Life in a Year (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story takes place primarily in modern urban settings, centered around Harvard University's Cambridge campus and New York City. These locations contrast Daryn's protective family home with the freedom and energy of the big city music scene, while also featuring moments at beaches and hospitals that reflect the personal journeys of the characters.

• harvard university
• cambridge
• new york city
• setting
• locations

The events occur in contemporary times, specifically the late 2010s to early 2020s. The story captures modern relationships, medical realities, and the pursuit of a music career, set against a world preoccupied with success, media, and the pressure to conform to parental expectations.

• present day
• contemporary
• time period
• modern era

The film explores three interconnected themes: Love, which drives the core choices and forces Daryn to choose between his father's expectations and his devotion to Isabelle; Ambition, which pits Daryn's Harvard dreams and music aspirations against his father's controlling expectations; and Mortality, as Isabelle's cancer diagnosis reframes what matters most and accelerates every decision.

• themes
• love
• ambition
• mortality
• meaning

Daryn is a hopeful young musician played by Jaden Smith who is determined to get into Harvard while navigating intense parental expectations. His romance with Isabelle gives his life new focus and purpose beyond his father's ambitions. He evolves from a dutiful son someone who ultimately chooses a life defined by love and authenticity over conformity.

• daryn
• jaden smith
• main character
• musician

Isabelle is a vivacious, artistic young woman played by Cara Delevingne who faces cancer with remarkable courage. Her bond with Daryn infuses his music with deeper meaning and prompts her to live fully in the days she has remaining. She embodies resilience, warmth, and a willingness to take risks for love.

• isabelle
• cara delevingne
• cancer
• character

Xavier, played by Cuba Gooding Jr., is Daryn's father, a successful but protective figure who equates success with structure and safety. His relentless focus on Harvard creates constant pressure and frequent clashes with both Isabelle's influence and Daryn's own desires, embodying traditional expectations within a fractured family dynamic.

• xavier
• cuba gooding jr.
• father
• family conflict

Catherine, played by Nia Long, is Daryn's mother who serves as a calming mediator between her son and husband. She strives to balance familial duty with compassion, intervening in conflicts and supporting her son's growth. Her role anchors the family amid emotional turbulence, offering a softer counterweight to Xavier's rigidity.

• catherine
• nia long
• mother
• family mediator

The film directly contrasts Daryn's personal dreams with his father's controlling expectations, forcing a reckoning about what true success requires. His pursuit of both Harvard admission and a music career collides with loyalty to Isabelle, leading to pivotal choices that ultimately prioritize love and authenticity over external achievement.

• ambition
• success
• harvard
• love
• family pressure

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

• mortality
• cancer
• death
• illness
• time

Phil, played by Chris D'Elia, is Isabelle's drag queen parental figure who provides a unique and supportive counterpoint to traditional family authority. He offers unconventional guidance and protection, helping Isabelle navigate both her illness and romantic relationship while bringing humor and an outsider perspective to the family circle.

• phil
• chris d'elia
• drag queen
• support character

The contrast between the protective family home and the freedom of the big city music scene mirrors Daryn's internal conflict between obligation and authenticity. The urban environments, particularly Harvard and New York City, represent the pressures of success and ambition, while the more intimate settings of beaches and hospitals reflect the personal, emotional nature of the characters' journey.

• urban setting
• family home
• music scene
• contrast