The Map That Leads to You (2025)
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A woman's European adventure takes an unexpected turn when she meets a New Zealand backpacker, sparking an unforeseen romance.
The story
Before taking a banking job in New York City, Heather Mulgrew travels to Europe with her friends Amy and Connie. On a train to Barcelona, she meets Jack, a New Zealander following his great-grandfather's diary. The two begin to bond over a shared book. After arriving in Barcelona, they navigate the city's sights and challenges together. As their journey progresses through various European locations, the connection between Heather and Jack deepens, leading to a complicated situation regarding their future plans and the reality of their circumstances.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
While traveling through Europe with friends Amy and Connie, Heather Mulgrew meets Jack, a New Zealander following his great-grandfather's diary. They bond over a shared book and spend time together in Barcelona, where they navigate a theft and travel to coastal towns. As they move toward Bilbao and eventually Porto, Jack's health becomes a concern. In Rome, they argue over their futures before Jack decides to accompany Heather to the US. However, Jack receives a call from an oncology clinic and leaves her at the airport, blocking her number. After returning to Texas for Christmas, Heather receives a letter from Jack via a friend, explaining he disappeared because he didn't want her to see him die of cancer. The letter contains a reference to a festival in Santa Pau. Encouraged by her friends, Heather travels to Santa Pau, where she finds Jack and they confess their love for each other.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lasse Hallström
- Writers
- Vera Herbert · screenplay; Les Bohem · screenplay; Les Bohem · story
- Cast and characters
- Madelyn Cline · Heather Mulgrew; KJ Apa · Jack; Sofia Wylie · Connie; Madison Thompson · Amy; Orlando Norman · Raef; Josh Lucas · Greg Mulgrew
- Genres
- romantic drama
- Themes
- romance; fate; illness
- Tone and mood
- romantic; dramatic
- Setting
- Europe (including Barcelona, Porto, and Rome) and Texas, 2025.
- Premise and plot tags
- road trip; forbidden love; fate
- Source material / true-story basis
- novel of the same name by J.P. Monninger
- Reception
- mixed or average
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 48 · scale: 100 · review count: 11
- Production trivia
- The film features a soundtrack composed by Sarah Trevino.; Principal photography took place in Terrassa, Spain in 2024.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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