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Timeline

Everything You Want (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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 Events in order (11)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Everything You Want
  5. 5 Every angle

11 events in order · contains spoilers

Everything You Want Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Everything You Want (2017) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Abby's sheltered life and Sy

    Abby Morrison has lived a sheltered life, clinging to an imaginary boyfriend named Sy who has accompanied her since she was five. She is an artist who paints scenes of Sy and envisions what he looks like, filling her days with fantasy rather than reality. This imaginary companion shapes her sense of self as she grows up.

    When
    childhood to present
    Where
    Abby's home
  2. Abby starts tutoring Quinn

    Abby agrees to tutor her roommate's cynical cousin Quinn, and their sessions draw them closer. As they spend time together, Abby feels a pull toward him even as she clings to Sy in her mind. The tutoring arrangement becomes the spark for a complicated attraction.

    When
    early in the story
    Where
    shared apartment
  3. Quinn grows jealous of Abby's 'boyfriend'

    Quinn becomes jealous, assuming Abby has a real boyfriend, not knowing that Sy is only a figment of her imagination. He worries that he is competing with someone who doesn't exist. His insecurity starts to color their interactions.

    When
    early in their relationship
    Where
    various locations (home, campus)
  4. Abby chooses Sy over her growing attraction

    Abby remains focused on Sy and keeps her distance from Quinn, choosing fantasy over the budding real-world connection. She spends her energy defending the world she has created rather than exploring a relationship. The tension between fantasy and reality begins to strain both of them.

    When
    early stage
    Where
    studio/home
  5. Thanksgiving reveals the truth

    During Thanksgiving at Abby's parents' house, her mother mentions the imaginary friend, exposing the truth behind Abby's stories. Quinn realizes that Abby's 'boyfriend' might not be real and interprets it as an obstacle for their relationship. The family moment shifts the dynamic between Abby and Quinn.

    When
    Thanksgiving
    Where
    Abby's parents' house
  6. Quinn pulls back and grows miserable

    After the Thanksgiving revelation, Quinn stops meeting with Abby and retreats. He becomes increasingly miserable as he distances himself from the fragile connection they had. The absence leaves a void that hints at unresolved feelings.

    When
    after Thanksgiving
    Where
    various (clubs, apartments)
  7. Abby confronts reality and leans into family work

    Realizing she cannot sustain Sy forever, Abby asks Sy to leave and begins to face reality. For the first time, she joins her parents in their unusual work of decorating the tombstones they made for themselves. The act marks a turning point in her self-image as she exchanges fantasy for family ritual.

    When
    after Thanksgiving
    Where
    Abby's home and family property
  8. Quinn searches for Abby

    Guided by advice from his roommate and cousin, Quinn resolves to find Abby. He revisits places they’ve been together, including a club they once shared, hoping to reconnect or understand what happened. The search sets the stage for a crucial breakthrough.

    When
    after Abby begins facing reality
    Where
    club they once visited
  9. Portrait and a sign at the rink

    While hunting for Abby, Quinn encounters a portrait Abby painted of him, and he notices an image of Abby herself in the background near the rink. The artwork becomes a clue that pulls him toward the actual location where Abby is. The visual discovery deepens the mystery of her life beyond Sy.

    When
    during the search
    Where
    the club and the rink
  10. The reunion at the rink and a kiss

    Quinn finally finds Abby at the rink, spurred by the clues he uncovered. They confront the complicated history between them, and he leans in to kiss her, bridging the gap between fantasy and reality. The moment signals a shift in their relationship and potential new beginnings.

    When
    finale of pursuit
    Where
    the rink
  11. Aftermath and understanding

    The kiss marks a turning point where Abby's world begins to move toward reality while still acknowledging her feelings for Quinn. They navigate the truth about Sy and what their future might hold, with the possibility of a real relationship emerging from the earlier fantasy. The story circles back to a more grounded emotional center.

    When
    post-climax

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 14:20

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Timeline questions answered

Everything You Want Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Everything You Want (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with 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.

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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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