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Everything You Want (2017) movie poster

Plot Summary

Everything You Want (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 106 mins · Italian
Directed by
Francesco Bruni
Starring
Aurora Quattrocchi, Donatella Finocchiaro, Ivan Alovisio, Vittorio Emanuele Propizio, Antonio Gerardi, Raffaella Lebboroni

An aimless young troublemaker named Alessandro spends his days gambling and fighting, often finding himself in jail. He reluctantly takes a job as a companion to Giorgio, an elderly poet struggling with Alzheimer’s. Through their daily walks and conversations, a friendship develops as Alessandro learns about Giorgio’s life and the poet’s fading memories. Discovering a secret from Giorgio’s past, Alessandro and his friends embark on a journey to uncover the truth, leading to an unexpected history lesson and a poignant coming-of-age story.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 What happens: full plot
  2. 2 Plot questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Everything You Want
  5. 5 Every angle

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Everything You Want: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Everything You Want (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Abby Morrison has lived a sheltered life, her days colored by an imaginary boyfriend named Sy who has stood by her since she was five. As an artist, Abby pours her passion into painting, often depicting Sy and shaping vivid visions of what he looks like, turning her internal world into tangible creations on canvas.

When Abby agrees to tutor her roommate's cynical cousin Quinn, she unexpectedly discovers a real attraction blooming between them. Quinn’s curiosity quickly tangles with jealousy as he fixates on the idea that Abby has a real boyfriend, not realizing that Sy is a figment of Abby’s imagination. In the face of this internal conflict, Abby tries to keep her feelings for Quinn on hold, choosing to remain loyal to the man she has always imagined rather than risk losing the girl he might become.

Thanksgiving brings both a test and a turning point. Abby’s parents invite Quinn to dinner, and Abby’s mother mentions her imaginary friend in front of him, planting seeds of doubt about Abby’s truthfulness. The blunt reminder that Sy isn’t real unsettles Quinn, who begins to pull away, convinced that Abby has been fabricating a barrier between them to keep their relationship steady. He stops seeing Abby and sinks into a growing misery, not fully understanding what he’s lost or what Abby is wrestling with inside.

Amid the tension, Abby reaches a moment of clarity. She recognizes that she must confront reality and let go of Sy. In a bold, symbolic gesture, she asks Sy to leave for good and, for the first time, joins her parents in their unconventional work—decorating the tombstones they have made for themselves—an eerie reminder of life, memory, and art that runs through her family.

Meanwhile, Quinn, seeking guidance and a chance to repair what’s been broken, reaches out to his roommate and cousin for advice and embarks on a search for Abby. His quest leads him to a club he once took Abby to, and there he encounters a revelation: a portrait Abby has painted of him, with an image in the background of Abby at the rink. This discovery is the moment that brings him face to face with Abby again; he finds her there, and a kiss seals a new, fragile connection between them, signaling that Abby’s journey toward reality might still leave room for love, art, and honesty to coexist.

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 14:20

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Plot questions answered

Everything You Want Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Everything You Want (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Abby keep Sy around even after meeting Quinn?

Abby has relied on Sy as her imaginary companion since she was five years old, making him a deep-rooted part of her identity. Giving him up means confronting the reality that she has been living in a fantasy world rather than facing the adult challenges of real relationships. Her attachment to Sy represents her fear of letting go of the safe, imaginative world she has created to protect herself from genuine emotional vulnerability.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes show Abby painting vivid portraits of Sy, demonstrating how deeply integrated he is into her daily life and creative expression.

  • Abby
  • Sy
  • imaginary boyfriend
  • fantasy
  • reality
  • emotional vulnerability
Q2

Why does Quinn distance himself after learning about Sy?

Quinn interprets Sy as a real boyfriend who has been a barrier between him and Abby. When Abby's mother reveals that Sy is imaginary, Quinn feels deceived and believes Abby has been using him as an excuse to keep their relationship platonic. Rather than confronting the complex truth about Abby's psychological state, Quinn retreats into misery, unable to understand what he has lost.

Foreshadowing: Quinn's jealousy manifests early when he assumes he is competing with a real person for Abby's affection.

  • Quinn
  • Sy
  • jealousy
  • misunderstanding
  • relationship
  • emotional retreat
Q3

What triggers Abby's decision to let go of Sy?

The Thanksgiving dinner becomes the catalyst when Quinn's reaction to learning about Sy forces Abby to see the damage her fantasy has caused in her real life. She realizes that maintaining Sy is preventing her from pursuing genuine connections, particularly her growing feelings for Quinn. This moment of clarity pushes her to ask Sy to leave for good.

Foreshadowing: Abby's internal conflict intensifies during Thanksgiving as she watches Quinn's perception of her shift dramatically.

  • Abby
  • Sy
  • Thanksgiving
  • turning point
  • self-realization
  • letting go
Q4

How does Quinn find Abby at the end?

Quinn searches for Abby after seeking advice from his roommate and cousin, eventually returning to a club they had visited together. There he discovers a portrait Abby painted of him, with an image in the background showing Abby at the rink. This visual clue leads him directly to her, where they reunite and share a kiss.

Foreshadowing: The portrait serves as both a work of art and a literal map guiding Quinn to Abby's location.

  • Quinn
  • Abby
  • portrait
  • club
  • rink
  • reunion
  • kiss
Q5

What do the self-made tombstones represent in the story?

Abby's parents have created and decorated their own tombstones as an unusual family tradition that symbolizes acceptance of mortality and the importance of memory. When Abby finally joins them in this ritual, it represents her transition from childhood fantasy into adult reality, embracing her family's unique way of processing life and memory through art.

Foreshadowing: The tombstone imagery appears early in the narrative as part of Abby's family identity and creative background.

  • tombstones
  • family tradition
  • memory
  • mortality
  • art
  • ritual
  • growth
Q6

Why has Sy been with Abby since she was five years old?

Abby has lived a sheltered life, and Sy served as her emotional anchor during a childhood marked by isolation. Rather than developing real social connections, she created an imaginary companion who provided unconditional support and validation. Over the years, Sy evolved from a childhood fantasy into a substitute for real relationships, making it incredibly difficult for Abby to abandon him.

Foreshadowing: The timeline establishes that Sy has been present throughout Abby's entire developmental years, from childhood to adulthood.

  • Sy
  • childhood
  • imaginary friend
  • sheltered life
  • emotional anchor
  • isolation
Q7

What does the portrait Abby painted of Quinn reveal about her feelings?

Despite claiming loyalty to Sy, Abby's artwork tells a different story. She painted Quinn as the subject of her art, placing herself in the background at the rink, a place that clearly holds personal meaning. This contradiction between her words and her art demonstrates that her subconscious had already chosen Quinn, even while her conscious mind tried to maintain Sy.

Foreshadowing: Abby's artistic nature is established early, showing that her paintings often reflect her true feelings better than her words.

  • Abby
  • Quinn
  • portrait
  • painting
  • art
  • feelings
  • subconscious
Q8

Why does Abby ultimately choose to pursue a real relationship with Quinn?

Abby recognizes that her long-held loyalty to Sy has been holding her back from genuine human connection. By confronting reality and asking Sy to leave, she chooses the uncertainty of a real relationship over the safety of her fantasy. The kiss with Quinn represents her commitment to living in the real world while still honoring her creative, imaginative spirit.

Foreshadowing: Abby's journey from fantasy to reality is signaled by her willingness to leave her studio and engage with her family and Quinn.

  • Abby
  • Quinn
  • choice
  • real relationship
  • fantasy
  • growth
  • acceptance

Movie threads

More Movies Like Everything You Want, by Mood & Story

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

Movies with intergenerational friendships like Everything You Want

Grumpy mentors and reluctant protégés find friendship and purpose together. If you liked the dynamic between Alessandro and Giorgio in Everything You Want, explore more movies about unlikely bonds between generations. These stories feature grumpy mentors, reluctant protégés, and heartwarming character growth through shared experiences.

  • heartwarming
  • unlikely friendship
  • character growth
  • mentor
  • grumpy
  • touching
  • Tone: heartwarming, lighthearted
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a reluctant pairing that seems destined for conflict. As the story unfolds through shared activities or a common goal, initial friction gives way to mutual respect and understanding. The journey often involves the younger character learning life lessons and gaining direction, while the older character finds renewed purpose or comes to terms with their past.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their central character dynamic—the 'odd couple' pairing across generations. They share a tone that is ultimately hopeful and lighthearted, even when touching on serious themes, and focus on personal growth through a developing, unlikely friendship.

Gentle coming of age movies like Everything You Want

Quiet, character-driven stories about finding your place in the world. Fans of Everything You Want's story of Alessandro finding purpose will enjoy these gentle coming-of-age films. Discover more movies about self-discovery, quiet character growth, and finding direction through meaningful experiences.

  • coming of age
  • self-discovery
  • introspective
  • hopeful
  • character driven
  • finding purpose
  • Tone: light, introspective, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a protagonist, often young and adrift, who is given a task or forms a relationship that forces them to look inward. The narrative is driven by small, meaningful moments and conversations rather than high-stakes action. The central journey is emotional, culminating in the character gaining maturity, confidence, and a new perspective on their life.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies that share a specific, gentle approach to the coming-of-age theme. They prioritize character development over complex plotting, feature a light emotional weight with a steady pace, and conclude with a sense of hopeful resolution, making them uplifting and thoughtful viewing experiences.

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Movies Like Everything You Want

Similar movies to Everything You Want: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Everything You Want (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Everything You Want 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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