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Kiss and Cry (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Kiss and Cry (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 95 mins · English
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Directed by
Sean Cisterna
Starring
Sergio Di Zio, Naomi Snieckus, Luke Bilyk, Sarah Fisher, Denis Akiyama, Zoë Belkin

This romantic drama tells the story of Carley Allison, an 18-year-old figure skater and singer whose life takes an unexpected turn. She faces a rare and challenging medical journey when diagnosed with a sarcoma, a condition with odds of just 1 in 3.5 billion. The film explores her fight and the impact it has on her dreams and relationships.

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

Kiss and Cry Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Kiss and Cry (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.

  • Carley Allison (Sarah Fisher)

    A talented 17-year-old skater with a sunny motto and a brave heart. She confronts a rare cancer with determination, enduring tracheal surgery and chemotherapy while staying hopeful and engaged with her community. Her resilience, humor, and openness to love drive much of the story.

    • 🎗️ Protagonist
    • 💎 Determination

  • John Servinis (Luke Bilyk)

    Carley's boyfriend who supports her through illness, sharing moments of joy and fear. He stays loyal, declares his love, and participates in meaningful, uplifting experiences with Carley, like prom and skating lessons. His warmth provides emotional balance to the narrative.

    • 💖 Love interest
    • 👍 Supportive

  • May Allison (Chantal Kreviazuk)

    Carley's mother who keeps the family hopeful and grounded, balancing humor with care during medical crises. She helps manage the household and supports Carley’s dreams while facing the stress of her daughter's illness.

    • 👪 Mother
    • 🧵 Supportive

  • Riley Allison (Brittany Bristow)

    Carley's sister who shares in the family's joy and strain, aligning with the supportive circle around Carley. Her presence reflects sibling dynamics in dealing with illness and celebration alike.

    • 👧 Sister
    • 🫶 Supportive

  • Mark Allison (Sergio Di Zio)

    A family figure who contributes to the supportive environment around Carley, helping anchor the home life amid medical challenges.

    • 👨 Father figure
    • 🏠 Family anchor

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:58

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Setting

Where and When Does Kiss and Cry Take Place?

The setting of Kiss and Cry (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

Late 2000s to early 2010s

The story unfolds in a contemporary setting where social media, online videos, and viral moments shape the characters' reactions. It portrays a world of school life, local rinks, and televised events that anchor the plot in a specific recent era. Technology and media culture help amplify Carley's message of resilience.

Location

Toronto, Canada

Toronto serves as the backdrop for Carley's skating career and daily life. The city provides venues for training, competitions, and public support events that frame the narrative. Its urban environment contrasts with the intimate family moments and hospital scenes that punctuate the story.

  • 🏙️ Urban
  • ⛸️ Ice skating hub
  • 🍁 Canadian setting

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:58

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3 major themes

Kiss and Cry Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

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

  • Resilience

    Carley faces a rare cancer and a life-threatening diagnosis with unwavering optimism. She treats illness as a challenge to be met head-on, maintaining her motto to stay positive. The narrative emphasizes endurance through medical procedures, relapse, and the support of family and friends.

  • Family

    Family anchors Carley's strength, providing humor and care during medical crises. The movie shows parents adapting to medical challenges and siblings rallying behind Carley, creating a close-knit unit. Their love helps her navigate medical decisions, setbacks, and the emotional toll of her illness.

  • Love

    Romantic love with John offers emotional support and motivation to persevere. Their relationship develops through shared moments—dancing at the rink, prom, and future plans—that give Carley purpose. Love also extends to a broader care circle, including fans and supporters who rally around her.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:58

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Character & theme questions

Kiss and Cry Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Kiss and Cry (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 does the movie take place?

The film is set in Toronto, Canada, which serves as the primary backdrop for Carley's skating career, daily life, and medical journey. The city's urban environment provides venues for training at local rinks, competitions, and public support events, contrasting with the intimate family moments and hospital scenes that punctuate the story.

  • toronto
  • canada
  • setting
  • location
  • ice skating
Q2

What time period is the story set in?

The movie takes place in the late 2000s to early 2010s, portraying a contemporary era where social media, online videos, and viral moments shape the characters' reactions. This modern setting anchors the plot in a specific recent period, with technology and media culture playing a role in amplifying Carley's message of resilience.

  • time period
  • era
  • 2000s
  • 2010s
  • contemporary
  • setting
Q3

What are the main themes explored in the movie?

The movie explores three primary themes: resilience, as Carley faces a rare cancer with unwavering optimism and treats her illness as a challenge to be met head-on; family, showing how her parents and sister provide humor, care, and support during medical crises; and love, both romantic love with her boyfriend John and the broader circle of fans who rally around her.

  • themes
  • resilience
  • family
  • love
  • meaning
  • message
Q4

Who is the main character Carley Allison?

Carley Allison is a 17-year-old talented figure skater and singer who faces a rare and devastating cancer diagnosis with remarkable determination. Known for her sunny motto and brave heart, she endures tracheal surgery and chemotherapy while staying hopeful and engaged with her community. Her resilience, humor, and openness to love drive the emotional core of the story.

  • carley allison
  • main character
  • protagonist
  • skater
  • singer
Q5

Who is John Servinis and what is his role?

John Servinis is Carley's boyfriend who supports her throughout her illness, sharing both moments of joy and fear. He remains loyal throughout her medical journey, declaring his love and participating in meaningful experiences with Carley like prom and skating lessons. His warmth provides emotional balance to the narrative as a source of romantic support.

  • john servinis
  • carley boyfriend
  • love interest
  • relationship
  • support
Q6

What role does Carley's family play in the story?

Carley's family, particularly her mother May, sister Riley, and family figure Mark, anchor her strength throughout the narrative. Her mother keeps the family hopeful and grounded, balancing humor with care during medical crises. Her sister shares in both the family's joy and strain, reflecting sibling dynamics in dealing with illness. Together, they create a close-knit support unit that helps Carley navigate medical decisions and emotional challenges.

  • family
  • may allison
  • riley allison
  • mark allison
  • parents
  • sister
Q7

How does the movie portray resilience?

The movie portrays resilience through Carley's unwavering optimism in the face of a 1-in-3.5 billion cancer diagnosis. She treats her illness as a challenge to be met head-on, maintaining her positive motto throughout medical procedures and relapse. The narrative emphasizes endurance not just as individual strength, but through the support of family and friends who rally around her.

  • resilience
  • strength
  • optimism
  • cancer
  • battle
  • fight
Q8

What medical condition does Carley face?

Carley is diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma, a condition with extremely low odds of just 1 in 3.5 billion. This rare cancer creates the central medical challenge of the film, framing her journey through diagnosis, treatment, and the emotional toll on herself and her loved ones.

  • sarcoma
  • cancer
  • medical
  • diagnosis
  • illness
  • rare disease
Q9

What is the emotional tone of the film?

While the subject matter is emotionally taxing due to the terminal illness narrative, the film maintains a hopeful tone through Carley's unwavering optimism and strong support system. The pacing is steady, following a linear progression from diagnosis to treatment. The ending is sad due to her ultimate passing, but the film concludes on a note of legacy and inspiration with the establishment of a foundation, softening the bleakness.

  • emotional tone
  • feeling
  • mood
  • hope
  • sad
  • hopeful
Q10

Is the movie based on a true story?

Yes, the film is based on the true story of Carley Allison, a real-life figure skater and singer who was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. The movie dramatizes her journey facing the illness, her relationships with family and her boyfriend, and her legacy of resilience and inspiration.

  • true story
  • real story
  • biopic
  • carley allison
  • real life
Q11

How does romance factor into the story?

Romance is a significant supportive element throughout the story. Carley's relationship with John offers emotional support and motivation to persevere. Their relationship develops through shared moments including dancing at the rink, prom, and future plans, giving Carley purpose. Love extends beyond romance to include her family and the broader circle of fans and supporters who rally around her during her illness.

  • romance
  • love story
  • relationship
  • john
  • romantic
  • partner

Movie threads

More Movies Like Kiss and Cry, by Mood & Story

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

Inspirational Journeys Through Illness and Recovery like Kiss and Cry

Stories of resilience and love in the face of life-altering medical diagnoses. If you were moved by the hopeful spirit and resilience in Kiss and Cry, you'll find similar emotional journeys in this collection. These movies explore the impact of serious illness on young lives, emphasizing family bonds, young love, and the inspirational fight to maintain hope and build a lasting legacy.

  • inspirational
  • heartwarming
  • tragic
  • resilient
  • emotional
  • supportive
  • Tone: hopeful, emotional, inspiring
  • Pacing: steady, character-focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a linear progression from diagnosis to treatment and its aftermath, centering on a protagonist whose inner strength is tested. The conflict is often internal—the battle against despair—as much as it is physical. Support systems like family and romance play a crucial role, and the story ultimately focuses on the legacy of a life lived fully, regardless of the outcome.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the inspirational aspects of a medical crisis. They balance heavy emotional themes with an uplifting, hopeful tone, creating a viewing experience that is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming. The pacing is steady and character-driven, allowing the audience to fully connect with the protagonist's journey.

Kiss and Cry movie poster

Kiss and Cry

2017
Yatra movie poster

Yatra

2019
Ek Thi Marium movie poster

Ek Thi Marium

2016

Bittersweet Tragedies with a Hopeful Heart like Kiss and Cry

Emotional stories where profound loss is balanced by an enduring sense of hope. For viewers who appreciated how Kiss and Cry balanced a sad ending with an inspirational message, this group features similar movies. Discover other stories where characters face tragic circumstances, but the films ultimately focus on love, legacy, and the hopeful light that persists, offering a deeply moving yet uplifting experience.

  • bittersweet
  • tragic
  • hopeful
  • inspirational
  • emotional
  • heartbreaking
  • Tone: hopeful, bittersweet, tragic
  • Pacing: steady, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist whose life is cut short or fundamentally altered by a tragic event, often an illness. The story spends significant time showcasing their vibrant life, dreams, and relationships. The climax is the acceptance of the tragedy, but the resolution focuses on the positive ripple effects—the memories, the lessons, or the foundations left behind—that transform grief into a source of inspiration.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their unique emotional blend: they are unafraid to explore deep sadness but are ultimately defined by a hopeful, life-affirming core. The tone prevents the story from feeling bleak, and the pacing allows for a thoughtful, emotionally resonant journey that honors the pain while celebrating the spirit.

Kiss and Cry movie poster

Kiss and Cry

2017
Yatra movie poster

Yatra

2019
Ek Thi Marium movie poster

Ek Thi Marium

2016

Every angle

Kiss and Cry (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Kiss and Cry 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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