Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Love Is Love Is Love (2021) movie poster

Plot Summary

Love Is Love Is Love (2021) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 91 min · English
Echo score 15
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Eleanor Coppola
Starring
Rosanna Arquette, Polly Draper, Kathy Baker, Marshall Bell, Caleb Cabrera, Justin Ashforth

Three interconnected stories explore the complexities of love and relationships. One couple uses technology to maintain their connection while facing unexpected challenges. An older couple sets sail hoping to reignite their romance, encountering unforeseen circumstances along the way. Lastly, a young woman finds solace and surprising revelations when she reconnects with her mother's friends, ultimately redefining the meaning of friendship and family.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Love Is Love Is Love
  6. 6 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Love Is Love Is Love: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Love Is Love Is Love (2021) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

As Saturday night unfolds, Joanne and Jack find themselves on a virtual dinner date, their emotional connection bridging the distance that separates them due to his work in Montana. With their grown daughters and a marriage that has weathered the years, they've cultivated a life rich in love and laughter. Yet, when Jack neglects to call the night before—claiming he was too tired after a long evening spent watching DVDs—Joanne can’t shake the feeling of a growing divide between them. His suggestion that she join him in Montana raises her suspicions; she questions whether he will truly make time for her amid his hectic schedule.

Just as their conversation begins to find a comfortable rhythm, Jack’s connection suddenly drops. When it resumes, he is not alone—an unexpected female presence from his production team joins the call, saying a brief hello before swiftly leaving. This moment stirs unease within Joanne. As their discussion progresses, Jack reveals a more possessive side when another man expresses interest in Joanne, igniting her doubts about his priorities. When they eventually end their call, Jack’s fatigue feels palpable.

Determined to confront her uncertainties, Joanne takes the plunge the following day and travels to Montana, despite her reservations. However, upon late arrival at his lodging, she is met with an unsettling sight—another woman slipping out of the back door, making her feel as though she has stumbled into a dramatic scene right out of a soap opera.

Meanwhile, Caroline finds herself surrounded by a group of accomplished women, each exuding a mix of pride and guilt. Their collective success starkly highlights Caroline's feelings of inadequacy, especially as she grapples with the haunting memories of her interactions with her late mother, Clare, who tragically passed away in a car accident while on her way to visit Caroline.

As the gathering progresses from casual chit-chat to profound discussions, Caroline is drawn into the tapestry of shared experiences among the women. They open up about abortion, infidelity, and secret pregnancies—each thread reinforcing the complexities and trials these strong women face. The emotional charge of the evening intensifies when an unexpected package arrives mid-meal, adding to the atmosphere charged with resonance.

The night transforms into a vibrant celebration of sisterhood, culminating in a spirited display of tap dancing, with each woman selecting a scarf that symbolizes Clare's lasting influence. The emotional crescendo arrives when one participant graces the stage to sing an original song, poignantly declaring, > "Regrets are like rocks that sink to the bottom." This heartfelt tribute not only honors Clare’s legacy but also encapsulates the shared journey of these remarkable women as they seek personal evolution and mutual understanding.

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 21:55

Was this helpful?

Plot questions answered

Love Is Love Is Love Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Love Is Love Is Love (2021): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Joanne decide to travel to Montana?

Joanne decides to travel to Montana because she cannot shake her growing suspicions about Jack's behavior. After Jack fails to call her the night before their scheduled virtual date, suggests she visit him despite his busy schedule, and she notices an unfamiliar woman on his video call, her uncertainties become overwhelming. Rather than continuing to worry remotely, she chooses to confront these issues face-to-face.

  • Joanne
  • Montana
  • Jack
  • travel
  • confrontation
  • suspicion
Q2

Who is the woman Joanne sees leaving Jack's lodging?

The summary does not explicitly identify the woman Joanne sees leaving Jack's back door. What is clear is that Joanne witnesses this woman slipping out late at night, which intensifies her belief that Jack may be unfaithful. The encounter occurs shortly after Joanne arrives unannounced, and the mysterious departure adds to the dramatic tension of their reunion.

  • Joanne
  • Jack
  • woman
  • Montana
  • lodging
  • infidelity
Q3

Why does Jack miss calling Joanne the night before their virtual date?

Jack claims he was too tired to call Joanne because he spent the evening watching DVDs. However, this explanation fails to satisfy Joanne, who senses a growing distance in their relationship. His apparent lack of effort to connect despite his stated exhaustion becomes one of the first triggers for her suspicion that something is wrong in their marriage.

  • Jack
  • Joanne
  • call
  • missed
  • fatigue
  • DVDs
Q4

What causes Joanne to become suspicious of Jack?

Several events trigger Joanne's suspicion. First, Jack fails to call her the night before their planned virtual dinner date. Then, during their call, his connection drops and resumes with an unfamiliar woman from his production team briefly appearing and leaving. Finally, Jack's unexpectedly possessive reaction when another man shows interest in Joanne contradicts his earlier distance, making her question his true priorities and whether he is hiding something.

  • Joanne
  • Jack
  • suspicion
  • trust
  • video call
  • woman
Q5

Why does Jack react possessively when another man shows interest in Joanne?

During their virtual date, Jack displays possessiveness when Joanne mentions another man expressing interest in her. This reaction reveals his underlying insecurities and perhaps guilt about his own behavior in Montana. His possessiveness seems disproportionate given his earlier emotional distance, suggesting he may be projecting his own transgressions or fears of losing Joanne onto her interactions with other men.

  • Jack
  • Joanne
  • possessive
  • jealousy
  • other man
  • relationship
Q6

Why does Caroline feel inadequate at the women's gathering?

Caroline feels inadequate because she is surrounded by accomplished women whose success starkly contrasts with her own feelings of failure. Compounding this is her grief over her late mother Clare, who died in a car accident while traveling to visit Caroline. The memories of her complicated relationship with Clare, combined with comparing herself to the other women, intensify her sense of falling short.

  • Caroline
  • gathering
  • women
  • inadequacy
  • Clare
  • mother
  • death
Q7

What is the significance of the scarves chosen at the gathering?

The scarves chosen by each woman symbolize Clare's lasting influence and legacy. Each woman selects a scarf as a way of honoring Clare's memory and the impact she had on their lives. This collective act transforms the gathering into a meaningful tribute, reinforcing the bonds between the women and celebrating the connections they shared with Clare.

  • scarves
  • Clare
  • gathering
  • tribute
  • symbol
  • memory
Q8

What does the original song performed at the gathering mean?

The original song performed at the gathering contains the line "Regrets are like rocks that sink to the bottom," expressing the idea that regrets weigh us down but can ultimately settle beneath us. The heartfelt tribute encapsulates the shared emotional journey of the women, honoring Clare's legacy while acknowledging their own struggles, mistakes, and the process of moving forward through honest reflection.

  • song
  • regrets
  • Clare
  • tribute
  • lyrics
  • performance
Q9

Why do the women discuss topics like abortion, infidelity, and secret pregnancies?

The women open up about these sensitive topics because the gathering creates a safe space for honest, vulnerable conversations about real women's experiences. These discussions reflect the complexities and challenges women face, showcasing their strength in sharing difficult truths. The conversations help Caroline realize she is not alone in her struggles and that even accomplished women navigate complicated personal histories.

  • abortion
  • infidelity
  • secret pregnancy
  • women
  • discussion
  • vulnerability
Q10

What is the significance of the unexpected package that arrives during the gathering?

The summary does not reveal the contents of the unexpected package that arrives mid-meal. However, its arrival adds to the emotionally charged atmosphere of the evening, serving as a symbolic reminder of the weight of their experiences and the importance of human connection. The mysterious delivery interrupts their conversations and heightens the evening's emotional intensity.

  • package
  • gathering
  • delivery
  • surprise
  • emotion
Q11

How does the gathering help Caroline process her mother's death?

The gathering helps Caroline process her mother's death by surrounding her with women who knew and loved Clare. Through their stories, discussions, and tributes, Caroline gains insight into her mother's life and impact beyond their difficult relationship. The celebration of sisterhood and the collective honoring of Clare allow Caroline to find closure and redefine her understanding of family and friendship.

  • Caroline
  • Clare
  • mother
  • death
  • grief
  • healing
  • closure

Movie threads

More Movies Like Love Is Love Is Love, by Mood & Story

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

Movies with interconnected stories like Love Is Love Is Love

Stories where separate lives unexpectedly collide to reveal shared truths. If you enjoyed the narrative tapestry of Love Is Love Is Love, you'll appreciate these movies where separate lives intersect. This thread collects dramas and comedies that weave multiple storylines, exploring how individual experiences connect to form a shared emotional landscape.

  • reflective
  • interconnected
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • nostalgic
  • cathartic
  • Tone: bittersweet, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These films typically present parallel narratives that initially seem distinct. As the story progresses, thematic parallels, chance encounters, or a central event reveal the invisible threads binding the characters together, often culminating in a collective emotional or thematic resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared narrative structure of interconnecting plotlines. They offer a multifaceted look at human experience, creating a rich, mosaic-like story that feels more expansive than a single protagonist's journey.

Bittersweet relationship dramas like Love Is Love Is Love

Stories where love and friendship are forged in the fires of grief and change. For viewers who liked the emotional balance of Love Is Love Is Love, this thread features movies that blend heartfelt romance and deep friendship with themes of grief and personal evolution. Discover similar stories where characters find strength and connection through life's challenges.

  • bittersweet
  • cathartic
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • introspective
  • emotional
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters as they grapple with significant emotional challenges, such as betrayal, loss, or regret. The journey is not about avoiding pain but about navigating it, often leading to a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships, resulting in a mixed but ultimately hopeful emotional resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their ability to balance poignant, even sad, moments with genuine warmth and hope. They capture the complex reality of long-term relationships, where joy and sorrow coexist, and healing is a communal process.

If you liked this

Movies Like Love Is Love Is Love

Similar movies to Love Is Love Is Love: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Love Is Love Is Love (2021) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Love Is Love Is Love 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app