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Characters & Themes

About Cherry (2012) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2012 · 102 min
JustWatch #11,064 14
Starring
James Franco, Heather Graham, Dev Patel, Lili Taylor, Ashley Hinshaw

A young woman escapes a stifling life in Los Angeles and finds herself drawn to the adult film industry in San Francisco. As she embraces this new world, she confronts a complicated past and the challenges of navigating relationships with a diverse group of people. The film explores themes of identity, escape, and the secrets that can threaten even the most carefully constructed facades, featuring performances by Ashley Hinshaw, Lili Taylor, Jonny Weston, Dev Patel, James Franco, and Heather Graham.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like About Cherry
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch About Cherry (2012)

Where can you watch About Cherry? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on AMC+, Philo and Sundance Now: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

About Cherry Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of About Cherry (2012), 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.

  • Angelina

    played by Ashley Hinshaw

    Angelina is a complex character grappling with her identity and the choices she makes to seek freedom from her mundane life. Initially hesitant, she gradually embraces her sexuality and autonomy through her work in the adult film industry. Her journey speaks to the larger narrative of personal transformation and the consequences it brings.

    • 🎬 Protagonist
    • 🌸 Transformation
  • Bobby

    Bobby plays the role of Angelina’s boyfriend, initiating her entry into the world of suggestive photography. His unconventional idea serves as the catalyst for Angelina's journey, yet his character embodies the complexities of love intertwined with ambition and the resulting conflicts that arise from their decisions.

    • 💔 Boyfriend
    • 🎭 Conflict
  • Francis

    played by James Franco

    Francis is a wealthy attorney who introduces Angelina to a life of luxury but later becomes critical of her choices. His character demonstrates the allure and pitfalls of affluence, as he oscillates between being a supporter and a detractor in Angelina's life, leading to pivotal moments in her journey.

    • 💼 Wealthy
    • 🌪️ Influence
  • Margaret

    played by Heather Graham

    Margaret is a former adult film star and director who becomes a significant mentor and love interest for Angelina. As a character who navigates her own complicated past, she embodies strength and complexity, helping Angelina to define her new identity in the industry. Their dynamic adds depth to the exploration of love and professional ambition.

    • 🌟 Mentor
    • ❤️ Love Interest
  • Andrew

    played by Dev Patel

    Andrew is Angelina’s best friend who accompanies her on part of her journey to San Francisco. His character serves as an anchor in Angelina’s life, providing a contrast to the chaos of the adult film industry. Their relationship becomes strained as Angelina's choices lead them apart, highlighting themes of friendship and loyalty.

    • 👫 Best Friend
    • 💔 Loyalty

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:30

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Setting

Where and When Does About Cherry Take Place?

The setting of About Cherry (2012): 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 does not specify a particular time period, allowing for a modern interpretation of its themes. However, it presents a contemporary landscape that reflects issues of sexuality, identity, and personal freedom without being dated.

Location

San Francisco

San Francisco is a vibrant city known for its iconic landmarks, diverse culture, and rich history. With its rolling hills and stunning waterfront views, it attracts millions of visitors each year. In 'About Cherry', the city becomes a backdrop for Angelina's journey into the world of adult films, embodying both freedom and excess.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🌉 Vibrancy

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:30

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3 major themes

About Cherry Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is About Cherry (2012) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Identity

    The theme of identity runs deeply through 'About Cherry', as Angelina navigates her transformation from a high school girl to a burgeoning adult film star. This exploration of self through different roles signifies her struggles and aspirations for autonomy. By adopting the alias 'Cherry', she reflects the complexities of personal reinvention and public perception.

  • Love and Betrayal

    Engaging in relationships that blend love with exploitation, the movie highlights the delicate balance between affection and betrayal. Angelina’s interactions with Bobby and Francis reveal the fragility of trust, especially as she moves deeper into an industry filled with superficial relationships. This theme amplifies the emotional stakes of her journey.

  • Sexual Liberation

    Sexual liberation is a prominent theme as Angelina explores her body and desires through the adult film industry. The film presents her choices honestly, offering a glimpse into the dichotomy between empowerment and exploitation. As she embraces her sexuality, questions surrounding consent, agency, and societal judgment arise.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:30

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Character & theme questions

About Cherry Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about About Cherry (2012): 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

Why is San Francisco the setting for this film?

San Francisco serves as both a literal and symbolic backdrop for Angelina's journey. The city represents freedom and possibility, contrasting with her stifling life in Los Angeles. Its vibrancy and diverse culture provide the perfect environment for her transformation into the adult film industry, embodying both liberation and excess.

  • san francisco setting
  • movie location
  • california cities
Q2

When does the movie take place?

The film is set in a modern, contemporary time period without specifying an exact year. This allows the story to remain timeless while addressing current issues around sexuality, identity, and personal freedom that remain relevant to audiences.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern setting
Q3

How does the movie explore identity?

The theme of identity runs deeply through the film as Angelina navigates her transformation from a high school girl to an adult film star. By adopting the alias 'Cherry', she reflects the complexities of personal reinvention and public perception, exploring what it means to construct a new self.

  • identity theme
  • self discovery
  • alias cherry
  • personal transformation
Q4

What role does love and betrayal play in the story?

The movie highlights the delicate balance between affection and betrayal through Angelina's relationships with Bobby and Francis. As she moves deeper into the adult film industry, trust becomes increasingly fragile, with relationships blending love and exploitation in ways that amplify the emotional stakes of her journey.

  • love and betrayal
  • relationships
  • trust
  • infidelity
Q5

What does the film say about sexual liberation?

Sexual liberation is presented as a complex dichotomy between empowerment and exploitation. Angelina's exploration of her sexuality through the adult film industry raises questions about consent, agency, and societal judgment while honestly portraying her choices as both liberating and challenging.

  • sexual liberation
  • empowerment
  • sexuality
  • adult industry
Q6

Who is Angelina in the movie?

Angelina is the protagonist who escapes a stifling life in Los Angeles and finds herself drawn to the adult film industry in San Francisco. She is a complex character grappling with her identity, gradually embracing her sexuality and autonomy while navigating the consequences of her choices.

  • angelina protagonist
  • main character
  • ashley hinshaw
Q7

Who is Margaret and what is her role?

Margaret, played by Heather Graham, is a former adult film star who becomes Angelina's director and love interest. She serves as a significant mentor who helps Angelina define her new identity in the industry while navigating her own complicated past, embodying strength and complexity.

  • margaret
  • heather graham
  • mentor
  • love interest
  • adult film director
Q8

Who is Francis in the story?

Francis, played by James Franco, is a wealthy attorney who introduces Angelina to a life of luxury. His character demonstrates the allure and pitfalls of affluence, oscillating between supporting Angelina and becoming critical of her choices, representing the precarious nature of relationships in her new world.

  • francis
  • james franco
  • wealthy attorney
  • mentor figure
Q9

Who is Andrew in the movie?

Andrew, played by Dev Patel, is Angelina's best friend who accompanies her to San Francisco. He serves as an anchor in her life, providing contrast to the chaos of the adult film industry. Their friendship becomes strained as her choices lead them apart, highlighting themes of loyalty tested by radical life changes.

  • andrew
  • dev patel
  • best friend
  • friendship
  • loyalty
Q10

Who is Bobby in the film?

Bobby is Angelina's boyfriend who initiates her entry into the world of suggestive photography, serving as the catalyst for her journey into the adult film industry. His character embodies the complexities of love intertwined with ambition and the resulting conflicts that arise from their shared decisions.

  • bobby
  • boyfriend
  • catalyst
  • photography
Q11

Why does the story take place in the adult film industry?

The adult film industry setting serves as the vehicle through which Angelina explores identity, sexual liberation, and personal freedom. It creates the necessary context for examining themes of empowerment versus exploitation, allowing the film to explore how societal judgment intersects with individual choice and autonomy.

  • adult film industry
  • porn industry
  • setting meaning
  • autonomy
Q12

What is the overall message of the movie?

The film delivers a bittersweet message about personal transformation. While Angelina achieves career success and finds stability with Margaret, this resolution comes at the cost of severed familial ties and personal compromise. The movie explores how the pursuit of freedom and identity often requires difficult sacrifices.

  • movie message
  • ending meaning
  • personal sacrifice
  • transformation

Movie threads

More Movies Like About Cherry, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes About Cherry tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about sexual exploration and identity like About Cherry

Character dramas exploring sexuality as a path to and from identity. If you were fascinated by the journey in About Cherry, this collection features similar movies about sexual awakening and sex work. These dramas explore complex themes of identity, exploitation, and empowerment, offering a raw and often melancholic look at characters forging their own paths.

  • sensual
  • confrontational
  • transformative
  • conflicted
  • disorienting
  • melancholic
  • Tone: dark, confrontational, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically centers on a protagonist using sexual exploration or sex work as a means of escaping a troubled past or seeking control. This path leads to a transformative but morally ambiguous journey, forcing confrontations with exploitation, fractured relationships, and the ultimate cost of newfound independence.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on sexuality as a central theme for character development. They possess a dark, confrontational tone, a steady pacing that allows for character depth, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from the protagonist's internal and external conflicts.

Movies about escaping dysfunctional families like About Cherry

Stories where leaving a broken home leads to complex new beginnings. Fans of About Cherry's portrayal of a young woman fleeing a difficult home life will find similar stories here. These movies focus on the bittersweet act of escape, where freedom from the past is achieved but new challenges and emotional scars define the future.

  • escapist
  • melancholic
  • confrontational
  • transformative
  • conflicted
  • somber
  • Tone: bittersweet, dark, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a character's decisive act of leaving a damaging family situation. The escape is the catalyst for the entire plot, leading the protagonist into a new, often perilous, world where they must build a new identity. The resolution acknowledges the necessity of the escape but is tinged with melancholy over the relationships severed and the hardships endured.

Why they belong together: These movies share a core narrative of escape as liberation and its complicated aftermath. They consistently feature a heavy emotional weight, a steady or slow pacing that allows for reflection, and a bittersweet or dark tone that acknowledges the pain inherent in cutting ties to seek a better life.

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Movies Like About Cherry

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Every angle

About Cherry (2012) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about About Cherry 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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