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A Rainy Day in New York (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

A Rainy Day in New York (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 92 min · English
Echo score 52
JustWatch #33,570 4
Starring
Selena Gomez, Diego Luna, Jude Law, Griffin Newman, Elle Fanning, Timothée Chalamet
Budget
$25M

During a rainy day in New York City, two young people find themselves unexpectedly adrift. What begins as a chance encounter quickly develops into an unplanned journey, but the unpredictable nature of fate soon leads them down separate and diverging paths. They are forced to re-evaluate their feelings and confront profound questions about love, life, and the choices that shape their destinies.

Comedy Romance Cast, crew & box office
On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (6)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch A Rainy Day in New York (2020)

Where can you watch A Rainy Day in New York? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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6 main characters · contains spoilers

A Rainy Day in New York Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of A Rainy Day in New York (2020), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Gatsby Welles

    played by Timothée Chalamet

    Gatsby is the film's complex protagonist, a privileged student torn between familial expectations and personal desires. His journey through New York City reveals his sensitivity and depth, as he navigates romantic entanglements and artistic aspirations. As he faces disillusionment, his character evolves, ultimately leading him to seek authenticity and connection.

    • 🎓 Student
    • 💔 Romantic
    • 🌃 Dreamer

  • Ashleigh Enright

    played by Elle Fanning

    Ashleigh is an ambitious journalism major whose excitement for her career leads her to New York City. Charming and spirited, she becomes entangled in the allure of the film world, but her journey exposes the fragility of her relationship with Gatsby. Her character embodies the challenges of young love amidst competitive ambitions.

    • 📰 Journalist
    • 🌟 Aspirational
    • 💔 Torn

  • Chan Tyrell

    played by Suki Waterhouse

    Chan is an intriguing character who connects with Gatsby during his solitary wanderings in the city. Her artistic flair and youthful spirit give their relationship a sense of spontaneity and depth. Through her character, the film explores themes of unexpected romance and connection in a bustling urban landscape.

    • 🎬 Filmmaker
    • ☔ Romantic
    • 🎹 Musical

  • Roland Pollard

    played by Liev Schreiber

    Roland Pollard is a revered independent filmmaker whose artistic struggles resonate with the younger characters in the story. His influence on Ashleigh highlights the intersection of creativity and personal conflict within the film industry. His character serves as a catalyst for Ashleigh's growth and journey.

    • 🎥 Filmmaker
    • 🌟 Influential
    • 🎭 Artistic

  • Ted Davidoff

    played by Jude Law

    Ted is a screenwriter whose charm and complicated life add depth to the film's narrative. His interactions with Ashleigh expose the darker sides of fame and ambition. As his personal struggles unfold, Ted navigates the challenges of maintaining integrity in a superficial industry.

    • 📜 Screenwriter
    • 🕶️ Charismatic
    • ⚔️ Struggling

  • Francisco Vega

    played by Diego Luna

    Francisco is a charming film star who becomes a source of temptation for Ashleigh. His character represents the allure and challenges of fame, complicating Ashleigh's relationship with Gatsby. The interactions with him reveal the complexities of romantic dynamics in the celebrity world.

    • 🎬 Actor
    • 🌟 Charismatic
    • 💔 Complicated

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:39

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Setting

Where and When Does A Rainy Day in New York Take Place?

The setting of A Rainy Day in New York (2020): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The film is set in contemporary times, showcasing the dynamics of modern relationships and the artistic struggles within the film industry. The characters navigate the complexities of love and ambition, reflecting the current social landscape.

Location

New York City, Central Park, Carlyle Hotel, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yardley College

New York City serves as the primary backdrop of the film, known for its vibrant arts scene and iconic skyline. Central Park, a sprawling green space in the city, offers a romantic retreat amid the urban hustle. The Carlyle Hotel and the Metropolitan Museum of Art represent the city's luxury and cultural richness, playing critical roles in the characters' journeys.

  • 🌆 City
  • 🌳 Nature
  • 🏛️ Museum
  • 🏨 Hotel

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:39

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3 major themes

A Rainy Day in New York Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is A Rainy Day in New York (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Heartbreak

    Heartbreak is a central theme as Gatsby and Ashleigh's relationship deteriorates throughout the film. Gatsby's internal conflict and eventual decision to end their relationship highlight the difficulty of navigating love and personal aspirations. The emotional fallout from their experiences accentuates the pain of longing and rejection.

  • Artistic Struggle

    The theme of artistic struggle permeates the narrative as characters grapple with their ambitions in the film world. Ashleigh's encounter with Ted and Roland emphasizes the emotional toll of creativity. Gatsby’s experience in the film scene reflects the complex relationship between art, ambition, and personal identity.

  • Nostalgia

    Nostalgia plays a significant role, evoked by the rainy setting of New York City and the characters' reminiscences. Gatsby's connection with Chan amidst the rain symbolizes longing for simpler times and lost opportunities. The film captures the bittersweet nature of memory and the impact of past relationships on present choices.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:39

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Character & theme questions

A Rainy Day in New York Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about A Rainy Day in New York (2020): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The film takes place entirely in New York City, using iconic locations like Central Park, the Carlyle Hotel, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art as key settings.

  • new york city
  • setting
  • locations
  • central park
  • carlyle hotel
Q2

What time period is the film set in?

The film is set in contemporary modern times, reflecting current dynamics of relationships and the artistic struggles within today's film industry.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern era
Q3

What are the main themes of the film?

The movie explores heartbreak, artistic struggle, and nostalgia as its core themes, using the rainy New York setting to evoke feelings of longing and bittersweet memory.

  • themes
  • heartbreak
  • artistic struggle
  • nostalgia
  • love
Q4

Who is Gatsby Welles?

Gatsby is the film's protagonist, a privileged college student navigating the tension between familial expectations and his own desires for authenticity and connection.

  • gatsby
  • protagonist
  • main character
Q5

Who is Ashleigh Enright?

Ashleigh is a journalism major whose career ambitions lead her to New York City, where she becomes drawn into the allure of the film industry, testing her relationship with Gatsby.

  • ashleigh
  • journalism
  • character
Q6

What role does Central Park play in the film?

Central Park serves as a romantic retreat amid the urban landscape, offering the characters a natural escape where their relationship moments unfold against the city's hustle.

  • central park
  • setting
  • romance
Q7

What does the rainy setting symbolize?

The persistent rain throughout the film symbolizes nostalgia and longing, creating a whimsical atmosphere that reflects the characters' emotional states and the bittersweet nature of their journey.

  • rain
  • symbolism
  • atmosphere
  • nostalgia
Q8

Who is Chan Tyrell?

Chan is an artistically inclined character who meets Gatsby during his solo wanderings in the city, bringing a sense of spontaneity and unexpected connection to his journey.

  • chan
  • character
  • romance
Q9

What is the Carlyle Hotel's significance in the movie?

The Carlyle Hotel represents New York City's luxury and sophistication, serving as a key location that highlights the contrast between the characters' privileged world and the film's more grounded emotional moments.

  • carlyle hotel
  • luxury
  • new york locations
Q10

What is the film's tone?

The film has a whimsical tone characterized by magical rain-drenched New York settings, chance encounters, and intellectual, slightly theatrical dialogue that balances humor with moments of melancholy.

  • tone
  • whimsical
  • style
  • mood
Q11

What does the film say about love?

The film explores love as complicated and transformative, suggesting that emotional and intellectual compatibility matters more than superficial attraction, and that sometimes endings lead to new beginnings.

  • love
  • relationships
  • meaning
  • message

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Rainy Day in New York, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Rainy Day in New York tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Serendipitous city love stories like A Rainy Day in New York

Chance encounters spark romantic journeys against a vibrant urban backdrop. If you enjoyed the charming, chance-driven romance of A Rainy Day in New York, you'll love these other movies. This collection features witty, sophisticated romantic comedies and dramas where love is found unexpectedly during a brief, magical journey through a vibrant city.

  • serendipitous
  • whimsical romantic
  • sophisticated
  • nostalgic
  • urban adventure
  • witty
  • Tone: whimsical, romantic
  • Pacing: steady, conversational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories often unfold over a short, condensed timeframe, where a chance meeting sets two characters on a shared, unplanned adventure. The narrative follows their wandering, conversations, and encounters, leading to significant personal realizations about love and compatibility by the journey's end.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on fate and romantic serendipity within an iconic city setting, a light emotional touch, sophisticated dialogue, and a generally bittersweet yet hopeful conclusion to the characters' brief but impactful connection.

A Rainy Day in New York movie poster

A Rainy Day in New York

2020
New York, I Love You movie poster

New York, I Love You

2009
A Rainy Day in New York movie poster

A Rainy Day in New York

2019
Lost in Paris movie poster

Lost in Paris

2017
Fading Gigolo movie poster

Fading Gigolo

2014
God of Love movie poster

God of Love

2010
Laughter in Paradise movie poster

Laughter in Paradise

1951
The Smallest Show on Earth movie poster

The Smallest Show on Earth

1957

Movies about young love and self-discovery like A Rainy Day in New York

Young characters navigate romantic entanglements toward poignant self-discovery. For viewers who liked the coming-of-age themes in A Rainy Day in New York, this section features films about young adults reevaluating their lives and relationships. These stories explore incompatibility and personal growth with a contemplative, light-hearted, yet ultimately bittersweet approach.

  • contemplative
  • self-discovery
  • bittersweet
  • sophisticated
  • young love
  • incompatibility
  • Tone: contemplative, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows articulate, self-aware young characters as they engage in a series of social and romantic interactions. Through witty conversation and contrasting personalities, they arrive at a mature understanding that their current path or relationship is not the right fit, leading to a parting of ways that is sad but ultimately hopeful.

Why they belong together: They share a common exploration of youthful introspection, the end of idealistic relationships, and the gentle ache of growing up. The tone is consistently sophisticated and contemplative, with a steady pace that allows for character-driven revelations.

At Middleton movie poster

At Middleton

2014
East of Ipswich movie poster

East of Ipswich

1987
A Rainy Day in New York movie poster

A Rainy Day in New York

2020
Dubravka movie poster

Dubravka

1967
All the Freckles in the World movie poster

All the Freckles in the World

2019
P’tang, Yang, Kipperbang movie poster

P’tang, Yang, Kipperbang

1982
Dazed and Confused movie poster

Dazed and Confused

1993
Authors Anonymous movie poster

Authors Anonymous

2014

Every angle

A Rainy Day in New York (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Rainy Day in New York in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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