Babyteeth (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place primarily in an intimate suburban setting, centered around the family home where Milla's health and family dynamics unfold. Key locations include her school where she meets Moses, a rooftop that becomes their private escape, and a beach that serves as a peaceful backdrop for moments between Milla and her father.

• setting
• locations
• family home
• school
• rooftop
• beach

Babyteeth is set in contemporary times, reflecting current societal issues and the modern challenges of teenage relationships and illness. The story unfolds in a present-day suburban environment without anchoring to a specific historical era.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern setting

The movie explores three interconnected themes: love, loss, and morality. Love drives the central relationship between Milla and Moses, showing both its intensity and fragility. Loss permeates the narrative through Milla's terminal diagnosis and the approaching grief her family faces. Morality examines the ethical dilemmas each character faces in making difficult choices for those they love.

• themes
• love
• loss
• morality
• meaning

Babyteeth presents love as a powerful force that transcends the boundaries of age, health, and circumstance. Milla's relationship with Moses demonstrates how love can coexist with terminal illness, bringing both joy and urgency. The film suggests that love in the face of mortality forces characters to confront their deepest fears and embrace present moments rather than future uncertainties.

• love
• mortality
• terminal illness
• meaning

Loss is woven throughout the narrative as Milla faces her terminal cancer diagnosis and the inevitable separation from loved ones. The emotional weight of impending grief deeply impacts her parents, shaping their decisions and redefining their relationships. Milla's own journey toward acceptance of her mortality becomes a profound exploration of loss, showing how facing the end can bring clarity to what truly matters.

• loss
• grief
• death
• terminal illness

Babyteeth delves into complex ethical choices made in the name of love and protection. Both Milla's parents and Moses face difficult decisions regarding her health and happiness. The film challenges viewers to consider the boundaries of parental control, the ethics of enabling a terminally ill teen's relationship, and what lengths people will go to for those they love. These dilemmas have no clear right or wrong answers.

• morality
• ethics
• decisions
• parental choice

The film centers on four key characters: Milla, a terminally ill 16-year-old seeking connection and normalcy; Moses, a charismatic 23-year-old with a troubled past and addiction struggles; Anna, Milla's passionate musician mother navigating fear and acceptance; and Henry, her father, a psychiatrist who grapples with feelings of helplessness despite his professional expertise.

• characters
• Milla
• Moses
• Anna
• Henry
• cast

Milla is a 16-year-old girl dealing with a recent cancer diagnosis who展现出 resilience and a deep desire for connection despite her illness. Her adventurous spirit leads her to pursue a relationship with an older boy, reflecting her longing for normalcy and experiences typical of youth. She embodies the struggle between youthful desires and the harsh realities of her condition.

• Milla
• protagonist
• teenage protagonist
• cancer

Moses is a 23-year-old character with a troubled background who captures Milla's heart through his charisma and reckless nature. Despite his initial intentions, he becomes deeply entangled in Milla's world while struggling with personal issues including addiction. His relationship with Milla becomes a vehicle for his own personal growth and redemption.

• Moses
• love interest
• character
• addiction

Babyteeth maintains a fundamentally bittersweet tone, where moments of vibrant joy and first love are inextricably linked to the underlying tragedy of terminal illness. The film balances high emotional weight dealing with grief and addiction against significant romantic elements, creating an experience that is both painful and beautiful.

• tone
• emotional
• bittersweet
• mood