Grace of My Heart is a wide-ranging film that is at once a paean to creativity and a celebration of one woman's indomitable spirit.
Denise Waverly (Illeana Douglas) wins a talent contest in Philadelphia in 1958 and heads off to New York with high hopes of a career as a singer in the style of Patti Page. But girl singers are out of vogue, and she is encouraged to write songs instead for pop music producer and manager Joel Millner (John Turturro). Along with fellow songwriter Cheryl Steed (Patsy Kensit), she creates top-10 hits which advance the careers of several groups.
Meanwhile, Denise's private life is an emotional roller-coaster, including rocky rides with a womanizing lyricist (Eric Stoltz), a married magazine editor (Bruce Davison), and a drug-using surf music star (Matt Dillon). In a feat of great courage and creativity, Denise eventually uses the heartbreak, setbacks, and lessons of her life as material for her own album.
Illeana Douglas and John Turturro light up the screen with magnetic performances. Grace of My Heart includes music by Elvis Costello, Burt Bacharach, Dave Stewart, Carol Bayer Sager, Joni Mitchell, and others.