Year: 2005
Runtime: 100 mins
Language: Italian
Director: Luca Guadagnino
The film follows an adolescent girl living with her mother and grandmother as she navigates a tumultuous coming‑of‑age journey. In seeking independence, she plunges into intense and overwhelming sexual experiences that force her to confront loss, identity and the path toward self‑discovery.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Melissa P. (2005), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Melissa, María Valverde, is a shy 15-year-old who lives with her mother Daria and her heavy-smoking grandmother, Geraldine Chaplin. Her father works overseas on an oil rig, leaving the family to navigate a summer that will test her boundaries and feelings. She shares a close bond with her grandmother, but senses a growing distance from her mother as days unfold with new, uncomfortable awakenings.
During a summer pool party at the home of the wealthy classmate Daniele, Primo Reggiani takes Melissa to a secluded spot, where she finds herself drawn into a moment of sexual intimacy that leaves her both numb and more hungry for attention. Although the encounter isn’t romantic, Melissa’s feelings for him deepen, shaping a complicated view of love, power, and desire.
After a failed attempt to capture his interest, Melissa heads to a bar where Daniele is with his friends. He invites her back to his place, and she loses her virginity to him. She tells him she loves him, but his cold rejection cuts deep. Humiliated, Melissa vows to protect herself from getting hurt again, choosing to focus on her own satisfaction and needs.
Around the same time, Melissa’s parents decide to move Elvira, her heart-weak grandmother, to a nursing home. The plan strains Melissa’s relationship with her mother, Daria, who struggles to notice the emotional storms brewing beneath her daughter’s outward calm. When Elvira returns home for Christmas, she senses the trouble in Melissa and tries to alert Daria, who remains oblivious to the depth of her daughter’s turmoil.
One day Melissa receives a call from Daniele, who promises a surprise and asks her to come over. There, Daniele and his friend Arnaldo coax Melissa into a threesome. Though initially reluctant, Melissa chooses to take control and explore her sexuality on her own terms. At school, Melissa’s diary—in which she records her sexual encounters—falls into the hands of a classmate who reads it aloud to others, including her friend Letizia Ciampa (Manuela). The exposure fuels a rift between Melissa and Manuela, who feels betrayed by the disclosure.
Arnaldo, Elio Germano, phones Melissa and asks her to meet him. He takes her to an underground basement where he blindfolds her and arranges for her to perform oral sex on him and four other young men. When Daria comes home and realizes Melissa is missing, she searches for her daughter, and soon learns of Elvira’s death after visiting the nursing home.
Seeking safety, Melissa goes to an older man she had connected with online, who enjoys being whipped. The encounter turns violent, scaring her, and she manages to escape to the nursing home where Elvira spent her last months. When confronted by Daria about the diary’s truth, Melissa confirms the writings are real, and the two share a tearful embrace as Daria apologizes for being oblivious.
On the final day of school, Melissa and Manuela reconcile their friendship. A shy, eccentric classmate named Marco, Nilo Mur, who has long admired Melissa, finally musters the courage to speak to her. He shows a notebook of sketches of Melissa, even drawing one last portrait before they share a light kiss on the cheek. Afterward, Daniele invites Melissa to a party at his place that night, and she tentatively agrees.
At the party, Melissa makes a bold choice and jumps off a cliff into the sea, emerging with a calm, almost content smile as her peers look on. Later, Melissa and Daria visit Elvira’s grave, bringing flowers and sharing a heartfelt, hopeful hug as they begin to mend what was fractured between them.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:08
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Bleak and confronting stories of teenage self-discovery filled with trauma.If you were impacted by the raw and vulnerable portrayal of teenage trauma in Melissa P., explore these other movies. This selection features similar intense and dramatic stories about sexual awakening, family conflict, and the painful path to self-discovery.
Narratives in this thread typically follow a young person's linear descent into difficult experiences, often involving sexual exploration, emotional neglect, and personal trauma. The journey is straightforward and character-driven, focusing on the internal and external conflicts that shape the protagonist's painful transition into adulthood.
Movies are grouped here due to their shared focus on the dark, raw, and often traumatic aspects of growing up. They possess a heavy emotional weight, a steady, deliberate pacing that builds tension, and a confrontational tone that doesn't shy away from depicting vulnerability and pain.
Intense character studies where trauma leads to an uncertain path forward.For viewers seeking movies like Melissa P. that explore heavy themes of trauma and its aftermath. These films share a dark tone, high emotional intensity, and an ending that reflects the complexity of healing, offering a similar powerful and thought-provoking experience.
The narrative pattern involves a linear succession of traumatic events that deeply affect the main character. The plot methodically charts their psychological decline and subsequent struggle, culminating in an ending that offers neither clear victory nor total despair, but a fragile and uncertain possibility of moving on.
These films are connected by their relentless high intensity, dark tone, and heavy emotional weight derived from confronting themes. They share a steady pacing that allows the gravity of the trauma to settle, and crucially, they all conclude with an ambiguous feel, reflecting the messy reality of healing.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Melissa P. 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 Melissa P. is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Melissa P. with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Melissa P.. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Melissa P. 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.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Melissa P.: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Melissa P. that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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