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Everything You Want (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Everything You Want (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes 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 (7)
  1. 1 Characters explained (3)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Everything You Want
  7. 7 Every angle

3 main characters · contains spoilers

Everything You Want Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Everything You Want (2017), 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.

  • Abby Morrison

    A sheltered artist who paints visions of her imaginary boyfriend Sy. She uses fantasy as a shield against loneliness, but her growing attraction to Quinn challenges her to confront reality and pursue authentic connections.

    • 🎨 Creative
    • 💭 Imaginative
    • 💔 Emotionally vulnerable
  • Quinn

    Quinn is Abby's roommate's cynical cousin who becomes romantically involved with her. He grows jealous as he realizes Abby's life partly exists in a fantasy, testing his trust and their budding connection.

    • 💬 Cynical
    • 💘 Romantic tension
  • Sy (Imagininary Boyfriend)

    Abby's imaginary boyfriend who exists only in her paintings and mind. He represents escape from loneliness and a safe space where she can shape a life without consequences.

    • 💭 Imaginary friend

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 17:01

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Setting

Where and When Does Everything You Want Take Place?

The setting of Everything You Want (2017): 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

Present day

Set in contemporary times, the story centers on modern dating, imagination, and the emotional navigation of growing up. The film uses familiar social spaces like clubs and parties to explore how fantasy can both soothe and complicate real relationships.

Location

Abby's home, a local club, a skating rink, college campus

Most scenes unfold at a comfortable family home, with key moments in a local club and at a skating rink. The settings highlight Abby's sheltered life and her retreat into painting and fantasy.

  • 🏠 Domestic setting
  • 🎨 Artistic milieu
  • 🌆 Contemporary city life

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 17:01

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3 major themes

Everything You Want Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Everything You Want (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Reality vs Fantasy

    Abby's imaginary boyfriend Sy provides emotional refuge but blocks genuine connection with others. The fantasy offers control and escape, yet it isolates her from friends and potential romance. As the relationship with Quinn develops, the tension reveals the costs of living in a dream. The film asks what it means to grow up and face the truth.

  • Romantic Tension

    Quinn's attraction to Abby becomes entangled with jealousy and mistrust when he thinks Sy is real. Abby's choice to protect her fantasy over a real relationship creates a painful rift. The story uses romance to explore vulnerability, honesty, and the push-pull of connection.

  • Self-Discovery

    Abby confronts the need to choose authenticity over illusion. Joining her parents in their 'weird work' signals a step toward independence. Her paintings, once a private refuge, become a catalyst for personal growth.

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 17:01

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Character & theme questions

Everything You Want Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Everything You Want (2017): 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 the movie set?

The story unfolds primarily in Abby's family home, which serves as her sheltered sanctuary. Key scenes also take place at a local club and a skating rink, representing the social spaces where she navigates between her fantasy world and reality. A college campus also appears as Abby moves toward independence.

  • setting
  • locations
  • Abby's home
  • club
  • skating rink
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The film is set in present day, using contemporary urban settings to ground the story in modern dating culture and social spaces. This contemporary setting emphasizes how ordinary and relatable the world around Abby actually is, contrasting sharply with her imaginative inner life.

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

What does the Reality vs Fantasy theme explore?

The film explores how Abby's imaginary boyfriend Sy provides emotional refuge but ultimately blocks genuine human connection. Her fantasy offers control and escape from loneliness, yet it isolates her from real relationships. The story examines what it means to grow up and face truth rather than living in a carefully constructed dream.

  • reality vs fantasy
  • themes
  • imagination
  • Sy
  • emotional escape
Q4

What role does romantic tension play in the movie?

Romantic tension centers on Abby's relationship with Quinn, who becomes jealous and suspicious when he realizes Sy exists only in her imagination. This love triangle forces Abby to choose between protecting her safe fantasy or embracing vulnerability with a real person. The conflict tests trust and explores the difficulties of honest connection.

  • romantic tension
  • romance
  • Quinn
  • love triangle
  • jealousy
Q5

Who is Abby Morrison?

Abby Morrison is a sheltered artist who lives a somewhat reclusive life, finding solace in painting visions of her imaginary boyfriend Sy. She uses fantasy as a shield against loneliness and the challenges of real-world relationships. Her journey involves learning to open herself up to authentic human connection.

  • Abby Morrison
  • main character
  • artist
  • protagonist
Q6

Who is Sy and what does he represent?

Sy is Abby's imaginary boyfriend who exists only in her paintings and mind. He represents escape from loneliness and a safe space where she can craft a life without risk or vulnerability. Sy embodies the film's central theme of using fantasy as a coping mechanism that ultimately prevents real emotional growth.

  • Sy
  • imaginary boyfriend
  • fantasy character
  • escape
Q7

Who is Quinn in the story?

Quinn is Abby's roommate's cousin who becomes romantically involved with her. Initially cynical, he finds himself drawn into Abby's unusual world where her boyfriend exists only in paintings. His jealousy and mistrust when learning Sy is imaginary becomes a catalyst for the film's central emotional conflict.

  • Quinn
  • love interest
  • romantic lead
  • character
Q8

What does the Self-Discovery theme mean in this film?

The Self-Discovery theme follows Abby's journey from living in illusion to embracing authenticity. She learns to choose real connections over protected fantasies. Her paintings, once a private refuge, transform into a catalyst for personal growth. Joining her parents in their unconventional work symbolizes her step toward independence and adult identity.

  • self-discovery
  • personal growth
  • authenticity
  • coming-of-age
Q9

What genre elements are present in the movie?

The film blends comedy and drama elements, creating a light romantic comedy tone with underlying emotional depth. The comedy emerges from Abby's imaginative world and the absurdity of her situation, while the drama provides the emotional stakes of her coming-of-age journey. The tone remains gentle and accessible throughout.

  • genre
  • comedy
  • drama
  • romantic comedy
  • tone
Q10

What kind of world does Abby live in?

Abby inhabits a comfortable domestic world centered around her family home, where she retreats into painting and fantasy. The film contrasts this sheltered environment with social spaces like clubs and parties, showing how her inner imaginative life both soothes and complicates her navigation of the real world.

  • Abby's world
  • domestic setting
  • sheltered life
  • artistic milieu
Q11

What is the emotional tone of the film?

The film has a light, optimistic tone with playful, romantic comedy atmosphere. While it addresses themes of growing up and letting go of fantasy, it avoids heavy trauma or profound sadness. The emotional weight remains gentle, leading to a happy resolution that celebrates Abby's transition into adulthood and authentic relationships.

  • tone
  • emotional weight
  • atmosphere
  • mood
  • light tone

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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