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After We Collided (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

After We Collided (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 105 min · English
Echo score 36
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Directed by
Roger Kumble
Starring
Josephine Langford, Selma Blair, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Dylan Sprouse, Shane Paul McGhie, Louise Lombard
Budget
$14M

Tessa and Hardin's relationship began with significant challenges. Tessa is aware of Hardin’s capacity for cruelty, but a revelation about the origins of their connection and Hardin’s mysterious past leaves her deeply shaken. Hardin remains a complex and unpredictable person. Tessa questions whether the attentive, thoughtful person she fell for was genuine, or if he was hiding something all along. She desperately wants to escape, but it's not that simple. Hardin recognizes that he's made a serious mistake, and conflict is inevitable. The question remains: can he change?

Drama Romance Cast, crew & box office
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 After We Collided
  8. 8 Every angle
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5 main characters · contains spoilers

After We Collided Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of After We Collided (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.

  • Hardin Scott

    played by Hero Fiennes-Tiffin

    Hardin is a complex character grappling with emotional baggage stemming from a troubled childhood. His intense passion for Tessa is often clouded by jealousy and unresolved feelings, leading to strained interactions. Despite his flaws, his vulnerability is revealed as he confronts his inner demons and struggles to reconnect with Tessa.

    • 💔 Heartbroken
    • 🔥 Passionate
    • 🔍 Troubled

  • Tessa Young

    played by Josephine Langford

    Tessa is a determined and ambitious young woman embarking on her career while navigating the complexities of love and self-identity. Her journey sees her transform from a naive girl into someone who faces hard truths about relationships and family. Her emotional resilience shines through as she attempts to reconcile her feelings for Hardin with her own aspirations.

    • 🌸 Strong
    • 💼 Ambitious
    • 💔 Vulnerable

  • Trevor Matthews

    played by Dylan Sprouse

    Trevor is a charismatic coworker who unintentionally becomes a source of tension between Tessa and Hardin. His friendly demeanor and support for Tessa highlight the complicating dynamics of relationships. However, his presence also evokes jealousy in Hardin, bringing deeper issues in their romance to the surface.

    • 🤝 Supportive
    • 💁‍♂️ Charismatic
    • 😔 Complicated

  • Christian Vance

    played by Charlie Weber

    Christian is the ambitious owner of Vance Publishing and acts as a mentor figure for Tessa. His keen eye for talent allows him to recognize Tessa's skills, but his professional relationship with her inadvertently fuels Hardin's insecurities. His character embodies the professional and personal challenges that arise within workplace dynamics.

    • 💼 Mentor
    • 📈 Ambitious
    • ⚖️ Complicated

  • Trish

    played by Louise Lombard

    Trish, Hardin's mother, offers insight into his emotional struggles, revealing the impact of their family's traumatic past. Her warmth and understanding serve as a counterbalance to Hardin's tumultuous nature, making her an essential figure in his path toward self-acceptance and reconciliation with Tessa. She embodies the theme of healing and support in complex relationships.

    • ❤️ Supportive
    • 🌟 Understanding
    • 💔 Compassionate

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:02

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Setting

Where and When Does After We Collided Take Place?

The setting of After We Collided (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

Modern Day

The movie takes place in contemporary times, reflecting current social dynamics and relationship challenges. This period is marked by rapid developments in technology and communication, influencing how characters interact and resolve conflicts. Additionally, themes of personal growth and emotional struggles resonate strongly in this time frame.

Location

Seattle

Seattle is a vibrant city known for its iconic skyline and rich cultural scene. It serves as a hub for technology and business, particularly with significant companies in the publishing industry. The city is famous for its coffee culture and scenic waterfront, making it a lively backdrop for corporate networking events and personal dramas.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🎉 Celebration
  • 💼 Corporate

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:02

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3 major themes

After We Collided Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is After We Collided (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Heartbreak

    The theme of heartbreak is central to the movie, as characters navigate their tumultuous relationships fraught with misunderstandings and unresolved feelings. Tessa and Hardin's struggle with their emotional turmoil showcases the challenges of love and reconciliation. The story delves into the pains of past traumas that affect their connections and lead to emotional upheaval.

  • Self-Discovery

    Self-discovery is a key theme, particularly for Tessa as she navigates her new role in a corporate environment while confronting her personal history. As she learns secrets about her family and her relationship with Hardin, she embarks on a journey of understanding herself and her choices. This theme emphasizes growth and the challenge of reconciling one's past with present desires.

  • Celebration

    Celebration plays a significant role, particularly during moments such as Christmas and New Year's Eve. These festivities not only bring characters together but also serve as a backdrop for tension and important confrontations. Despite the conflicts, celebrations highlight the complexity of relationships, where joy and heartache coexist.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:02

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Character & theme questions

After We Collided Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about After We Collided (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 After We Collided set?

After We Collided is set primarily in Seattle, a modern city known for its technology hub, coffee culture, and scenic waterfront. The city serves as a backdrop for both corporate networking events and the personal drama between the main characters, with significant scenes taking place in the publishing industry.

  • seattle setting
  • pacific northwest
  • city location
  • corporate setting
Q2

What time period does After We Collided take place in?

After We Collided takes place in contemporary modern day times, reflecting current social dynamics and relationship challenges. The story unfolds in a world shaped by technology and communication developments that influence how characters interact and navigate their emotional conflicts.

  • modern day
  • contemporary
  • time period
  • present day
Q3

What is the heartbreak theme in After We Collided?

Heartbreak is central to After We Collided, as characters navigate tumultuous relationships filled with misunderstandings and unresolved feelings. Tessa and Hardin's struggle showcases the painful challenges of love and reconciliation, with past traumas affecting their emotional connections and creating ongoing upheaval.

  • heartbreak
  • emotional pain
  • relationship struggles
  • love pain
Q4

How does self-discovery factor into After We Collided?

Self-discovery is a key theme, particularly for Tessa as she navigates her new career in the corporate world while confronting her personal history. As she uncovers secrets about her family and her relationship with Hardin, she embarks on a journey of understanding herself and reconciling her past with her present desires.

  • self-discovery
  • personal growth
  • identity
  • character journey
Q5

Who is Hardin Scott in After We Collided?

Hardin Scott is a complex character dealing with emotional baggage from a troubled childhood. His intense passion for Tessa is often clouded by jealousy and unresolved feelings, creating strained interactions. Despite his flaws, his vulnerability emerges as he confronts his inner demons and struggles to reconnect with Tessa.

  • hardin scott
  • hero fines-tiffin
  • main character
  • emotional complexity
Q6

Who is Tessa Young in After We Collided?

Tessa Young is a determined and ambitious young woman beginning her career while navigating the complexities of love and self-identity. Her journey transforms her from a naive young woman into someone who faces hard truths about relationships and family, showcasing emotional resilience as she reconciles her feelings for Hardin with her own aspirations.

  • tessa young
  • josephine langford
  • main character
  • protagonist
Q7

Who is Trevor Matthews in After We Collided?

Trevor Matthews is a charismatic coworker who becomes an unintentional source of tension between Tessa and Hardin. His friendly demeanor and support for Tessa highlight the complicating dynamics in their relationship, while his presence evokes jealousy in Hardin, bringing deeper issues in their romance to the surface.

  • trevor matthews
  • dylan sprouse
  • coworker
  • love triangle
Q8

Who is Christian Vance in After We Collided?

Christian Vance is the ambitious owner of Vance Publishing who acts as a mentor figure for Tessa. His professional relationship with her inadvertently fuels Hardin's insecurities, as he recognizes Tessa's talent. His character embodies the intersection of professional and personal challenges within workplace dynamics.

  • christian vance
  • charlie weber
  • vance publishing
  • mentor
Q9

Who is Trish in After We Collided?

Trish is Hardin's mother, whose warmth and understanding provide insight into his emotional struggles and the impact of their family's traumatic past. She serves as a counterbalance to Hardin's tumultuous nature and plays an essential role in his path toward self-acceptance and reconciliation with Tessa.

  • trish
  • hardin's mother
  • family background
  • parental figures
Q10

What role do celebrations play in After We Collided?

Celebrations like Christmas and New Year's Eve are significant in After We Collided, bringing characters together as backdrops for tension and important confrontations. These festive moments highlight the complexity of relationships where joy and heartache coexist, serving as catalysts for key emotional revelations.

  • christmas
  • new year
  • holidays
  • celebrations
  • festive events
Q11

What is the corporate setting like in After We Collided?

The corporate world in After We Collided centers around Seattle's publishing industry, particularly Vance Publishing. This professional environment shapes Tessa's career trajectory and creates dynamics that intertwine with the personal drama, as workplace relationships become entangled with romantic conflicts.

  • vance publishing
  • corporate world
  • seattle business
  • career
  • workplace romance

Movie threads

More Movies Like After We Collided, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about turbulent romance like After We Collided

Stories of all-consuming relationships defined by high-stakes drama and explosive arguments. If you liked the high-drama relationship in After We Collided, explore more movies about volatile passion and emotional turmoil. These films feature couples whose love is defined by explosive arguments, deep insecurities, and an intensity that borders on self-destruction. Find similar angsty romance stories where love is a battlefield.

  • passionate
  • volatile
  • angst-ridden
  • melodramatic
  • confrontational
  • intense
  • Tone: tense, melodramatic
  • Pacing: fast, driven by conflict
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a cyclical pattern of intense attraction, major conflict, and fragile reconciliation. The central drama stems from the characters' inability to communicate healthily, often fueled by jealousy, pride, or past trauma. The plot is driven by a rapid succession of misunderstandings and confrontations that test the relationship's limits.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on a high-conflict, emotionally charged central relationship. They share a fast pace, a tense tone, and a heavy emotional weight, creating a consistent vibe of romantic angst and melodrama that appeals to viewers seeking this specific type of intense experience.

After We Collided movie poster

After We Collided

2020
Romeo + Juliet movie poster

Romeo + Juliet

1996
Romeo Juliet movie poster

Romeo Juliet

2009
In Motion movie poster

In Motion

2002
365 Days: This Day movie poster

365 Days: This Day

2022
Your Fault movie poster

Your Fault

2024
My Fault: London movie poster

My Fault: London

2025
Fatal Affair movie poster

Fatal Affair

2020

Movies about secrets and forgiveness like After We Collided

Romantic partners must confront devastating secrets and traumatic histories that threaten their bond. If you liked the revelation of Hardin's past in After We Collided, you'll enjoy these movies about love tested by secrets. These stories focus on relationships where a hidden trauma or a devastating truth comes to light, forcing the couple to confront issues of trust, forgiveness, and whether their connection is strong enough to survive.

  • secret-reveal
  • past trauma
  • emotional baggage
  • betrayal
  • forgiveness
  • heavy drama
  • Tone: tense, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, with a dramatic reveal
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a central revelation—often about a character's past trauma, family secret, or prior betrayal—that acts as a major plot twist. This revelation forces a crisis in the relationship, leading to a period of separation and introspection. The story then explores the difficult path toward understanding and potential forgiveness, though the ending is often ambiguous.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared plot device: a relationship critically endangered by the unveiling of a painful secret. They share themes of confronting the past, the heavy emotional weight of truth, and the complex journey toward rebuilding trust, creating a cohesive narrative and thematic link.

Random Hearts movie poster

Random Hearts

1999
The Drama movie poster

The Drama

2026
Hidden Pleasures movie poster

Hidden Pleasures

1977
Story of a Love Affair movie poster

Story of a Love Affair

1950
Love Streams movie poster

Love Streams

1984
Longing movie poster

Longing

2007
After Ever Happy movie poster

After Ever Happy

2022
Love Lies Bleeding movie poster

Love Lies Bleeding

1993

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Every angle

After We Collided (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about After We Collided 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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