Magnolia is a 1999 drama film, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which tells the story of a peculiar interaction among several individuals during one apparently normal day in the San Fernando Valley, California. Interweaving nine separate yet connected storylines, Magnolia was self-consciously produced with heavy independent film influences, in a style quite far from what is currently common in mainstream Hollywood films — although it was well-financed by New Line Cinema. The length of the film also defied convention at 188 minutes (NTSC)/180 minutes (PAL).