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Jeremy (1973) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Jeremy (1973) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1973 · 90 mins · English
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Directed by
Arthur Barron
Starring
Glynnis O'Connor, Robby Benson, Dennis Boutsikaris, Ted Sorel, Leonardo Cimino, Eunice Anderson

At a New York arts school, cello student Jeremy becomes enchanted when he sees Susan rehearsing for a ballet audition. Drawn to her dedication, he experiences the thrill and uncertainty of his first love, navigating the demands of their artistic pursuits together.

Romance Family Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (4)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Jeremy
  8. 8 Every angle
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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Jeremy Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Jeremy (1973), 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.

  • Jeremy Jones (Robby Benson)

    A shy, observant fifteen-year-old cellist who grapples with love, identity, and the pressures of living up to artistic promise. His quiet demeanor hides a determined, imaginative mind and a longing for connection beyond his world. He experiences a first, transformative romance with Susan that deepens his emotional awareness.

    • 🎻 Cello prodigy
    • 🧠 Shy
    • 🫶 Romantic

  • Susan Rollins (Glynnis O'Connor)

    A capable, older classmate who carries the weight of her mother’s death and a recent move from Detroit. She is drawn to Jeremy’s sincerity and talent, navigating a new city and a growing sense of independence. Her relationship with Jeremy becomes a bridging moment between two worlds.

    • 🎼 Artistic
    • 🧭 Independent
    • 💔 Loss of mother

  • Ralph Manzoni (Len Bari)

    Jeremy’s more confident, impulsive friend who helps push him toward taking steps with Susan. He acts as a practical bridge between Jeremy’s shyness and Susan’s interest, offering encouragement and realism. His presence highlights the dynamics of teenage friendship and loyalty.

    • 🗣️ Confident
    • 🤝 Loyal
    • 🎯 Bold

  • Susan's Father (Mr. Rollins) (Ned Wilson)

    A pragmatic, protective father who places professional opportunities above romance. He moves the family back to Detroit, which sets the stage for the emotional distance between Susan and Jeremy. He represents adult priorities and skepticism toward teenage relationships.

    • 💼 Pragmatic
    • 🚶‍♀️ Protective
    • 🧭 Realistic

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:36

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Setting

Where and When Does Jeremy Take Place?

The setting of Jeremy (1973): 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

Location

New York City, Detroit

The story primarily unfolds in New York City, focusing on a modest apartment and a private high school for the performing arts. The urban setting provides intimate spaces for personal growth, romance, and artistic pursuit, with scenes in parks and at a racetrack enriching the backdrop. Detroit appears as a distant hometown connected to Susan’s past and future, foreshadowing the separation at the story’s end when the family leaves for Detroit.

  • 🗽 New York City
  • 🚗 Detroit
  • 🏙️ Urban environment

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:36

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4 major themes

Jeremy Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Jeremy (1973) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love

    A quick, intense teenage romance blossoms between Jeremy and Susan, driven by admiration, attraction, and first experiences. The relationship is tender yet fragile, shaped by shyness, miscommunication, and the fear of an impending departure. Their bond becomes the emotional center of the story, tested by age difference and the looming threat of separation.

  • Coming of Age

    The narrative follows a young boy's transition from adolescence toward greater emotional maturity. Jeremy navigates self-doubt, family dynamics, and the complexities of budding love while pursuing his cello craft. The plot traces his attempts to express himself and connect with others in a world that feels both intimate and overwhelming.

  • Artistic Ambition

    Jeremy’s dedication to the cello and his dream of artistic greatness drive much of the story. The private arts school setting and his solo performances demonstrate the pressures and rewards of pursuing talent. The relationship between personal ambition and emotional vulnerability is a recurring theme.

  • Separation

    The possibility of moving back to Detroit creates a sense of inevitability around the couple’s farewell. Parental priorities and practical concerns overrule romantic urgency, culminating in an airport departure that leaves Jeremy alone again with his memories. The end underscores the fragility of a first love when faced with adult decisions.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:36

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Character & theme questions

Jeremy Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Jeremy (1973): 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 takes place primarily in New York City, centered around a private high school for the performing arts and a modest apartment. Key scenes also occur in urban parks and at a racetrack, with Detroit appearing as Susan's distant hometown connected to her past and future.

  • setting
  • new york city
  • arts school
  • locations
Q2

Who is Jeremy?

Jeremy Jones is a shy, observant fifteen-year-old cellist at a New York performing arts school. He grapples with love, identity, and the pressures of artistic promise. His quiet demeanor hides a determined, imaginative mind and a longing for connection beyond his world.

  • jeremy
  • cellist
  • protagonist
  • main character
Q3

Who is Susan and what is her background?

Susan Rollins is a capable older classmate who recently moved from Detroit after her mother's death. She is navigating a new city and a growing sense of independence while developing a relationship with Jeremy that bridges two different worlds.

  • susan
  • detroit
  • classmate
  • love interest
Q4

What are the main themes?

The film explores several interconnected themes: the tender yet fragile nature of first love between teenagers, the coming-of-age journey of a young boy navigating self-doubt and emotional maturity, the pressures and rewards of pursuing artistic talent, and the inevitable separation that occurs when adult decisions override romantic urgency.

  • themes
  • love
  • coming of age
  • artistic ambition
  • separation
Q5

What is the tone of the movie?

The film has a bittersweet tone, blending the profound joy and transformative power of first love with the inevitable sadness of a forced separation. It is a gentle, thoughtful character-driven drama with slow pacing that focuses on small, detailed moments of daily life.

  • tone
  • mood
  • bittersweet
  • emotional
Q6

Why is the arts school setting significant?

The private arts school setting provides the backdrop for Jeremy's dedication to the cello and his dream of artistic greatness. It demonstrates the pressures and rewards of pursuing talent while navigating personal ambition and emotional vulnerability.

  • arts school
  • cello
  • music
  • artistic pursuit
Q7

Who is Susan's father and what role does he play?

Susan's father, Mr. Rollins, is a pragmatic, protective figure who places professional opportunities above romance. He decides to move the family back to Detroit, setting the stage for the emotional separation between Susan and Jeremy and representing adult priorities and skepticism toward teenage relationships.

  • father
  • detroit
  • separation
  • adult decisions
Q8

What role does Ralph play in the story?

Ralph Manzoni is Jeremy's more confident, impulsive friend who encourages him to pursue Susan. He acts as a bridge between Jeremy's shyness and Susan's interest, offering encouragement and realism while highlighting the dynamics of teenage friendship and loyalty.

  • ralph
  • friend
  • supporting character
  • friendship
Q9

How does the age difference affect Jeremy and Susan's relationship?

The age difference between Jeremy (fifteen) and the older Susan creates both attraction and tension. Their relationship is tender yet fragile, shaped by shyness, miscommunication, and the fear of an impending departure, making their bond emotionally complex.

  • age difference
  • teenage romance
  • relationship dynamics
Q10

What is the emotional conclusion of the film?

The ending is definitively sad, as the lovers are separated when Susan's family leaves for Detroit. The airport departure leaves Jeremy alone with his memories, underscoring the fragility of first love when faced with adult decisions and practical concerns.

  • ending
  • separation
  • emotional conclusion
  • detroit

Movie threads

More Movies Like Jeremy, by Mood & Story

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

Bittersweet teenage love stories like Jeremy

Films that capture the poignant joy and inevitable heartbreak of youthful romance. If you enjoyed the tender yet heartbreaking portrayal of first love in Jeremy, this collection features movies with similar romantic journeys. These films explore the unique intensity of teenage relationships, often blending moments of pure happiness with the pain of growing up and parting ways.

  • yearning
  • tender
  • nostalgic
  • melancholic
  • introspective
  • quiet
  • Tone: bittersweet, tender, melancholic
  • Pacing: slow, observational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a young couple as they navigate the thrilling, awkward, and transformative experience of their first serious relationship. The arc often culminates in a separation—due to distance, personal growth, or circumstance—framing the relationship as a beautiful but fleeting chapter that shapes their coming of age.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific emotional palette: the intoxicating highs of first love are deeply intertwined with a foreboding sense of impermanence. They prioritize authentic character development and quiet, tender moments over dramatic plot twists, resulting in a nostalgic and emotionally resonant viewing experience.

She’s a Fox movie poster

She’s a Fox

2009
Jeremy movie poster

Jeremy

1973
My Mother’s Castle movie poster

My Mother’s Castle

1990

Movies about young artists and their passions like Jeremy

Character-driven stories about young artists finding their voice and navigating love. For viewers who liked the focus on artistic dedication in Jeremy, this list features films where a character's creative passion is a core part of their journey. These stories often show how art intersects with personal life, especially the challenges of balancing ambition with relationships.

  • introspective
  • passionate
  • earnest
  • reflective
  • yearning
  • tender
  • Tone: reflective, earnest, bittersweet
  • Pacing: slow, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a young artist as they hone their craft, dealing with the pressures of performance, competition, or self-doubt. Their artistic journey frequently parallels a personal one, such as a romance, where they must learn to integrate their passion with their emotional life, leading to growth and sometimes conflict.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their focus on the creative process as a form of character expression. The setting is often an arts school or a competitive environment, but the core is the internal struggle and triumph of the artist. The mood is typically introspective and earnest, celebrating the beauty and pain of creation.

Passion movie poster

Passion

1983
The Passionate Friends movie poster

The Passionate Friends

1949
A Dream of Passion movie poster

A Dream of Passion

1978
Coda movie poster

Coda

2019
Youth movie poster

Youth

2015
The Seagull movie poster

The Seagull

1972
Fiction movie poster

Fiction

2006
Coda movie poster

Coda

2020

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Every angle

Jeremy (1973) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Jeremy 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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