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My Name Is Emily (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

My Name Is Emily (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 94 min · English
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Directed by
Simon Fitzmaurice

A troubled teenager seeking escape from her difficult past travels with her boyfriend to connect with her estranged father. He’s a gifted writer now residing in an institution, and she hopes to find answers and healing through him. Their journey explores themes of family, redemption, and the complexities of mental health.

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 (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like My Name Is Emily
  8. 8 Every angle
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4 main characters · contains spoilers

My Name Is Emily Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of My Name Is Emily (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.

  • Emily Egan

    A sensitive and intelligent 14-year-old, Emily grapples with profound loss and depression following her mother’s death and her father's institutionalization. She often feels like an outsider but possesses great depth and potential. As her journey unfolds, she learns to embrace vulnerability and forge connections with others.

    • 👧 Young Adult
    • 💔 Troubled
  • Arden

    Arden is a shy, socially awkward classmate who becomes Emily's confidant and ally. Though he struggles with his own family issues, his steadfast support brings a sense of hope for Emily. Their evolving relationship showcases his growth and willingness to step out of his comfort zone for love.

    • 💞 Friend
    • 👦 Young Male
  • Robert

    Emily's father is a complex character who has succumbed to the pressures of his genius and personal grief. His commitment to a psychiatric institution reflects both his struggles and the impact of his relationship with Emily. His decisions drive much of Emily's emotional turmoil as she seeks to understand his actions.

    • 👨‍🏫 Philosopher
    • 💭 Absent Parent
  • June

    Emily's foster mother, June, genuinely cares for her but fails to understand the depth of Emily's struggles. Her attempts to instill happiness often come off as stifling, creating further conflict in Emily's life. June represents the societal expectations of emotional well-being.

    • 👩‍👧 Caregiver
    • 🌼 Supportive

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:09

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Setting

Where and When Does My Name Is Emily Take Place?

The setting of My Name Is Emily (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

While the exact year is not specified, the narrative presents a contemporary setting characterized by modern societal issues. Themes of mental health and familial challenges are prevalent, resonating with the struggles faced by today’s youth. This time period allows for a relatable yet complex exploration of adolescence.

Location

Emerald City, Dublin

Emerald City, a fictional representation of Dublin, serves as the backdrop for Emily's tumultuous journey. Known for its vibrant culture and history, Dublin reflects a city grappling with the challenges of urban life. The contrast between Emily's internal struggles and the lively surroundings highlights her feelings of isolation.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🇮🇪 Ireland

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:09

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3 major themes

My Name Is Emily Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

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

  • Loss

    The theme of loss permeates Emily's life, from the devastating death of her mother to the emotional distance created by her father's mental breakdown. Her struggle to cope with abandonment underscores her journey towards healing. The loss symbolizes not just familial connections but also the innocence of childhood.

  • Depression

    Depression is a central theme as Emily battles her mental health amidst chaotic life changes. Her feelings of emptiness and hopelessness are exacerbated by her circumstances, showing how mental illness can distort one’s perception of reality. Amidst her struggles, moments of vulnerability reveal the complexity of this theme.

  • Resilience

    Resilience shines through Emily’s character as she navigates her difficult reality. Despite her numerous setbacks, she seeks to assert her identity and reconnect with her father. The journey towards self-acceptance and finding love illustrates the strength of the human spirit in overcoming adversity.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:09

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Character & theme questions

My Name Is Emily Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about My Name Is Emily (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 is the movie set?

The story takes place in Emerald City, a fictional version of Dublin, Ireland. The setting uses the city's vibrant culture and urban landscape to contrast with Emily's internal emotional struggles, creating a sense of isolation amid a lively environment.

  • emerald city
  • dublin
  • ireland
  • setting
  • location
Q2

What time period does the story take place in?

The movie is set in contemporary times, featuring modern societal issues and technology. This present-day setting allows the themes of mental health and familial challenges to feel relatable and relevant to today's youth.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • year
Q3

What does the Loss theme represent in the movie?

Loss permeates Emily's life through her mother's death and her father's mental breakdown, creating emotional abandonment. This theme symbolizes not just the loss of familial connections but also the loss of childhood innocence as Emily copes with trauma while searching for healing.

  • loss
  • death
  • abandonment
  • mother
  • father
Q4

How is Depression portrayed in the story?

Depression is a central theme as Emily battles her mental health amid chaotic life changes. Her feelings of emptiness and hopelessness are shown through moments of vulnerability, demonstrating how mental illness can distort one's perception of reality.

  • depression
  • mental health
  • emotional struggle
Q5

What does the Resilience theme signify?

Resilience shines through Emily's journey as she navigates her difficult reality despite numerous setbacks. The theme illustrates the strength of the human spirit in overcoming adversity, showing her quest for self-acceptance and connection with others.

  • resilience
  • strength
  • overcoming
  • adversity
Q6

Who is Emily Egan?

Emily Egan is a 14-year-old protagonist grappling with profound loss and depression following her mother's death and her father's institutionalization. She feels like an outsider but possesses great depth and intelligence. Her journey involves learning to embrace vulnerability and forge meaningful connections.

  • emily egan
  • protagonist
  • teenager
  • main character
Q7

Who is Arden and what role does he play?

Arden is Emily's shy, socially awkward classmate who becomes her confidant and ally. Despite struggling with his own family issues, he provides steadfast support for Emily. Their evolving relationship demonstrates his growth and willingness to step out of his comfort zone.

  • arden
  • friend
  • love interest
  • support
Q8

Who is Emily's father Robert?

Robert is Emily's father, a gifted writer who has been committed to a psychiatric institution. His struggles with genius and personal grief led to his breakdown, creating the emotional distance that drives much of Emily's journey to understand his decisions and find reconciliation.

  • robert
  • father
  • writer
  • institution
Q9

Who is June, Emily's foster mother?

June is Emily's foster mother who genuinely cares for her but fails to understand the depth of her emotional struggles. Her well-intentioned attempts to encourage happiness often feel stifling to Emily, representing the disconnect between societal expectations of well-being and the reality of mental health challenges.

  • june
  • foster mother
  • caregiver
Q10

What is the overall emotional tone of the film?

The film carries a bittersweet tone, balancing Emily's profound sadness with hopeful moments from Arden's loyalty and her eventual reconciliation with her father. This emotional weight comes from themes of mental health crises, loss, and a teenager's journey through trauma.

  • tone
  • bittersweet
  • emotional
  • mood
Q11

How does the movie approach mental health topics?

The movie takes a serious, character-driven approach to mental health, exploring depression, institutionalization, and trauma through Emily's perspective. It presents these issues with complexity, showing how they affect different characters, including Emily's depression, her father's breakdown, and Arden's home life, without offering easy solutions.

  • mental health
  • trauma
  • psychiatric
  • institution

Movie threads

More Movies Like My Name Is Emily, by Mood & Story

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

Movies like My Name Is Emily with healing road trip journeys

Characters seek answers and connection on transformative road trips. Explore movies like 'My Name Is Emily' where characters embark on physical journeys to find emotional answers. These films often feature troubled teenagers or young adults traveling to confront estranged family or escape a difficult past, blending the ache of reality with the hope of the open road.

  • road trip
  • hopeful
  • aching
  • introspective
  • melancholic
  • transformative
  • Tone: bittersweet, introspective, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters, often young or emotionally vulnerable, who initiate a journey to resolve a core emotional conflict, typically related to family or trauma. The travel itself is as important as the destination, serving as a framework for character development, deepening relationships with companions, and building toward a pivotal, emotionally charged encounter.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped for their shared focus on travel as a metaphor for internal healing. They balance the weight of serious themes with the hopeful possibilities of movement and connection, resulting in a bittersweet, character-driven experience that prioritizes emotional authenticity over plot twists.

Bittersweet heavy coming-of-age dramas similar to My Name Is Emily

Young adults grapple with profound sadness while finding glimmers of hope. If you liked the heavy emotional weight and bittersweet tone of 'My Name Is Emily', discover similar coming-of-age dramas. These movies feature young protagonists facing serious issues like depression and parental abandonment, delivering a poignant, character-focused experience that balances sadness with cautious hope.

  • melancholic
  • aching
  • introspective
  • vulnerable
  • hopeful
  • heavy drama
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative centers on a young protagonist's internal battle with a significant emotional weight, such as depression or grief. Their journey involves confronting the source of their pain—often a parent or a past trauma—while forming a crucial bond with a friend or romantic partner. The resolution is typically bittersweet, acknowledging the scars while affirming the possibility of moving forward.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films that share a specific emotional mix: a heavy, melancholic core rooted in serious real-world issues, balanced by a steady, character-driven pace and a ultimately bittersweet tone. They are united by their thoughtful, unflinching, yet humane portrayal of young people in crisis.

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Every angle

My Name Is Emily (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about My Name Is Emily 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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