Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 109 min · English
Echo score 77
Loading streaming availability…
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 (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like The Broken Hearts Gallery
  8. 8 Categories
  9. 9 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

5 main characters · contains spoilers

The Broken Hearts Gallery Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020), 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.

  • Lucy Gulliver (Geraldine Viswanathan)

    Lucy is an ambitious and creative young woman who finds herself heartbroken when her boyfriend chooses his ex over her. Throughout the film, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing, transforming her pain into inspiration for the Broken Hearts Gallery. Her resilience is evident as she learns to let go of the past and embrace new opportunities.

    • 🎨 Artist
    • 💪 Resilient
  • Nick (Dacre Montgomery)

    Nick is a charming and empathetic character who helps Lucy navigate her heartbreak through their collaboration on the gallery. His understanding nature allows Lucy to express her feelings and find solace in their shared experiences. Nick's personal struggles add depth to his character, revealing his determination to create a space for others to heal.

    • ❤️ Empathetic
    • 🏨 Entrepreneur
  • Eva Woolf (Bernadette Peters)

    Eva is the captivating boss of Lucy, a successful art gallery owner who represents both inspiration and aspiration. Her presence in the story provides a direct connection to Lucy's artistic ambitions. Eva's pivotal role in supporting Lucy’s exhibition underscores the importance of mentorship and the impact of guidance in the creative journey.

    • 🎨 Mentor
    • 🌟 Influential
  • Max Vora (Utkarsh Ambudkar)

    Max is Lucy's initial love interest, whose decision to choose his ex over her leads to Lucy's heartbreak. His character embodies the challenges of relationships and the struggle to move on from past connections. Max's impact on Lucy's journey serves as a catalyst for her emotional growth throughout the film.

    • 💔 Heartbreaker
    • 🌀 Conflicted
  • Cheryl Gulliver (Sheila McCarthy)

    Cheryl is Lucy's mother, grappling with the trials of dementia. Her character adds emotional depth to the film, highlighting the struggle of familial bonds under difficult circumstances. Lucy's relationship with her mother underscores the importance of family support in the face of personal adversity.

    • 👩‍👧 Family
    • 🌧️ Struggling

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:31

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does The Broken Hearts Gallery Take Place?

The setting of The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020): 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

The movie is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern themes of love, loss, and emotional recovery. This period resonates with audiences as it showcases relatable struggles in relationships amidst the fast-paced lifestyle of New York City.

Location

New York City

New York City serves as the vibrant backdrop to 'The Broken Hearts Gallery.' Renowned for its iconic art scene and diverse culture, the city offers a dynamic setting where stories of heartbreak and healing unfold. The Woolf Gallery and the Chloe Hotel showcase the intersection of personal experiences within this bustling metropolis.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🎨 Art

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:31

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

The Broken Hearts Gallery Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Heartbreak

    Heartbreak is a central theme in the film, driving the narrative as Lucy navigates her emotional turmoil after losing Max. The story explores how personal loss can inspire creativity and connection, culminating in the establishment of the Broken Hearts Gallery, a place for healing and shared experiences.

  • Healing

    Healing emerges as a crucial theme as Lucy and Nick work together to create a space that encourages letting go of past attachments. Through their journey, they learn the importance of sharing stories and supporting one another, fostering personal growth and resilience.

  • Friendship

    Friendship plays a significant role in Lucy's life, showcasing the unwavering support from her roommates Amanda and Nadine. Their encouragement allows Lucy to confront her heartbreak and ultimately embrace her journey towards self-discovery and happiness.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:31

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

The Broken Hearts Gallery Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020): 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.

Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The Broken Hearts Gallery is set in contemporary modern times, reflecting today's relatable struggles with love, loss, and emotional recovery in the fast-paced lifestyle of New York City.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • new york city lifestyle
Q3

What is the main theme of The Broken Hearts Gallery?

Heartbreak is the central theme, driving Lucy's narrative arc after her boyfriend Max chooses his ex over her. The film explores how personal loss can inspire creativity and connection, transforming emotional pain into a community healing space.

  • heartbreak
  • theme
  • loss
  • emotional
  • healing
Q4

Who is Lucy Gulliver?

Lucy Gulliver is the film's protagonist, an ambitious and creative art gallery assistant who channels her heartbreak into creating the Broken Hearts Gallery. Her journey involves self-discovery, resilience, and learning to embrace new opportunities.

  • lucy gulliver
  • protagonist
  • main character
  • art gallery
Q6

What role does Nick play in the story?

Nick is a charming and empathetic character who collaborates with Lucy on the gallery. His understanding nature helps Lucy express her feelings and find solace, while his own personal struggles add depth to his character as he works to create a space for others to heal.

  • nick
  • character
  • collaborator
  • supportive
  • healing
Q7

Who is Eva Woolf?

Eva Woolf is Lucy's boss at the Woolf Gallery, a successful art gallery owner who represents both inspiration and aspiration. Her mentorship and support for Lucy's exhibition underscores the importance of guidance in the creative journey.

  • eva woolf
  • boss
  • mentor
  • art gallery owner
  • gallery
Q8

What does the film say about healing?

The film portrays healing as a crucial process involving letting go of past attachments and sharing stories with others. Through Lucy and Nick's collaboration, the movie emphasizes that personal growth and resilience come from supporting one another and creating spaces for collective emotional recovery.

  • healing
  • letting go
  • growth
  • resilience
  • personal development
Q9

How does friendship feature in the movie?

Friendship plays a significant role through Lucy's roommates Amanda and Nadine, who provide unwavering support throughout her journey. Their encouragement helps Lucy confront her heartbreak and embrace self-discovery, highlighting the importance of strong friend networks during emotional difficult times.

  • friendship
  • roommates
  • amanda
  • nadine
  • support
  • community
Q10

What is Lucy's relationship with her mother like?

Lucy's relationship with her mother Cheryl Gulliver adds emotional depth to the film. Cheryl is grappling with dementia, and Lucy's bond with her underscores the importance of family support during personal adversity, showing how familial connections influence emotional journeys.

  • cheryl gulliver
  • mother
  • dementia
  • family
  • emotional depth
Q11

How does the New York City art scene influence the story?

The New York City art scene provides the perfect environment for Lucy's creative expression. The city's renowned art galleries and cultural landscape enable the Broken Hearts Gallery to gain unexpected popularity, showing how the urban artistic context shapes the narrative's themes of creativity and connection.

  • art scene
  • new york city
  • galleries
  • creativity
  • culture

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.

View all movie categories

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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app