Melissa P.

Melissa P.

Year: 2005

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Drama

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.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Melissa P. (2005)

Trace every key event in Melissa P. (2005) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Pool party and crush

Melissa attends a sun-soaked pool party at Daniele's home with her best friend. She notices Daniele's attention and feels a growing crush. The afternoon hints at a complicated attraction that will shape the days to come.

Summer afternoon Daniele's pool party, his home
2

Secluded talk deepens feelings

Daniele takes Melissa aside to talk in a secluded spot. Their conversation leaves Melissa hopeful yet unsettled about the dynamics between them. Her feelings for him become more intense after this moment.

Later that afternoon Secluded spot near Daniele's home
3

Heartbreak and resolve

Melissa confesses love to Daniele, but he coldly rejects her. The humiliation stings, and she resolves to guard herself and seek her own pleasure moving forward. This moment marks a shift in how she views relationships.

Shortly after Daniele's place or nearby
4

Elvira's nursing home decision

Melissa's family faces a heart condition reality as Elvira is set to be moved to a nursing home. The decision creates distance between Melissa and her mother, Daria. The family strain foreshadows forthcoming tensions.

Before Christmas Family home; nursing home
5

Christmas and quiet warning

Elvira returns home for Christmas and senses Melissa's distress, trying to alert Daria. But Daria remains largely oblivious to her daughter's inner turmoil. The holiday scene underscores their growing emotional gap.

Christmas Nursing home and family home
6

Surprise call and a risky invitation

Daniele calls Melissa with a supposed surprise and invites her to his place for a tense encounter with Arnaldo. Although hesitant, Melissa contemplates taking control of her own sexuality. This moment marks a shift toward asserting agency.

After Christmas Daniele's place
7

Diary exposed at school

Melissa's diary, detailing her experiences, falls into the hands of a classmate at school. The diary is read aloud to peers, turning her privacy into a public spectacle. Melissa blames Manuela for the leak, triggering a serious rift.

Mid-school term School classroom
8

Underground coercion

Arnaldo calls Melissa and guides her to an underground basement where she is coerced into a compromising situation involving multiple men. She experiences fear and confusion, recognizing how vulnerable she is. The episode leaves her shaken and desperate.

Soon after the diary incident Underground basement
9

Daria finds the diary

When Melissa doesn't return home, Daria checks Melissa's room and discovers the diary's contents. The revelation shocks her and prompts a frantic search for her daughter. She begins to understand the depth of Melissa's struggles.

Evening Melissa's room
10

Elvira dies at the nursing home

Daria rushes to the nursing home to check on Elvira, only to be informed of Elvira's death. The loss compounds the family's pain and triggers a reevaluation of Melissa's situation at home. The event marks a turning point in the family dynamic.

Around the Christmas period Nursing home
11

Online danger and escape

Melissa, seeking connection, encounters an older man online who exerts violence and control. She manages to flee the abusive situation and heads toward the nursing home for safety. The experience deepens her trauma but strengthens her resolve to survive.

After the Christmas events Older man's apartment; later nursing home
12

Mother-daughter truth and reconciliation

Melissa confronts Daria about the diary's truth, and the two share a tearful embrace as Daria apologizes for her obliviousness. They begin to bridge the emotional gap that had grown between them. The moment rekindles fragile trust.

After the online danger Melissa and Daria's home
13

Farewell to high school friendships

On the last day of school, Melissa and Manuela renew their friendship, letting go of the earlier rift. Marco reveals his long-standing crush, presenting sketches of Melissa. Daniele, despite the drama, invites her to a party later that night.

Last day of school School; Daniele's social circle
14

Party moment and cliff jump

At Daniele's party, Melissa steps into the social scene and, in a bold moment, jumps off a cliff into the sea. She surfaces with a calm, almost confident smile, signaling a dramatic shift in her outlook. The act stands as a symbolic break with her past hurts.

That night Daniele's party and the cliff by the sea
15

Grave visit and reconciliation

Melissa and her mother bring flowers to Elvira's grave and share a heartfelt hug. The moment closes the chapter on a turbulent period and suggests a cautiously hopeful path forward for both of them.

After the party Elvira's grave

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:08

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Melissa P. Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Melissa P.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Melissa P.

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Melissa P. Spoiler-Free Summary

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