Purple Hearts by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum is about Cassie and Luke, who agree to marry in order for Cassie to take advantage of health insurance granted for spouses of servicemen. Luke benefits from it by being paid more for having a spouse. This arranged marriage backfires since they are forced to interact and behave as a real couple in accordance with military law. Although the arrangement sounds well-thought-out on paper, constant interaction as a couple makes them emotionally attached to each other. As a result, Luke returns, and they want to get a divorce as planned, but events escalate up to the point of Luke being expelled from the military and jailed for breaking the military law.
The reason why the film was selected is because of its unique musical delivery of Cassie’s inner experience. In other words, she expresses how she feels through her songs, which provide far greater depth to her character than mere acting. The essay is about the fact that the human experience of love is sacred, and people should not engage in self-deception, which can backfire both emotionally and physically.