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Characters & Themes

Like Crazy (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 118 min · Italian
Echo score 80
JustWatch #15,956 12
Directed by
Paolo Virzì
Budget
$15M

Two women, Beatrice, a captivating socialite, and Donatella, a reserved introvert, forge an unexpected connection while residing at Villa Biondi, a forward-thinking psychiatric clinic. As they navigate their release and attempt to reintegrate into society, they seek love and happiness, confronting challenges and discovering hidden strengths along the way.

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 Like Crazy
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Like Crazy (2017)

Where can you watch Like Crazy? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kanopy, Plex and Tubi TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Like Crazy Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Like Crazy (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.

  • Anna Gardner

    Anna is an exchange student whose journey is defined by her love for Jacob and the challenges posed by immigration. Her determination to be with Jacob pushes her to confront the heartache of separation and the sacrifices needed to pursue her happiness. Despite facing significant obstacles, she remains resilient and emotionally driven.

    • 👩‍🎓 Student
    • ❤️ Romance
    • 🌍 Immigrant
  • Jacob Helm

    Jacob is an American student whose life becomes intertwined with Anna’s. His sacrifices for love illustrate his deep commitment, but he also grapples with the reality of moving on when faced with challenges. His character reflects the complexities of young love and the emotional turmoil that can arise when relationships face external pressures.

    • 👨‍🎓 Student
    • ❤️ Romance
    • 🍃 Dreamer
  • Samantha

    Samantha serves as a foil to Anna, representing the temptation to move on from a lost love. Her feelings for Jacob create tension, showcasing the complexity of relationships where one partner is emotionally tied to another. Her character highlights the struggle between moving forward and remaining tethered to the past.

    • 💔 Love Triangle
    • 😔 Jealousy
    • 👩‍💼 Career
  • Simon

    Simon represents a potential new beginning for Anna, yet his presence also underscores her unresolved feelings for Jacob. His proposal challenges Anna's emotional state, forcing her to confront her true desires and priorities. He embodies the complications that arise when one is caught between the past and the present.

    • ⚡ New Love
    • 💔 Conflict
    • 👨‍💼 Professional

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:42

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Setting

Where and When Does Like Crazy Take Place?

The setting of Like Crazy (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

The story unfolds in contemporary times, reflecting modern issues such as immigration, long-distance relationships, and the complexities of young love. The characters navigate their emotional struggles against the backdrop of present-day societal expectations and personal aspirations.

Location

Los Angeles, London

Los Angeles is known for its vibrant entertainment industry and sunny weather, making it a popular spot for college life and romance. London, steeped in history, offers a rich backdrop as the setting for immigration challenges and family dynamics. Both cities play crucial roles in shaping the characters' journeys and their tumultuous relationship.

  • 🌆 City
  • 🇬🇧 Country

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:42

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4 major themes

Like Crazy Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

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

  • Love

    Love is the central theme of the film, dictating the characters' decisions and emotional turmoil. Anna and Jacob's relationship is tested by distance and immigration challenges, but their deep connection ultimately drives them to seek a way back to each other. Their journey emphasizes the lengths one will go for love, regardless of the obstacles.

  • Separation

    Separation plays a significant role as Anna’s immigration issues drive a wedge between her and Jacob. The emotional strain of long-distance love highlights the challenges couples face when separated by circumstances beyond their control. This theme resonates throughout, showcasing the struggle to maintain a bond despite physical distance.

  • Immigration

    The theme of immigration is pivotal in shaping the characters' destinies. Anna’s visa complications bring to light the bureaucratic challenges faced by many individuals in their pursuit of love and happiness. The emotional impact of immigration laws on relationships is poignantly explored, revealing the harsh realities of such situations.

  • Sacrifice

    Sacrifice emerges as a recurring theme as Jacob and Anna both make significant sacrifices to be together. Jacob's decision to give up his business showcases his commitment, while Anna ultimately chooses love over career and comfort. This theme illustrates the idea that true love often requires difficult choices and selflessness.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:42

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Character & theme questions

Like Crazy Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Like Crazy (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 story unfolds primarily between Los Angeles and London. Los Angeles serves as the setting where Anna and Jacob meet and develop their relationship, while London becomes significant due to Anna's immigration challenges and her attempts to navigate the bureaucratic system to remain in the United States.

  • los angeles
  • london
  • setting
  • locations
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The film is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern issues like immigration, long-distance relationships, and the complexities of young love. The story follows the characters as they navigate present-day societal expectations and personal aspirations.

  • contemporary
  • time period
  • modern
Q3

What is the main theme of the movie?

Love is the central theme that dictates the characters' decisions and emotional turmoil. Anna and Jacob's relationship is tested by distance and immigration challenges, but their deep connection ultimately drives them to seek a way back to each other, emphasizing the lengths one will go for love regardless of obstacles.

  • love
  • theme
  • romance
  • relationships
Q4

How does immigration factor into the story?

Immigration plays a pivotal role in shaping the characters' destinies. Anna's visa complications bring to light the bureaucratic challenges faced by individuals pursuing love and happiness. The emotional impact of immigration laws on relationships is poignantly explored, revealing the harsh realities of such situations.

  • immigration
  • visa
  • bureaucracy
  • legal challenges
Q5

Who is Anna Gardner?

Anna Gardner is an exchange student whose journey is defined by her love for Jacob and the challenges posed by immigration. Her determination to be with Jacob pushes her to confront the heartache of separation and the sacrifices needed to pursue her happiness. Despite facing significant obstacles, she remains resilient and emotionally driven.

  • anna gardner
  • exchange student
  • protagonist
Q6

Who is Jacob Helm?

Jacob Helm is an American student whose life becomes intertwined with Anna's. His sacrifices for love illustrate his deep commitment, but he also grapples with the reality of moving on when faced with challenges. His character reflects the complexities of young love and the emotional turmoil that arises when relationships face external pressures.

  • jacob helm
  • american student
  • love interest
Q7

What role does Samantha play in the story?

Samantha serves as a foil to Anna, representing the temptation to move on from a lost love. Her feelings for Jacob create tension, showcasing the complexity of relationships where one partner remains emotionally tied to another. Her character highlights the struggle between moving forward and remaining tethered to the past.

  • samantha
  • love triangle
  • temptation
Q8

Who is Simon and what is his significance?

Simon represents a potential new beginning for Anna, yet his presence also underscores her unresolved feelings for Jacob. His proposal challenges Anna's emotional state, forcing her to confront her true desires and priorities. He embodies the complications that arise when one is caught between the past and the present.

  • simon
  • new beginning
  • proposal
  • choice
Q9

What does the theme of separation represent?

Separation plays a significant role as Anna's immigration issues drive a wedge between her and Jacob. The emotional strain of long-distance love highlights the challenges couples face when separated by circumstances beyond their control. This theme resonates throughout, showcasing the struggle to maintain a bond despite physical distance.

  • separation
  • long-distance
  • immigration
  • distance
Q10

How is sacrifice depicted in the film?

Sacrifice emerges as a recurring theme as Jacob and Anna both make significant sacrifices to be together. Jacob's decision to give up his business showcases his commitment, while Anna ultimately chooses love over career and comfort. This theme illustrates that true love often requires difficult choices and selflessness.

  • sacrifice
  • commitment
  • choices
  • selflessness
Q11

What is the overall tone of the movie?

The film's tone is bittersweet, reflecting the central conflict between genuine love and the harsh realities of life. The ending perfectly captures this, a reunion that is emotionally charged but shadowed by past struggles and unspoken tensions. The emotional weight is medium, grounded in relatable reality without crossing into traumatic territory.

  • tone
  • bittersweet
  • emotional
  • mood

Movie threads

More Movies Like Like Crazy, by Mood & Story

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

Love Against The Odds stories like Like Crazy

Stories where external forces test the endurance of a powerful connection. If you enjoyed the central struggle in Like Crazy, you'll find similar emotional journeys in these movies. This list features romantic dramas where couples face significant external challenges, capturing the bittersweet mix of devotion and frustration that defines love against the odds.

  • longing
  • frustrating
  • hopeful
  • romantic
  • melancholic
  • awkward
  • Tone: bittersweet, romantic, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a couple whose bond is challenged by a major external obstacle. The plot unfolds over time, showing the strain of separation, the difficult choices between personal ambition and relationship, and the tender, often awkward, process of reconnection, leading to endings that are rarely purely happy or sad.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here due to their shared focus on the 'us against the world' romantic dynamic. They consistently deliver a bittersweet tone, a steady pace that allows for emotional depth, and a relatable, medium-intensity emotional weight centered on the ache of separation and the fragility of reunion.

Movies about bittersweet reconnection like Like Crazy

Films about the complex and emotional process of coming back together. For viewers who appreciated the poignant reunion dynamics in Like Crazy, this collection highlights films with similar themes. Discover stories that delve into the emotional complexity of reconnecting with a loved one, exploring the hope, hesitation, and unspoken history that define these tender moments.

  • awkward
  • tender
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • longing
  • nostalgic
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a significant period of separation—emotional or physical—followed by a reunion that is the emotional climax of the story. The plot spends considerable time on the delicate interplay between characters, the weight of unsaid words, and the tentative steps toward rebuilding trust, often resulting in an ambiguous or bittersweet resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared emotional core: the bittersweet, hopeful, yet frustrating experience of reconnection. They share a melancholic mood, a steady pacing that allows the emotional nuances to breathe, and a medium emotional weight that feels deeply relatable without being overwhelming.

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Movies Like Like Crazy

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Every angle

Like Crazy (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Like Crazy 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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