Somewhere in Time

Somewhere in Time

Year: 1980

Runtime: 103 min

Language: English

Director: Jeannot Szwarc

DramaFantasyRomance

A playwright is intrigued by a portrait of a woman he sees at a seaside resort and becomes increasingly obsessed with her. Determined to meet her, he uses self-hypnosis to travel back in time to the late 19th century. There, he encounters the woman from the portrait and falls in love, but his presence begins to disrupt the natural course of events and threatens to erase her from existence. He must confront the challenges of altering the past while fighting for their love.

Somewhere in Time (1980) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Somewhere in Time (1980) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the quiet elegance of a seaside resort, Richard Collier—a once‑vibrant playwright whose recent works have begun to feel stale—stumbles upon an old portrait that stops him in his tracks. The image of a luminous stage actress from a bygone era ignites a restless curiosity that quickly deepens into an all‑consuming obsession. The hotel’s salty breezes and the lingering echo of applause from a century past create a dreamlike backdrop, hinting at a romance that exists only in the spaces between memory and imagination.

Compelled to bridge the impossible gap, Richard turns to the quiet discipline of self‑hypnosis, hoping to slip his consciousness into the late 19th century. The film’s tone shifts gently from contemplative nostalgia to a wistful, almost reverent exploration of a world defined by gas‑lit theaters, period fashions, and the delicate art of performance. It is here, amid the gilded arches of an old playhouse, that he finally meets Elise McKenna, the very woman captured in the portrait. Their connection is immediate, charged with the magnetic pull of two souls recognizing each other across time, and the story blooms with the quiet intensity of a love that feels both inevitable and fragile.

Yet the very act of stepping into the past unsettles the delicate weave of history itself. Richard soon understands that his presence may alter the natural course of events, threatening the existence of the woman he has come to love and the very moments that made her legendary. The narrative balances romance with a thoughtful meditation on the consequences of tampering with time, inviting the audience to wonder whether love can truly transcend the boundaries of eras—or whether the pursuit of an impossible dream will forever haunt the present.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 14:12

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Tragic Time-Travel Romance Movies like Somewhere in Time

Stories where love defies time but is ultimately doomed by fate.If you liked the doomed, time-defying love story in Somewhere in Time, explore these movies. This collection features romantic dramas where characters travel through time for love, only to face inevitable tragedy and sorrow, emphasizing the bittersweet price of altering destiny.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist who, driven by an intense longing, journeys through time to find a soulmate. Their love blossoms in the past, but their presence creates a ripple effect that threatens the relationship's existence. The central conflict is the struggle against fate itself, culminating in a sorrowful acceptance of loss.

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These films are grouped by their core premise of romance intertwined with tragic time-travel consequences. They share a melancholic tone, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on the philosophical conflict between fate and free will, resulting in a similarly poignant and saddening viewer experience.

Movies about Obsessive and Doomed Love like Somewhere in Time

Quiet stories of all-consuming love that leads to inevitable sorrow.For viewers who appreciated the yearning and tragic obsession in Somewhere in Time, this section finds similar movies. Discover stories of characters consumed by a fated, impossible love, told with a slow, melancholic pace and culminating in a deeply sad, emotionally resonant conclusion.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative unfolds around a protagonist who becomes fixated on a person, often from a distance or another time. Their quest for connection is the driving force, explored through a reflective pace. The story is less about external action and more about the internal, emotional turmoil of pursuing a love that is beautiful yet fundamentally unattainable, leading to a devastating emotional payoff.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their core focus on obsessive, fated romance that ends in tragedy. They share a slow, reflective pacing, a heavily melancholic tone, and a primary goal of delivering a powerful, sorrowful emotional experience centered on the theme of irretrievable loss.

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Somewhere in Time Summary

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Somewhere in Time Summary

Somewhere in Time Timeline

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Somewhere in Time Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Somewhere in Time

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Somewhere in Time

More About Somewhere in Time

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