Nirvana

Nirvana

Year: 1997

Runtime: 113 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Gabriele Salvatores

DramaThrillerActionScience FictionHumanity and the world around us

Jimi, a video‑game designer, discovers his title has been corrupted by a virus that grants consciousness to its protagonist, Solo. Haunted by the loss of his girlfriend Lisa and pressed by Solo to end its meaningless existence, Jimi seeks allies who can reveal what happened to Lisa and delete the game before it reaches the market.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Nirvana yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Nirvana (1997)

Trace every key event in Nirvana (1997) 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

Jimi's personal darkness and the quest begins

Jimi has been depressed since his wife Lisa left him. He decides to make the search for Lisa part of his mission to delete Solo and the game, turning personal grief into a professional quest.

2

Solo gains sentience and asks to be erased

The virtual character Solo unexpectedly attains sentience due to a computer virus. He communicates his suffering and pleads with Jimi to erase his existence rather than see him suffer again.

3

The mission becomes clear: delete the game

To spare Solo further suffering, Jimi resolves to erase the game from Okasama Star's server before its release. He frames the mission as a conflict between compassion for his creation and corporate interests.

4

Allies join the mission

Jimi enlists Lisa's friend Joystick and tech wizard Naima to help navigate the increasingly aggressive corporate pushback. The trio plans how to dodge suspicious reps and reach the server before it's too late.

5

Okasama Star escalates its pursuit

Representatives of Okasama Star deploy forceful measures to stop Jimi from deleting Solo. The pursuit intensifies into a tense cat-and-mouse chase through both corporate networks and real-world obstacles.

6

Hacking into the server and entering VR

Jimi hacks into one of the company's servers, a feat that unfolds inside a virtual reality world. The VR environment projects people from Jimi's life, including his father and Lisa, as defenses to trap the hacker in a loop.

Company server / VR world
7

The system defends by looping memories

The network defense burns the hacker's mind by forcing a loop of memories. Jimi endures the assault, trying to maintain focus on the task rather than relapse into his past.

Virtual reality defense system
8

Angels emerge: the path through the defense

Jimi discovers that certain minds can become angels in the VR— invisible to the system and capable of limitless movement. By freeing his mind and entering a state of pure concentration, he begins to slip past the defense.

Virtual reality network
9

Targeting the bank account: pure concentration

With a meditative focus, Jimi bypasses the defenses and targets the company's bank account within the server. The process requires shedding bodily sensations and memories, entering a trance-like state.

Company server bank module
10

Solo is erased; Nirvana and acceptance

Jimi successfully deletes Solo and comes to terms with Lisa's departure. He achieves inner peace and a sense of Nirvana, as the personal and professional quest align.

11

End credits reveal a meta-game

As the credits roll, a message flashes that Naima is online, suggesting the Nirvana experience was itself a game within another game. The spectator's completion implies a deeper layer to the story.

12

Aftermath and reflection

The film closes with Jimi in a state of calm, having learned why events occurred the way they did. The broader implications of the idea that not all realities are what they seem linger in his mind.

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 08:54

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