In this Hallmark made-for-television movie, two young performers (Keri Russell and Skeet Ulrich) offer thoughtful character portrayals in the heartland of America during World War II. After becoming pregnant by a soldier (who never appears in the film),a young woman is forced to marry virtually by proxy; she is sent to the Midwest by her stern father and accepts a total stranger, Ray, as her husband. The film focuses on the bonding of a decent man of the earth and the more worldly, educated Livy. The film was earnest in its portrayal of the two main characters. There is also some beautiful cinematography of the American heartland. Although I did not find the overall effect of the film entirely plausible (including Livy's relationship with two Japanese women internment victims working the fields),I nonetheless applaud the Hallmark organization for a tasteful effort. Even the Hallmark commercials were refreshing when compared with the annoying generic commercials on television today.

I can't recall who said it, but someone once remarked that most people can handle the crises in their lives. But the aftermath of a given crisis, the day to day living one returns to is the tough part. That is what Keri Russell faces when during World War II days she is left pregnant during a romance with a soldier who up and left her.

In those days illegitimate birth was quite the stigma to the child and the mother bearing it. So in The Magic Of Ordinary Days Skeet Ulrich who has an agricultural exemption and one lonely life as a farmer agrees to marry her and take the child as his own.

Those kind of arrangements usually don't work out, but in this case the various crises the face plus just the ordinary day to day living trying to keep that farm running causes bonds between them to start and grow. It's not easy as Russell is college educated and Ulrich is just a man of the soil.

One of the side issues is the internment of the Japanese and a pair of Nisei girls, Tania Gunadi and Gwendolyn Yeo, arrive as farm workers. Their relatives are either interred or part of the Nisei 442nd Division fighting in the European theater. Russell is one of the few who treats them like human beings. Young Ms. Yeo is quite a handful to deal with also.

This is a very good Hallmark Channel with the leads getting good support from the ensemble cast.

It's 1944. Well educated Olivia Dunne (Keri Russell) from Denver got pregnant out of wedlock by a passing serviceman. She is sent to La Junta, Colorado to marry lonely reserved farmer Ray Singleton (Skeet Ulrich). Both had suffered lost. Ray has only his sister Martha (Mare Winningham) and her family. The farm is isolated and the couple is alone. Olivia is hesitant about Ray despite his efforts to please her. She continues to try to contact the baby's father but receives no reply. She befriends sisters Florence (Tania Gunadi) and Rose (Gwendoline Yeo) who are interned Japanese Americans. Her sister Abby's husband got drafted and Abby tries to get her to return to Denver to keep her company.

This is a nice romance and much better made than most other TV romance movies. Keri Russell is amazing. She is enchanting and a compelling actress. Skeet Ulrich does a great job but it would have been good to get a plainer looking actor. It would fit the character better. It does take a very sharp turn into drama at the end. A little bit of foreshadowing of the danger would be very helpful. The central romance is touching and the story is as beautiful as the butterflies.