Olivier Dahan broke into the U.S. when his last film, La vie en rose, won two Academy Awards®, and now the writer/director is boldly stretching his talents stateside with his first English-language independent feature. Under Dahan's inspired direction, an unassuming story about an ex-singer blossoms into a whimsical down-home road movie. Jane (played memorably by Renée Zellweger) and Joey (Forest Whitaker) couldn't be more different. All they have in common is solitude and a mildly contentious friendship. She is a hardened wheelchair user retired musician, and Joey is an endearing oddball out of step with the daily grind. When Joey learns of a secret that Jane harbors he convinces her to embark on a cross-country trip to Memphis with the hope that she will face her past. On their trip, they stumble upon a bevy of fascinating characters who begin to peel back the layers of Jane's tough exterior.

Zellweger is in top form as Jane, and her singing voice only adds to a powerful and moving performance. Talented cinematographer Matthew Libatique (Requiem for a Dream, Iron Man) beautifully captures a dreamy southern landscape. A heartwarming and magical story of friendship and redemption—with original music by Bob Dylan—My Own Love Song reflects Dahan's vision of an innocence and spirit that is distinctly American.