As You Are (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place in a quiet suburban town in the United States during the 1990s. The story moves between family homes, a local skate park, and the surrounding woods, using these everyday teen hangout spots to contrast with the darker themes of violence and secrecy that emerge.

• setting
• suburban america
• 1990s location
• skate park
• woods

The movie is set in the early 1990s, specifically during the grunge era. References to Kurt Cobain's era-defining suicide anchor the period's mood of rebellion and disillusionment. The 1990s setting also brings in elements of gun culture, casual drug use, and particular parental dynamics that shape the characters' choices and fears.

• 1990s
• grunge
• kurt cobain
• time period
• 90s america

The film explores three major themes: Love & Identity, focusing on Jack and Mark's evolving bond and queer desire in a suburban setting; Family & Control, highlighting how Tom's controlling behavior creates pressure at home; and Secrets & Memory, examining unreliable recollections and how the truth remains ambiguous. The story centers on first attraction and the complexities of navigating identity amid social norms.

• love
• identity
• queer themes
• family control
• secrets
• memory
• 1990s coming of age

Jack and Mark's relationship forms the emotional core of the film. Their bond evolves from friendship into a first attraction that tests the boundaries of their suburban world. The film explores queer desire and the complexities of coming to terms with one's identity in an environment where such feelings are difficult to navigate. Their connection is both transformative and perilous, driving the story's emotional stakes.

• jack
• mark
• relationship
• queer
• love
• attraction
• coming out

Tom is Mark's father, a controlling figure whose behavior creates a tense home environment. His authoritarian presence affects Mark deeply, shaping his need for connection outside the home and influencing his relationship with Jack. The violent dynamics at home linger over the characters' actions and loyalties throughout the film.

• tom
• father
• control
• abuse
• parent
• mark's family

Sarah is a brave and loyal friend who defends Jack and Mark while navigating the complexities of teenage alliances. She challenges social norms and stands up to threats, forming a bond with Mark as the story progresses. Her choices reflect courage, loyalty, and a protective instinct for those she cares about.

• sarah
• amandla stenberg
• friend
• loyalty
• supportive character

The film uses a non-linear structure that intercuts between the idyllic past and the grim present investigation. Through interrogations and flashbacks, the narrative braids memory and truth, leaving what happened in the woods murky and open to interpretation. The story foregrounds unreliable recollections as characters clash over events, creating ambiguity about what is real.

• narrative
• nonlinear
• flashbacks
• memory
• unreliable narrator
• mystery structure

The tone is melancholic, driven by nostalgia, loss, and unfulfilled longing that defines the central trio's relationships. The film has high emotional intensity due to themes of domestic abuse, sexual confusion, and a tragic conclusion. Humor is virtually absent, while sadness is prominent through its bleak exploration of teenage angst. The investigative framing adds underlying tension throughout.

• tone
• mood
• melancholy
• nostalgia
• sadness
• tragedy
• teen angst
• emotional intensity

Yes, the ending remains deliberately ambiguous and open to interpretation. The unresolved conclusion invites viewers to reflect on guilt, responsibility, and what is truly real. The film does not provide clear answers about what exactly happened in the woods, leaving the mystery tied to themes of memory and perception.

• ending
• ambiguous
• unresolved
• mystery
• interpretation
• open ending