Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) is a charismatic but troubled young man, who moves back into his childhood home following a recent heartbreak. While recovering under the watchful eye of his parents, Leonard meets two women in quick succession: Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), a mysterious and beautiful neighbour who is exotic and out of place in Leonard's staid world, and Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the lovely and caring daughter of a businessman who is buying out his family's dry-cleaning business. Leonard becomes deeply infatuated by Michelle, while mounting pressure from his family pushes him towards committing to Sandra. Leonard is forced to make a difficult decision between the impetuousness of desire, comfort of love, or risk retreating back into heartbreak.