Netflix's Purple Hearts has proven a huge success, despite having only been on the streaming platform for a few days.
The romantic movie is based on the 2017 novel by Tess Wakefield and tells the story of Luke, a troubled Marine, who marries Cassie, a struggling singer-songwriter.
It stars Sofia Carson and Nicholas Galitzine, who play the roles of Cassie and Luke respectively.
Sofia Carson is no stranger to the entertainment business and is best known for her role as Ava Jalali in Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. Galitzine, on the other hand, quickly gained fame after starring as Prince Robert in Cinderella.
In the film, the couple agree to wed solely for military benefits, however Luke gets injured in Iraq, and this blurs the lines between pretend romance and real life.
Is Purple Hearts Based on a True Story?
Directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, it's an incredibly romantic movie, similar to the likes of Dear John, Allied and Atonement.
Unfortunately, fans will be disappointed to know that the film is not based on a true story. It is based on Wakefield's novel, Purple Hearts.
According to movie and TV news website The Cinemaholic, whilst Wakefield's book is fictional, she thoroughly researched the issues of addiction as well as the structural problems of U.S healthcare, to make Luke's history of substance abuse as close to reality as possible.
She also delved into music theory and the illness of diabetes, to accurately portray Cassie's struggles.
When Was Purple Hearts Released on Netflix?
The film was released on Friday, July 29, 2022. It follows the story of Cassie and Luke, Cassie has a history of diabetes and is struggling to launch a successful career as a singer. She is the daughter of a hard-working immigrant and has liberal political views.
Luke on the other hand is more conservative, less out-spoken and has a history of addiction, and owes his former drug dealer a significant amount of money. He enlists as a Marine, hoping to gain his father's approval.
The pair agree to marry to gain military perks. For instance, the marriage allows Cassie to have a year of free medical care, which she needs due to her diabetes.
However, both their lives are turned upside down when Luke is injured in Iraq by an explosive device, and this brings him and Cassie closer, blurring the lines between their pretend marriage and their true feelings.
Carson told The Cinemaholic how when she "first read the title, I asked Liz (the director) if 'purple hearts' meant it was the blending of a red and a blue heart, and she giggled and she said, 'I hadn't thought of it that way, but that's exactly what our story is.'
"We live in a country that's so incredibly divided right now, red versus blue. This story is about choosing not to see color and choosing love, above all things, and how a red heart and a blue heart can come together and choose love".
