also Sarah’s journey. There is a sense of intrigue that I have about always finding it fascinating that Sarah was able to leave her home, not only survive, but thrive and also find love. Now I am on my own journey similar to Sarah Wheaton’s. Another quote from Sarah to end the post, “Things do change, if you let them”.