Only Yesterday

The present unfolds on the eve of the 1929 stock market crash during a New Year’s Eve party in New York. Flashbacks reveal the last year of World War I, when James and Mary first connected. The narrative spans roughly a decade from the end of WWI to the late 1920s as the characters navigate love, memory, and social expectations.

The story moves between glamorous urban New York socialite circles and the war-torn streets of France during World War I. The New York home of James Stanton Emerson hosts a high-society cocktail night that frames the immediate aftermath of a stock market crash. France scenes depict the war's impact on soldiers and families, providing a stark contrast to the party mood in New York.

💔 Love and Memory

A central thread is the enduring memory of a past affair that reshapes present choices. Mary’s lifelong secrecy and letters to James drive actions long after their night together. The film examines how love, kept private and revisited through memory, affects mothers, sons, and former lovers.

🕰️ Time and Fate

Time rearranges relationships: a decade passes, memories fade, and a chance reunion redraws the boundaries between lovers and family. The characters confront the consequences of decisions made in youth as they confront mortality and the prospect of a new life. Fate appears as a force that can redefine responsibilities and forgiveness.

🏛️ Society and Class

The story juxtaposes wealthy social circles with the quiet resilience of a single mother. The social expectations of an aristocratic era shape Mary’s choices and the secrecy surrounding her past. The plot turns on a clash between public life and private loyalties, showing how class can overshadow personal happiness.

👨‍👧 Parenthood and Legacy

A hidden father-son bond becomes the emotional core: James discovers he is Jimmy Jr.’s father, altering his outlook on life and duty. Mary creates a family under social scrutiny, and her deathbed letter reframes James's role from observer to parent. The narrative argues that parenthood and legacy can redeem a man’s life.

🌟 Revelations and Choices

Secrets revealed on a deathbed catalyze a final choice about love, forgiveness, and responsibility. The revelation reframes the relationships among Mary, James, and Jimmy Jr., turning memories into a new family bond. The film balances melancholy with a hopeful act of reconciliation.