The Best Movies about Women Looking for a Second Chance at Life

How often do you watch a movie and recognize yourself in the movie’s main female character?  In the movies below, we find  some of the best movies about women looking for a second chance at life.  The women at the center of each of these films are on a quest to find themselves and gain a new outlook.  To do so, they might travel to new places or search within themselves (or a combination of both), but all want to authentically find themselves again.

Since almost all women will go on this search for meaning or the second act of their life at some point, what better way to preview the territory than by watching one of these?

Women Looking for a Second Chance at Life Movies:

“Eat Pray Love” and book by same name “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert

First on the list of movies for women finding a second chance at life is “Eat Pray Love”.  The movie is based on the book by Elizabeth Gilbert.  The main character, Liz, goes on a search for herself after leaving a failed marriage.  She wants to know who she is removed from all the typical constraints of society.  She travels to Italy, India, and Indonesia to do so.  The movie stars Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem.

“Under the Tuscan Sun” and book by Frances Mayes

The second movie on the list is “Under the Tuscan Sun”.  “Under the Tuscan Sun’s” author, Frances Mayes, wrote this book which was made into the movie starring Diane Lane, as Frances.   The book and movie are very loosely based on the author’s life and are more about submerging oneself in a new culture in Italy.  In the movie, Frances discovers many new facets to herself while restoring the Italian villa she purchased in Tuscany.

“Shirley Valentine”

Our third installment in the second act movies, is “Shirley Valentine”.  Most people haven’t seen this one, but it is a hidden gem.  After a lifetime of taking care of everyone else, the main character, Shirley, Pauline Collins, discovers she doesn’t like who she has become.  Shirley feels like she lost herself somewhere along the way.  After receiving a gift of a holiday from one of her rich friends, she decides to travel to Greece to find herself leaving her husband and adult children to fend for themselves.

“Where’d You Go, Bernadette” and book by Maria Semple

“Where’d You Go, Bernadette” is the latest installment in the women seeking themselves series.  The lead character, played by Cate Blanchette, decides she isn’t done with her career and wants to contribute more of her gifts to the world.

What do all of these movies about women looking for a second chance at life have in common?

For one, they are all women who have seen themselves in only one way or another.  Yet, they begin to realize there is so MUCH more to each of them.  They aren’t just one particular role – wife, mother, friend, or their professions.

These women find they have hidden depths that don’t need to be hidden any more.  All of these women share a need to cultivate different aspects of themselves.  They find they don’t have to cut off the parts that don’t fit neatly into any one “box”.  And, they are able to find their way through new loves, travel, appreciation of the larger world, creativity, and meaningful work.  In other words, they find themselves by living a full, well rounded and happy life.

There are many more movies around this same topic.  What are your favorites? Some other movies that are in the same vein are “Moonstruck” and “American Dreamer”.

There are more movie and TV recommendations in the Escape Pods categories.  All of the films and TV shows have been chosen for their ability to provide women with a quick “escape” to another world or time.  Some examples are “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel“, “Poldark“, “Outlander“, “La La Land“, and “This is Us“.

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