Robert Zemeckis' movieHereis completely set in one location, but where the main house is actually located is made more complicated by how the story is told. While the majority of the film revolves around Tom Hanks' Richard and Robin Wright’s Margaret over several decades,Heretells a sprawling story across millions of years. Starting with the comet that killed the dinosaurs and leading into the Revolutionary War, the same plot of land remains the focus. It’s over a hundred years later that the Young family moves in, beginning a nearly life-long stay at the house for Richard.
Since the camera never moves inHere, the living room is the primary setting for the entire movie. However, the film shows a variety of families who lived there before the Youngs and after. These inhabitants fromHere’s castrange from the creator of the La-Z-Boy to a pilot, while even Benjamin Franklin’s illegitimate son, William, lived across the street. Since the film never fully shows the neighborhood or the surrounding area, the actual location of the house and these events is not specified. However, there are multiple clues in each story aboutHere’s setting, but they don’t all line up.
Here’s House Appears To Be Located In Pennsylvania
The Young Family Refer To Pennsylvania
As far as the movie indicates through the Young family,Here’s house looks to be located in some part of Pennsylvania. The basis of this largely comes from Al Young (Paul Bettany) and his profession as a salesman. While the film doesn’t show him going on sales calls, Al is devastated when he’s eventually fired from his job. The rationale given is that the company was downsizing, and it was decided to give Pennsylvania entirely to another salesman instead. This becomes a good indicator for viewerswatchingHereabout the house’s location.
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This plot point suggests that the Young family lives in, or at least near, Pennsylvania. At one point, Al shows his vast knowledge of the Pennsylvania area by naming multiple cities in a specific area and talking about the hotels with a river view. This moment also creates a small oddity of them living directly in Pennsylvania, as Richard knows very little about the state. He can only name one city, Philadelphia. Al’s mention of staying in multiple hotels could also be seen as a sign he repeatedly traveled to Pennsylvania for work but didn’t live in a house there.
Here’s House Might Actually Be In New Jersey
William Franklin’s Presence Is Curious
Including William Franklin in a few scenes ofHereas someone who lived in the house across the street many years before the Young family complicates the discussion of where the house is located. William Franklin was born and raised in Philadelphia, so the Pennsylvania setting forHerewould seem to make sense still. However, the movie shows him at the point of his life when he is married to his first wife, Elizabeth Franklin. This is notable because William and Elizabeth Franklin lived in New Jersey in real life.
Herebeing set in New Jersey would make sense based on this part of the story. It could be explained that the Young family lived in New Jersey, with Al commuting to Pennsylvania when necessary for work. Perhaps that would even be why he was fired and the area given to a different salesman who lived in the area. Meanwhile, the movie then stays true to real life and where William Franklin lived.HavingHere’s house located in New Jersey is the best explanationbased on the majority of the evidence provided in the film.
Here’s La-Z-Boy Story Means The House Should Actually Be In Michigan
Here Appears To Change The True Story In This Way
One of the surprises of who lives in the house inHereis the revelation that the inventor of La-Z-Boy is among them. The movie shows parts of the life of a married couple, with the husband, Leo, being an inventor who’s obsessed with creating a brand new type of chair. The film ultimately confirms that this is meant to be the creator of the La-Z-Boy, which has implications on the location of the house. In real life, the inventor of La-Z-Boy lived in Michigan, with the entire company being set up in the northern state afterward.
TheHerehouse being located in Michigan would be a direct contradiction to other evidence, which is why it is likely not the case. The movie makes plenty of changes to the true story of the La-Z-Boy’s creation, including changing the creator’s name to Leo - instead of portraying either Edward M. Knabusch or Edwin J. Shoemaker.Hereis not overly concerned with telling the La-Z-Boy’s true story in an accurate manner, so it appears Zemeckis decided to move it to New Jersey or Pennsylvania so it could be included.
