Life in a Year

Daryn, convinced his only goal is Harvard, sneaks into a rapper's concert hoping to catch a glimpse of success. There, he is instantly drawn to Isabelle, a girl who represents freedom from his father’s demands. The chance meeting sets the stage for a complicated romance.

As their bond grows, Isabelle reveals she has cancer and has little time left. Daryn is shaken, but her honesty strengthens their connection as they confront mortality together. Her honesty pushes him to reconsider what he wants from life.

Daryn vows to live a year to pursue his dreams, and Isabelle recognizes his talent, helping him create his first demo CD. They work together, turning emotion into music and giving him something tangible to share with the world. The project cements their partnership and shared ambition.

Daryn brings Isabelle to meet Xavier, who questions her and declares his responsibility to protect his son from distractions. Isabelle feels judged and leaves, accompanied by her drag queen figure Phil, leaving Daryn feeling abandoned and isolated. The confrontation reveals the fault line between Daryn's desires and his father's control.

Daryn earns a Harvard interview and sits across from Xavier, but memories of Isabelle derail his lines. He admits that his accomplishments have always been framed by a life lived to please his father, not his own fulfillment. The moment marks a turning point in how he defines success.

Feeling betrayed and lonely, Daryn quarrels with Xavier and is nearly punched, but his mother Catherine intervenes. He apologizes to Isabelle and chooses to abandon his family to run away with her. The couple commits to a future built on their love rather than parental approval.

Daryn and Isabelle spend days together, and he plans a surprise visit to Isabelle's mother Amanda. A tense encounter follows, as Amanda recognizes Isabelle but tells her to leave. Rejected and desperate, Isabelle asks Daryn to drive away.

During the drive, Isabelle's distress distracts Daryn, causing a crash into a bush near the beach. Isabelle is knocked unconscious, and Daryn frantically calls for help, managing to get her to the hospital. The accident marks a turning point in their relationship and her health.

A few days after Isabelle is discharged, Amanda visits to apologize and explains her absence. Isabelle thanks Daryn for the opportunity to say goodbye to her mother, reinforcing their fragile connection with Amanda's blessing. The family tensions remain, but their bond endures.

Catherine discovers that Daryn is back in town and decides to see him. Isabelle suggests Daryn take a break from caregiving for the day since Catherine is around, and Daryn uses the opportunity to record his second song. The music project becomes a coping mechanism amid looming health concerns.

Returning home, Catherine finds Isabelle in distress as her condition worsens and medical staff note that her cancer has spread and organs are failing. The nurse confirms Isabelle has only a few weeks left. The couple faces a painful countdown as relationships and future plans wobble.

Soon after her discharge, Isabelle surprises Daryn with a wedding, and they marry and consummate their love. The ceremony is a bold declaration of commitment in the face of illness, symbolizing their choice to live fully in the present. The event redefines their partnership beyond family approval.

Isabelle dies a short time after the wedding, leaving Daryn to grieve the love that shaped his life. Her passing marks the end of a chapter but not the influence she had on his art and choices. Daryn begins to face life without her in the foreground.

Daryn reconciles with Xavier, and after graduation he moves to New York City to pursue a career in music. The reconciliation closes the father-son rift, enabling him to chase his dreams with newfound support. Isabelle’s memory accompanies his step into the professional world.

Before or as a new chapter begins in NYC, Isabelle posthumously leaves Daryn one last surprise, a message or gesture that continues to shape his path. Her influence remains a beacon as he navigates a hard-won independence. The film closes on the note of lasting connection beyond death.