This Must Be the Place

This Must Be the Place

Plot

This Must Be the Place is a 2011 Irish-American drama film written and directed by Paolo Sorrentino. The film takes place in a small American town in the Midwest, where a retired Irish musician named Cheyenne (played by Sean Penn) lives a quiet and unassuming life with his wife Mary (played by Evan Rachel Wood). However, Cheyenne's life is turned upside down when he discovers that a former Nazi war criminal, a man named Schubert (played by Harry Dean Stanton), who has been living in hiding in the United States, resides just next door. Cheyenne's life has been somewhat of a facade. He is a retired rock star who never achieved the same level of success in his career that he had hoped for. His music was a key part of his identity, but it has since faded into obscurity. As a result, Cheyenne has lost his sense of purpose and direction, and the only thing he seems to be holding onto is his anger and bitterness. When Cheyenne learns of Schubert's presence in his community, he becomes fixated on the idea of confronting the Nazi war criminal. The film flashes back to the final days of World War II, where we see Cheyenne (played by Michael Stuhlbarg) as a young boy living in Ireland with his family. It is here that we witness Cheyenne's early life, including his relationship with his father, Clyde (played by Frances McDormand), who was a fierce anti-Nazi activist. After the war, Cheyenne's family immigrates to the United States, where they settle in a small town in the Midwest. However, the trauma from Cheyenne's childhood and the impact of his father's activism stay with him, and he becomes consumed by a desire for revenge. When Cheyenne discovers that Schubert, a man accused of brutal war crimes, has been living in hiding nearby, he sees it as an opportunity to finally exact revenge on the man he believes wronged his family. As Cheyenne sets out to confront Schubert, the film takes on a more introspective tone. We learn that Schubert has been living a humble life in the United States, adopting the persona of a quiet and unassuming retiree. However, as Cheyenne closes in, Schubert's facade begins to slip, and the true extent of his crimes is revealed. The film becomes a thought-provoking exploration of the consequences of war, trauma, and revenge. Cheyenne's crusade is not just about confronting Schubert, but it's also about confronting the demons of his own past. As he delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Schubert, he must come to terms with his own identity and the choices he has made in his life. Throughout the film, Cheyenne is haunted by visions of his father and the trauma that they endured during the war. We see flashes of Clyde's activism and the impact it had on his family, as well as the emotional toll that it took on Cheyenne and his community. The film raises important questions about the nature of revenge, the consequences of trauma, and the difficulty of finding closure. As Cheyenne's quest for revenge becomes more obsessive, the boundaries between reality and fantasy begin to blur. The film's pace quickens, and the tone becomes more frenetic. We see Cheyenne's behavior become increasingly erratic, as he becomes more fixated on Schubert and his crimes. Ultimately, the film builds towards a bittersweet conclusion. Cheyenne finally confronts Schubert, but the outcome is not what he had expected. Instead of the revenge and closure he had sought, Cheyenne is faced with a complex and nuanced exploration of the human condition. In the end, Cheyenne is forced to confront the reality of his own mortality and the impermanence of it all. This Must Be the Place is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of human nature. Through Cheyenne's story, we gain a deeper understanding of the trauma and consequences of war, as well as the difficulty of finding closure and forgiveness. The film features a standout performance from Sean Penn, who brings depth and nuance to the role of Cheyenne. With its striking visuals and philosophical themes, This Must Be the Place is a film that will leave viewers reflecting on the nature of humanity long after the credits roll.

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Reviews

Z

Zion

Hengyang - Xiangtan - Loudi - Yiyang - Yueyang - Zhangjiajie - Xiangxi - Chenzhou - Huaihua - Shaoyang - Yongzhou - Zhuzhou - Changde - Changsha 🔚 On September 24th, '23, I was treated to a late-night culinary exposé by Boss Wan, who raved about Yiyang Taojiang's unique 'Five Delicacies' feast, including: Light tea, served alongside an impressive twenty-four small dishes: six meat, six vegetable, six fruit, and six specialty items. Sweet tea; 'Butterflies Floating Over the River,' a charmingly named local delicacy; and Lanxi beef offal. Lei Cha (Hakka ground tea); Yiyang Malatang (spicy hot pot); truly embodying the rich ambiance of 'Wharf Culture'. Flour tea; Qingxi Village's signature 'Three Fresh Basin with Scooping Shrimp' – a dish where fresh shrimp are cooked directly in a hot basin; all taken in near Zhou Libo's Former Residence, the inspiration for his renowned novel 'Great Changes in a Mountain Village'. For tea, there was the unique steeped 'Salty Ginger, Sesame, and Bean Tea'. And finally, an exquisite all-bamboo shoot banquet – because Taojiang bamboo shoots are truly a world-class delicacy! (Looks like someone's been enjoying them since childhood but never actually dug them up themselves! 😂)

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7/17/2025, 5:50:16 AM
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Paisley

Hunan TV is truly unmatched in promoting its local culture, absolutely brilliant!

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6/25/2025, 12:27:14 PM