Safe Haven is a romantic drama by Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom (The Cider House Rules, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen). The story is based on internationally acclaimed author Nicholas Sparks’ (The Notebook, 1996) novel of the same title. Safe Haven from Alliance Films, is the eighth-movie adaptation of aNicholas Sparks’ novel and stars Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough and Cobie Smulders.

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Lasse Hallstrom cinematically captures the essence of Sparks’ novel with sweeping vistas and intimate close ups of Southport, a sleepy coastal town on the eastern shore of North Carolina. Docked boats bump against piers as ripples drift across the silent cove. Warm, gentle breezes blow through low-hanging oak trees. In the distance, you spot towering lighthouses protecting this Safe Haven.Sunrises and sunsets bathe the town in the warm light of the sun reflected on the ocean. Southport is the quintessential small seaside town, filling with tourists every summer, going back to a sleepy safe harbor when summer ends.

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Katie (Julianne Hough) is on the run from a past that has set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country and brought her to the sheltered oasis of Southport. She seems determined to remain in a self-imposed isolation. Wrapped in mystery she avoids forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex (Josh Duhamel), a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo (Cobie Smulders). Katie begins to fall in love but she must struggle with a dark secret that haunts and terrifies her. Katie must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards. In her darkest hour will she accept that love is the only true safe haven?

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I liked Safe Haven for it’s simplicity, its nostalgia and because it’s not your typical love story. The Soundtrack features Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw “We Both Know”, Tristan Prettyman “Say Anything”, Ben Howard “Keep Your Head Up”. It is definitely a great ‘date movie’ anytime and especially for Valentine’s Day.

“Safe Haven” Soundtrack:

Christophe Chanel