Heaven Knows What

Heaven Knows What

Year: 2015

Runtime: 94 min

Language: English

Director: Joshua Safdie

Drama

In the dark and chaotic depths of New York City, a young woman named Arielle battles a devastating heroin addiction. Driven by desperation, her days are a blur of aimless wandering and impulsive behavior as she navigates a precarious existence with her mysterious boyfriend. They struggle to survive in a world seemingly devoid of hope, facing constant challenges and a relentless cycle of addiction.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Heaven Knows What yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Heaven Knows What (2015)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Heaven Knows What (2015). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The story unfolds in contemporary times, focusing on immediate challenges faced by individuals grappling with addiction and mental health. It highlights pressing social issues, such as homelessness and the opioid crisis, which resonate deeply in today's society.

Location

New York City, Miami

The movie is primarily set in the gritty, bustling streets of New York City, a place known for its vibrant culture and stark realities, especially the struggles of homelessness and addiction. New York serves as a backdrop to Harley's tumultuous life, reflecting both the harshness and fleeting moments of hope. Miami is introduced as a potential escape, representing dreams of a fresh start away from the chaos.

🏙️ City 🏖️ Beach

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:56

Main Characters – Heaven Knows What (2015)

Meet the key characters of Heaven Knows What (2015), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Harley

Harley is a troubled young woman grappling with heroin addiction and the challenges of homelessness. Her vulnerability and desperation highlight her yearning for love and stability, driving her actions throughout the film. As she oscillates between hope and despair, Harley embodies the struggles faced by many in similar circumstances.

👩‍🎤 Protagonist 🚬 Addict 😢 Vulnerable

Ilya

Ilya is a flawed character whose own struggles with addiction complicate his relationship with Harley. His callousness juxtaposed with moments of tenderness reflects the chaotic nature of love in the context of addiction. Ilya's actions ultimately lead to tragic consequences, highlighting the destructive cycle of dependency.

👨‍🎤 Antagonist 💔 Troubled 🔥 Tragic

Mike

Mike is a small-time drug dealer who serves as Harley’s temporary support. He represents a conflicting element in her life, offering both companionship and further entrapment within addiction. His frustration with Harley’s feelings for Ilya adds tension and complexity to their relationship.

👨‍🦲 Supportive 💊 Dealer 😡 Frustrated

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:56

Major Themes – Heaven Knows What (2015)

Explore the central themes of Heaven Knows What (2015), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Love & Loss

The film explores the complexities of love intertwined with addiction, demonstrating how dependency can distort relationships. Harley's deep connection with Ilya is marred by betrayal and tragedy, ultimately leading to profound grief. This theme highlights the bittersweet nature of love when compounded by external struggles.

🌧️ Despair

Despair permeates Harley's life as she navigates rejection, addiction, and the threat of self-harm. The film poignantly captures her battles against not just societal judgment but also her internal demons, making her journey a stark reflection of desperation and the search for connection.

🌀 Addiction

Addiction serves as a central theme, illustrating how it can consume lives and distort realities. The characters' reliance on substances deeply affects their relationships and decision-making, showcasing the cyclical nature of addiction and recovery. Harley’s struggles underscore the urgent need for compassion and support for those ensnared by addiction.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:56

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about addiction and despair like Heaven Knows What

Unflinching portrayals of addiction's destructive grip on desperate lives.If you were affected by the raw portrayal of heroin addiction in Heaven Knows What, this thread collects similar movies like Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting. These films offer unflinching, bleak dramas about the destructive cycle of drug dependency, survival, and codependency on the streets.

rawbleakdesperategrittyoppressiveanxiousmelancholic

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a linear, downward trajectory, charting a character's self-destructive journey through addiction. The conflict is often internal—the battle against craving—as well as external, set against a harsh urban environment. Hope is scarce, and the narrative structure mirrors the relentless, cyclical nature of dependency.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a commitment to a raw, unsentimental, and high-intensity depiction of addiction. They possess a bleak tone, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on the gritty, often overlooked realities of survival, creating a cohesive and powerful viewing experience.

Bleak urban survival movies like Heaven Knows What

Gritty tales of life on the margins, where hope is a luxury.For viewers who appreciated the gritty New York City setting and desperate survival themes of Heaven Knows What, this list features similar movies about homelessness and street life. Discover other heavy dramas with a bleak tone that explore the harsh realities of marginalized existence in the city.

grittyoppressivedesperateanxiousrawbleakmelancholic

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a character or group navigating the immense challenges of a hostile urban environment. The plot is often episodic, reflecting the day-to-day grind of finding food, shelter, and safety. The central conflict is survival against a system or setting that offers little compassion, frequently leading to tragic outcomes.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their oppressive, gritty atmosphere and their focus on the desperation of life on the societal fringes. They share a high emotional weight, a steady, observational pacing, and a consistently bleak tone that makes the viewer feel the crushing weight of the characters' circumstances.

Unlock the Full Story of Heaven Knows What

Don't stop at just watching — explore Heaven Knows What in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Heaven Knows What is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Heaven Knows What Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Heaven Knows What, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Heaven Knows What Summary

Heaven Knows What Timeline

Track the full timeline of Heaven Knows What with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Heaven Knows What Timeline

Heaven Knows What Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Heaven Knows What that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Heaven Knows What Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Heaven Knows What

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Heaven Knows What: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Heaven Knows What

Similar Movies to Heaven Knows What

Discover movies like Heaven Knows What that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.