Chasing Liberty 2004

As the daughter of President James Foster (Mark Harmon), Anna Foster (Mandy Moore) has always been under the watchful eye of the Secret Service. However, after a disastrous first date is ruined by her entourage, Anna demands a reduction in supervision for her upcoming trip to Prague. Her father agrees, assigning only two agents to keep tabs on her, code-named Liberty.

Unbeknownst to Anna, her friend Gabrielle La Clare (Beatrice Rosen) has been feeding information to the Secret Service, and they’re closing in on their target. At a concert in Prague, Anna discovers that she’s not as alone as she thought - numerous agents are lurking in the crowd. Believing her father has broken his promise, Anna takes matters into her own hands, sneaking out of the theater with Gabrielle’s help.

Outside, Anna hitches a ride on Ben Calder’s (Matthew Goode) motorbike, unaware that he’s actually a Secret Service agent. He promptly reports her location to agents Alan Weiss (Jeremy Piven) and Cynthia Morales (Annabella Sciorra). When the President learns of Anna’s rebellious behavior, he instructs Ben to keep her safe without revealing his true identity - giving her the illusion of freedom while ensuring her safety.

Anna seizes the opportunity to take a daring leap into the Vltava River, mistaking it for the Danube. She and Ben find themselves perched on a rooftop, watching an Offenbach opera being performed in a plaza. The next morning, Anna calls her parents, initially relieved that she’s safe but then taken aback by her father’s tone when he’s shown photos of her undressing.

Anna decides to take matters into her own hands once more, planning to attend the Love Parade in Berlin. She and Ben board a train, where they meet Scotty McGruff (Martin Hancock), a free-spirited romantic who imparts words of wisdom and shares a stack of Six Million Dollar Man stickers. Anna’s plans are momentarily derailed when Ben discovers that they’ve boarded a Venice-bound train heading in the opposite direction from Berlin - but their adventure is only just beginning.

As Ben (actor’s name) and Anna wander through the picturesque canals of Venice, they’re accompanied by agents Weiss and Morales, whose budding romance is a subtle undercurrent to their mission. After McGruff’s departure, Anna discovers her wallet has been pilfered, prompting her to flee with Ben as she’s suddenly recognized by curious tourists. With no financial means at their disposal, they concoct a tale of a hasty marriage to a kind gondolier named Eugenio (Joseph Long), who obligingly offers them a complimentary ride and invites them to his humble abode. It’s within these walls that Ben shares a chaste kiss with Anna, an attempt to shield her from their pursuers.

As they settle into the gondolier’s home, Anna reveals her vulnerability by offering herself to Ben, only to be rebuffed once more. Eugenio’s mother, Maria (Miriam Margolyes), warmly welcomes the pair, and it’s during this respite that Ben learns of their predicament: with no place to call their own, they’re forced to rely on the kindness of strangers.

The next day, as Weiss and Morales arrive at the gondolier’s doorstep, Ben is compelled to drive Anna to the Austrian border. The agents, however, have already disseminated the news of their “marriage” to Anna’s parents, leaving her feeling disillusioned and upset. Seeking solace in the anonymity of the open road, Anna hitches a ride with a truck driver, abandoning Ben as he frantically pursues her through the picturesque Austrian countryside.

Anna eventually finds herself at a bridge, where she encounters the enigmatic Jumping Germans, a troupe of thrill-seeking bungee jumpers. As Ben arrives just in time to join Anna in her leap of faith, the tension between them is palpable. Later that evening, amidst the camaraderie of the campsite, one of the Jumping Germans extends an invitation for Anna to share his tent for the night, which she initially declines. However, her affections are rekindled when Ben rejects her advances once more.

As the night wears on, Anna’s frustration boils over, and she declares her willingness to accept the German’s offer. It’s in this moment of vulnerability that Ben finally confesses his true feelings for Anna, and they spend the night together under the starry sky.

The following day, as Ben explains his actions to his fellow agents over the phone, Anna discovers his true identity. Enraged by what she perceives as a betrayal, Anna flees, only to be harassed by a group of men who recognize her. Ben intervenes, rescuing her from their clutches, and Anna is ultimately reunited with her family in the United States.

As Anna navigates the threshold of adulthood, she confides in her mother about the lingering cracks in her heart, a vulnerability that threatens to shatter her carefully constructed facade. Meanwhile, her loyal guardians, Weiss and Morales (who are poised to take their relationship to the next level), remain vigilant as ever, shielding Anna from the harsh realities of the world.

As Anna arrives at college, she’s suddenly transported back to the thrill-seeking escapades of her European adventure, courtesy of a Six Million Dollar Man sticker that sparks a flood of memories. Her trusty protectors are still by her side, ensuring her safety and well-being as she begins this new chapter in her life.

Upon returning home for Christmas, Anna is privy to a shocking revelation: her father, Ben (formerly a stalwart member of the Secret Service), has traded in his badge for a camera lens, now working as a photographer in London. This seismic shift sets the stage for a dramatic reunion when Anna participates in an exchange program at Oxford University and pays a visit to her dad at an opera performance.

As they reunite beneath the opera’s ornate chandeliers, Anna and Ben share a tender kiss, rekindling the spark that once bound them together. With their love reignited, they make a daring escape on his motorbike, leaving the Secret Service agents hot on their heels as they speed away into the night.