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The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 109 min · English
Echo score 77
JustWatch #34,712 2
Directed by
Natalie Krinsky
Starring
Selena Gomez, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Geraldine Viswanathan, Phillipa Soo, Sheila McCarthy, Suki Waterhouse

Lucy, a spirited art gallery assistant, channels her experiences with heartbreak into a unique project. After several failed relationships, she establishes "The Broken Hearts Gallery," a charming pop-up showcasing objects left behind from past loves. The exhibit unexpectedly gains popularity, fostering a community where people can find solace and move forward. Through helping others confront their emotional baggage, Lucy unexpectedly begins her own journey toward healing and new possibilities.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Broken Hearts Gallery
  6. 6 Categories
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020)

Where can you watch The Broken Hearts Gallery? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, FXNow and Hulu: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Broken Hearts Gallery: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

In the vibrant heart of New York City, Lucy, an ambitious assistant at the prestigious Woolf Gallery, is enamored with her captivating boss, Eva Woolf. Her day-to-day life brims with lively tales about Eva, which she passionately shares with her boyfriend, Max Vora, and her ever-supportive roommates, Amanda and Nadine. But when the much-anticipated gallery opening occurs, everything unravels. Lucy finds herself heartbroken as Max chooses his ex, Amelia, over her, and her job is abruptly terminated.

In the midst of this turmoil, a tipsy Lucy mistakenly hops into the vehicle of Nick, believing it to be her Lyft. During their drive, Lucy pours her heart out to Nick, who listens with empathy, providing a brief escape from her troubles. For weeks following her upheaval, Lucy isolates herself in her room while Amanda and Nadine gently coax her to confront her emotional turmoil. However, letting go of mementos from her past proves to be a challenge.

Lucy's predicament intensifies when she decides to trace Max and Amelia to a nearby eatery, where she is intercepted by Nick, averting potential further heartache. This unexpected encounter catalyzes a series of events that lead Lucy to the Chloe Hotel, a unique project initiated by Nick, transforming an old YMCA into a boutique hotel.

As they bond over their shared setbacks, Nick proposes a collaboration to establish the Broken Heart Gallery, a soothing space where New Yorkers can confront their emotional pain and forge connections through common experiences of loss. Their creative partnership flourishes as Lucy's inspiration is reignited, particularly when Nick surprises her with a special addition to the gallery wall, awakening her awareness of the healing power of storytelling.

Lucy’s social media followers become engaged with the gallery's mission as she shares meaningful moments and encourages others to release their keepsakes, showcasing the liberating experience of letting go. Together, Lucy and Nick embark on adventures through thrift stores and second-hand shops, tirelessly searching for treasures that embody the gallery's ethos. Their heartfelt discussions reveal personal stories, with Lucy sharing her family's artistic legacy and Nick reminiscing about the heritage that shaped his hotel ambitions.

Amid their progress, a chance meeting at a used bookstore has Lucy cross paths with Max once again, but she is swiftly whisked away by Nick, who claims they are off to a significant meeting about their burgeoning gallery. As they walk away, Max watches with a mix of confusion and curiosity about Lucy's new journey.

While Lucy immerses herself in the hotel-gallery, an enigmatic woman, Chloe, unexpectedly appears, disrupting the evolving dynamic with Nick. Later, Amanda, Nadine, and Marcos invite Nick and his wife to a vibrant birthday celebration, where Lucy reveals a magazine feature highlighting their project. As they join in a heartfelt rendition of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," Marcos encourages Nick to embrace the potential blossoming between him and Lucy.

As the clock strikes 3 AM, Amanda and Nadine return from the festivities to find Max lurking outside. Tension thickens until Nick arrive bearing a cake, leading to a confrontation between the two men. Bolstered by her roommates’ unwavering support, Lucy stands strong as Nick faces a sudden financial setback. In a moment of desperation, he implores Lucy to dissolve her exhibition, but she resolutely refuses to succumb to adversity, pursuing alternative gallery options.

At lunch with Max, an unexpected suggestion arises regarding Eva Woolf as a potential sponsor, a revelation that surprises everyone. However, after deep contemplation, Lucy realizes that her past with Max is a chapter she needs to close. Meanwhile, Nick delivers exciting news; he has found a mysterious benefactor willing to finance their vision.

As the gallery’s opening nears, Lucy’s exhibit begins to take shape, with contributions from each of their diverse perspectives. During a heartfelt moment, she introduces Nick to her mother, Cheryl, who is grappling with the trials of dementia. Their connection is interrupted by Chloe's reappearance, causing Lucy to feel betrayed and uncertain.

Nick's attempts to mend fences regarding his link to Chloe fall flat, leading him to withdraw from the gallery opening to avoid overshadowing Lucy’s anticipated success. Just when despair threatens to take hold, Eva Woolf surprises everyone with a generous donation to Lucy’s exhibition—a poignant wedding ring symbolizing the journey of healing. Her words resonate deeply within the gallery: > “Pain is inevitable. It’s what you do with it that matters.”

As the emotional climax approaches, Lucy and Nick’s intertwined destinies come to light, culminating in Nick’s passionate revelation of a new venture called the Broken Hearts Hotel. Just as Lucy is poised to begin her narrative for the exhibition, Nick boldly pours out his feelings, allowing a beautiful connection to blossom as they confront their shared heartbreak together.

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 12:51

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Plot questions answered

The Broken Hearts Gallery Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q2

Why did Max choose Amelia over Lucy?

Max chose to go back to his ex-girlfriend Amelia rather than stay with Lucy. The summary doesn't provide extensive detail on Max's specific motivations, but it appears he still had unresolved feelings for Amelia. This decision devastates Lucy and sets her on her emotional journey, though by the end of the film, Lucy has moved past this chapter of her life.

  • max
  • amelia
  • breakup
  • lucy
  • ex girlfriend
Q3

Who is Chloe and what is her connection to Nick?

Chloe is an enigmatic woman who appears unexpectedly at the Chloe Hotel project, disrupting the evolving dynamic between Lucy and Nick. Her reappearance later in the film causes Lucy to feel betrayed and uncertain about her connection to Nick. While the exact nature of their relationship isn't fully detailed, Nick's wife is mentioned at one point, suggesting Chloe may have been a previous romantic partner or business associate connected to the hotel's history.

  • chloe
  • nick
  • hotel
  • relationship
  • mystery
Q4

What happened at 3 AM outside Lucy's home?

At 3 AM, Lucy's roommates Amanda and Nadine return from festivities to find Max lurking outside their home, creating tension. Nick then arrives with a cake, leading to a confrontation between the two men. This late-night confrontation appears to involve unresolved feelings and competition for Lucy, with Nick facing a financial setback around the same time.

  • max
  • nick
  • confrontation
  • 3 am
  • lucy home
Q7

What is Lucy's mother's condition?

Lucy's mother Cheryl is grappling with dementia, which is introduced during a heartfelt moment when Lucy introduces Nick to her mother. This subplot adds emotional depth to Lucy's character, showing another aspect of her life that requires healing and processing. The mention of her mother's artistic legacy also connects to Lucy's creative sensibilities.

  • cheryl
  • mother
  • dementia
  • lucy family
  • health
Q8

Does Lucy end up with Nick or Max?

Lucy ends up with Nick, not Max. By the film's climax, after working together on the Broken Hearts Gallery and sharing numerous heartfelt adventures, Nick reveals his feelings for Lucy. He also announces a new venture called the Broken Hearts Hotel, and they confront their shared heartbreak together. Meanwhile, Lucy realizes her past with Max is a chapter she needs to close, choosing to move forward with Nick.

  • nick
  • max
  • love interest
  • ending
  • romance
  • lucy
Q9

What was the surprise donation at the gallery opening?

Eva Woolf surprised everyone with a generous donation to Lucy's exhibition, a poignant wedding ring symbolizing the journey of healing. Her words resonated deeply within the gallery: 'Pain is inevitable. It's what you do with it that matters.' This donation represents a full-circle moment, as Lucy had once worked for Eva and admired her, now receiving her support in a meaningful way.

  • eva woolf
  • donation
  • wedding ring
  • healing
  • gallery opening
Q10

Why did Lucy refuse to dissolve the exhibition?

When Nick faced a sudden financial setback, he desperately implored Lucy to dissolve her exhibition. However, Lucy resolutely refused to succumb to adversity. Instead, she pursued alternative gallery options, showcasing her resilience and commitment to the project. This moment demonstrates Lucy's growth from the heartbroken woman who isolated herself in her room to someone who stands strong in the face of challenges.

  • lucy
  • exhibition
  • refuse
  • nick
  • resilience
  • financial setback
Q11

How did Lucy end up in Nick's car thinking it was her Lyft?

After the devastating gallery opening where she was fired and heartbroken, a tipsy Lucy mistakenly hopped into Nick's vehicle, believing it to be her Lyft ride. During the drive, she poured her heart out to Nick, who listened with empathy. This unexpected encounter provided her brief comfort from her troubles and initiated the connection that would later blossom into their creative partnership and romance.

  • lyft
  • nick
  • car
  • mistake
  • first meeting
  • lucy
Q12

What is the Broken Hearts Hotel that Nick announces?

At the emotional climax, Nick reveals a new venture called the Broken Hearts Hotel. This appears to be an expansion of the Broken Hearts Gallery concept, transforming Nick's Chloe Hotel project into a dedicated space for healing from heartbreak. The announcement comes as Nick boldly pours out his feelings for Lucy, culminating in their connection and a new chapter together.

  • broken hearts hotel
  • nick
  • new venture
  • expansion
  • healing

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Broken Hearts Gallery, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about creative healing like The Broken Hearts Gallery

Characters who turn personal pain into art and find renewal through artistic expression. If you liked how The Broken Hearts Gallery used art to heal from heartbreak, you'll enjoy these movies. They feature characters who find similar movies where creative expression becomes a path to emotional recovery, turning pain into something beautiful and community-building.

  • heartfelt
  • uplifting
  • creative
  • reflective
  • hopeful
  • supportive
  • Tone: hopeful, reflective
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with a significant emotional loss. The protagonist, often stuck in their grief, stumbles upon or deliberately starts a creative endeavor that gives their pain a tangible form. As the project grows, it attracts a community, providing external validation and new connections that catalyze the character's internal healing journey, leading to a hopeful or happy resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core belief in the restorative power of creativity. They balance emotional vulnerability with an uplifting, proactive approach to healing, focusing on personal growth through making art rather than passive suffering.

Uplifting found family comedies similar to The Broken Hearts Gallery

Charming stories where an unexpected group forms a supportive and quirky community. Fans of The Broken Hearts Gallery will love these movies about quirky communities. Discover similar films featuring heartfelt stories where an unlikely group bonds and becomes a supportive found family, offering comedy, romance, and emotional warmth.

  • uplifting
  • supportive
  • heartfelt
  • quirky
  • community
  • romantic
  • Tone: hopeful, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot often revolves around a central protagonist who creates a space or initiates a project that becomes a magnet for outsiders. Through a series of lighthearted and heartfelt interactions, this random assortment of individuals evolves into a tight-knit, supportive unit. The central conflict usually involves the group rallying together to overcome a challenge, solidifying their bonds and affirming the power of their chosen family.

Why they belong together: These movies are linked by their focus on the joy and comfort of building community. They share a consistently hopeful tone, moderate pacing that allows characters to connect, and a blend of humor and heart that makes the experience feel both uplifting and genuine.

If you liked this

Movies Like The Broken Hearts Gallery

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

Browse all movie summaries

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring The Broken Hearts Gallery

The Broken Hearts Gallery appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

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Every angle

The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Broken Hearts Gallery 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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