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Submarine (2011) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Submarine (2011) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2011 · 97 min · English
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Oliver Tate, a teenage boy on the cusp of adulthood, grapples with his parents’ complicated relationship and his own budding romantic feelings. He desperately tries to prevent his mother from reuniting with a former lover while also attempting to lose his own innocence. The film explores the awkwardness of adolescence, family secrets, and the challenges of first love with a blend of humor and heartfelt emotion.

On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (2)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 The book behind the movie
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Movies like Submarine
  9. 9 Every angle
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2 main characters · contains spoilers

Submarine Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Submarine (2011), 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.

  • Oliver Tate (Roberts)

    Oliver is a 15-year-old boy who believes he is gifted but struggles with social acceptance and emotional intelligence. His misguided attempts to impress Jordana lead to heartache and reflection on his actions, highlighting his growth throughout the film.

    • 👦 Young Adult
    • 💭 Misunderstood
  • Jordana (Paige)

    Jordana is a spirited and sardonic girl who captures Oliver's heart. Her bold personality and complex home life create a dynamic relationship with Oliver, leading to both romantic moments and significant challenges.

    • 🌹 Love Interest
    • 🦄 Unique

Last updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:49

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Setting

Where and When Does Submarine Take Place?

The setting of Submarine (2011): 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

1986

The year 1986 was marked by significant cultural shifts, with the rise of youth culture influenced by music, fashion, and emerging technology. This period saw a blend of optimism and uncertainty, reflecting the experiences of adolescence that Oliver faces throughout the movie.

Location

Swansea

Swansea is a coastal city in Wales, known for its beautiful landscapes and cultural heritage. The city offers a mix of urban life and natural beauty, with access to stunning beaches and parks, making it an appealing backdrop for young love and personal struggles.

  • 🏖️ Coastal City
  • 🎡 Urban Life

Last updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:49

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3 major themes

Submarine Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Submarine (2011) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love and Heartbreak

    The tumultuous relationship between Oliver and Jordana explores the complexities of young love. Their connection is tested by jealousy, personal issues, and external pressures, showcasing the heartache that often accompanies teenage romance.

  • Self-Discovery

    Oliver's journey is one of self-discovery as he navigates his feelings and perceptions of himself and those around him. Through his experiences, he learns about the realities of relationships and the importance of empathy.

  • Family Dynamics

    The film delves into complicated family relationships, particularly Oliver's concern about his parents' marriage. As he tries to understand love and partnership, he also grapples with the impact of his family's issues on his own life.

Last updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:49

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Character & theme questions

Submarine Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Submarine (2011): 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 Submarine set?

Submarine is set in Swansea, a coastal city in Wales. The film utilizes the city's mix of urban life and natural beauty, with access to beaches and parks, creating an appealing backdrop for the story's exploration of young love and personal struggles.

  • swansea
  • wales
  • setting
  • location
  • welsh city
Q2

What year is Submarine set in?

The film is set in 1986, a year marked by significant cultural shifts in Britain. This time period brings a specific youth culture influenced by music, fashion, and emerging technology, reflecting the experiences of adolescence that Oliver faces throughout the movie.

  • 1986
  • time period
  • 1980s
  • era
  • setting
Q3

Who is Oliver Tate in Submarine?

Oliver Tate is a 15-year-old boy who considers himself gifted but struggles with social acceptance and emotional intelligence. His misguided attempts to impress Jordana lead to heartache and ultimately spark his growth throughout the film.

  • oliver tate
  • main character
  • protagonist
  • teenager
Q4

Who is Jordana in Submarine?

Jordana is a spirited and sardonic girl who captures Oliver's heart. Her bold personality and complex home life create a dynamic relationship with Oliver, leading to both romantic moments and significant challenges throughout the film.

  • jordana
  • love interest
  • romantic lead
  • character
Q5

What are the main themes in Submarine?

The film explores three central themes: Love and Heartbreak, which examines the complexities of young romance; Self-Discovery, following Oliver's journey to understand his feelings and perceptions; and Family Dynamics, focusing on Oliver's concern about his parents' marriage and the impact of family issues on his life.

  • themes
  • love
  • heartbreak
  • self discovery
  • family dynamics
  • meaning
Q6

What is Swansea like as a setting for Submarine?

Swansea serves as a coastal Welsh city offering a mix of urban life and natural beauty. The stunning beaches and parks provide an intimate backdrop that contrasts with Oliver's internal conflicts, amplifying the story's emotional landscape.

  • swansea
  • wales
  • coastal city
  • backdrop
  • landscape
Q7

What does Submarine say about family dynamics?

The film delves into complicated family relationships, particularly Oliver's anxiety about his parents' marriage. As he tries to understand love and partnership, he grapples with the impact of his family's issues on his own emotional development and relationships.

  • family
  • parents
  • marriage
  • relationships
  • household
Q8

What does Submarine say about teenage love?

The tumultuous relationship between Oliver and Jordana explores the complexities of young love. Their connection is tested by jealousy, personal issues, and external pressures, showcasing the heartache that often accompanies teenage romance.

  • teenage love
  • romance
  • jordana
  • oliver
  • first love
  • heartbreak
Q9

What is Oliver's personality like in Submarine?

Oliver is a self-described gifted teenager who lacks emotional intelligence and struggles with social acceptance. His pretentiousness and clumsy attempts to solve adult problems create both humor and poignant moments as he navigates adolescence.

  • oliver
  • personality
  • character traits
  • naive
  • pretentious
Q10

What does Submarine say about self-discovery?

Oliver's journey represents self-discovery as he navigates his feelings and perceptions of himself and others. Through his experiences, particularly his romance with Jordana and his observations of his parents' marriage, he learns about the realities of relationships and the importance of empathy.

  • self discovery
  • growth
  • maturity
  • personal development
  • coming of age

Movie threads

More Movies Like Submarine, by Mood & Story

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

Awkward and quirky coming-of-age movies like Submarine

Films that capture the painful humor and social awkwardness of adolescence. If you liked the blend of humor and heart in Submarine, this list features movies with similar coming-of-age stories. These films explore teen angst, first love, and family conflict with a quirky, awkward, and often melancholic tone, perfect for viewers seeking similar bittersweet narratives.

  • awkward
  • quirky
  • nostalgic
  • melancholic
  • anxious
  • reflective
  • Tone: bittersweet, quirky, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow young protagonists navigating the complexities of first love, friendship, and family life. The narrative is often driven by the character's clumsy yet earnest attempts to understand the world and their place in it, resulting in a mix of cringe comedy and genuine emotional growth.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on the adolescent experience, characterized by a specific tonal blend of awkward humor and melancholic reflection. They share a similar pacing and medium emotional intensity, creating a coherent vibe of nostalgic, bittersweet observation.

Bittersweet observational dramedies similar to Submarine

Character studies that find humor and heartbreak in everyday life. Find more movies like Submarine that masterfully blend drama and comedy. These observational stories feature unique characters navigating life's challenges, offering a similar mix of heartfelt emotion, subtle humor, and a bittersweet, somewhat ambiguous tone for a cohesive viewing experience.

  • bittersweet
  • observational
  • character-driven
  • reflective
  • quirky
  • melancholic
  • Tone: bittersweet, reflective, humorous
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a central character, often an outsider or a keen observer, grappling with internal and external conflicts. The plot is less about high-stakes action and more about the subtle evolution of relationships and self-understanding, leading to endings that feel realistic and thoughtfully unresolved.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their specific tonal recipe: a steady pacing, a medium intensity that avoids melodrama, and a core emotional tone that is bittersweet. They share a focus on character over plot and use humor as a tool for insight rather than just relief.

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Movies Like Submarine

Similar movies to Submarine: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Submarine (2011) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Submarine 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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