Life in a Year

Life in a Year

Year: 2020

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

Director: Mitja Okorn

Echo Score: 80
DramaRomanceMoving relationship storiesTouching and sentimental family storiesEmotional and touching family dramas

A 17 year old finds out that his girlfriend is dying, so he sets out to give her an entire life, in the last year she has left.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Life in a Year 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 – Life in a Year (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Life in a Year (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day (late 2010s to early 2020s)

The events occur in contemporary times, with modern relationships, medical realities, and the pursuit of a music career. The timeline centers on a year-long arc around a romance, illness, and a planned life-altering year. It captures the social dynamics of a world preoccupied with success, media, and the pressure to conform to parental expectations.

Location

New York City, Cambridge (Harvard University)

The story unfolds across modern urban settings, with key scenes in Harvard University's Cambridge campus and New York City's metropolitan area. It also includes moments at beaches and hospitals, reflecting the personal journeys of a young musician and his love interest. The locations emphasize a contrast between a protective family home and the freedom of a big city music scene.

🏙️ Urban 🎓 Academic life 🏖️ Beach scenes

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:02

Main Characters – Life in a Year (2020)

Meet the key characters of Life in a Year (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Daryn (Jaden Smith)

A hopeful young musician determined to get into Harvard while navigating intense parental expectations. His romance with Isabelle gives him focus, but his ambitions often collide with his father’s demands, triggering inner conflict and growth. He evolves from a dutiful son to someone who chooses a life defined by love and authenticity.

🎧 Music 🎯 Ambition 💔 Conflicted

Isabelle (Cara Delevingne)

A vivacious, artistic young woman facing cancer with courage. Her bond with Daryn infuses his music with meaning and prompts her to live fully in the days she has. She embodies resilience, warmth, and a willingness to take risks for love.

💖 Romance 🩺 Illness 🎶 Inspiration

Xavier (Cuba Gooding Jr.)

Daryn’s father, a successful but protective figure who equates success with structure and safety. His relentless focus on Harvard creates pressure and clashes with Isabelle’s influence and Daryn’s desires. He embodies traditional expectations within a fractured family dynamic.

🧭 Patriarch 🎓 Pressure 💢 Controlling

Catherine (Nia Long)

Daryn’s mother, a calming mediator who strives to balance familial duty with compassion. She intervenes in conflicts and supports her son’s growth, offering a softer counterweight to Xavier’s rigidity. Her role anchors the family amid emotional turbulence.

🫶 Family 🕊️ Mediator 💬 Supportive

Amanda (Michelle Giroux)

Isabelle’s mother who initially steps away from her daughter's life but re-enters to seek understanding. Her return and conversations help Isabelle process loss and the possibility of reconciliation. She embodies forgiveness and the complexities of motherhood.

👩‍👧 Mother-daughter 🕰️ Reconciliation 🏥 Past secrets

Phil (Chris D'Elia)

Isabelle’s drag queen parental figure who provides a unique, supportive counterpoint to family authority. He offers unconventional guidance and protection, helping Isabelle navigate illness and love. He brings humor and outsider perspective to the family circle.

🏳️‍🌈 Guardian 🎭 Mentor 😅 Unconventional

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:02

Major Themes – Life in a Year (2020)

Explore the central themes of Life in a Year (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love

Love drives the core choices of the story: Daryn's devotion to Isabelle challenges his priorities, strains with his father, and ultimately reshapes his life decisions. Isabelle's presence gives him purpose beyond Harvard ambitions. Their bond escalates from a chance romance to a life-and-death commitment, forcing maturity and sacrifice.

🎯 Ambition

Ambition threads through Daryn's efforts to secure Harvard admission and launch a music career. The film contrasts his personal dreams with his father's controlling expectations, forcing a reckoning about what success truly requires. The pursuit of fame collides with loyalty, leading to pivotal choices.

🩺 Mortality

Isabelle's cancer diagnosis casts a shadow over every plan, reframing what matters most. The looming possibility of death accelerates decisions, including marriage and last performances. The story uses illness to explore resilience, hope, and the meaning of time.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:02

Unlock the Full Story of Life in a Year

Don't stop at just watching — explore Life in a Year 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 Life in a Year is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Life in a Year Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Life in a Year, 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.

Life in a Year Summary

Life in a Year Timeline

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

Life in a Year Timeline

Life in a Year Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Life in a Year 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.

Life in a Year Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Life in a Year

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Life in a Year: 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 Life in a Year

Explore More About Movie Life in a Year

Life in a Year (2020) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Life in a Year (2020) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Life in a Year (2020) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow