See You Then (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place primarily in Los Angeles, California. The story unfolds in intimate urban spaces like a bar and Naomi's university campus, providing a contemporary backdrop for the characters' private conversations about identity, memory, and personal change.

• los angeles
• setting
• locations
• urban
• bar
• campus

The narrative occurs in the present day, unfolding over a single evening in Los Angeles. However, the story references events from 13 years ago, giving the reunion a sense of long-arc history between the characters.

• present day
• time period
• era
• contemporary
• 13 years ago

The film explores three interconnected themes: identity, particularly through Kris's gender transition and the question of living authentically; reconciliation, as the former partners confront past hurt and redefine their relationship; and the intersection of art and parenthood, highlighting the tension between creative ambition and family responsibilities.

• identity
• transition
• authenticity
• reconciliation
• art
• parenthood
• themes

Kris's transition is central to the film, exploring how visibility and self-acceptance impact relationships and daily life. The conversations reveal the ongoing challenges of navigating identity while reconciling with former partners and evaluating what friendship truly means when both people have changed.

• trans
• transition
• gender identity
• Kris
• self-acceptance

Naomi Liu is a professor and mother of two who has temporarily moved back in with her parents. She represents the tension between artistic ambition and family duty, having paused her performing career. Her storyline centers on confronting the impact of past disappointments and reclaiming her voice as both an artist and a woman.

• Naomi
• professor
• mother
• artist
• art
• ambitions

Kris Ahadi is a trans woman from Phoenix who travels to Los Angeles for one evening to meet with Naomi. She is direct, compassionate, and willing to confront painful truths. Her motivation centers on reconciling her gender transition with past relationships and understanding what it means to be truly seen by someone from her past.

• Kris
• trans
• Phoenix
• identity
• motivation
• character

Kris and Naomi were former romantic partners who separated ten years ago. Their reunion dinner becomes a space to address old hurt while reconsidering their bond. The film explores whether their connection can evolve into something new or whether they must accept what they had is permanently in the past.

• Kris
• Naomi
• relationship
• former partners
• reunion
• breakup

The film highlights the tension between creative ambition and family duties through Naomi's character. Kris encourages Naomi to return to performing, reigniting her abandoned artistic dreams. The contrast between Naomi's current life as a mother and her past artistic aspirations drives much of her emotional journey.

• art
• performance
• parenthood
• family
• creative dreams
• ambition

The film carries a melancholic tone, driven by reflective examination of lost time, regret, and paths not taken. The slow pacing and single-evening timeline create an intimate, emotionally charged atmosphere where honest dialogue opens doors to both healing and painful realizations.

• melancholic
• tone
• emotional
• reflective
• regret
• sadness

The ending is bittersweet, characterized by Naomi's symbolic act of destroying a painting of a pregnant belly. This gesture embodies acceptance of identity, life choices, and the complexity of artistic expression, suggesting a mix of closure and poignant loss rather than a clean resolution.

• ending
• bittersweet
• acceptance
• symbolism
• painting
• closure