What We Wanted (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place primarily in Sardinia, Italy, where a couple escapes for a vacation at a resort. Austria serves as their home base, representing their normal life before the trip. The contrast between the calm, orderly Austrian setting and the sun-soaked Sardinian vacation backdrop highlights their emotional distance from everyday life.

• sardinia
• austria
• setting
• resort
• vacation location

The film centers on grief and loss surrounding infertility. The couple's struggle to conceive and failed IVF attempts create a deep emotional burden that permeates their vacation. This theme of private grief reshaping their future drives the entire narrative.

• grief
• loss
• infertility
• ivf
• theme

The film examines how the intense desire for parenthood can strain a relationship. The couple's longing for a child creates envy and comparison, especially when surrounded by families during their vacation. By the end, they begin to accept redefining their future beyond biological parenthood.

• parenthood
• child desire
• infertility
• family
• couple

The film focuses on Alice and Niklas, a married couple dealing with infertility struggles. Alice is introspective and burdened by unspoken grief, while Niklas expresses his pain through tension and withdrawal. A neighboring family, particularly their teenage son David, becomes a catalyst for the couple's reflection.

• alice
• niklas
• characters
• couple
• david

The movie highlights how unspoken grief and emotional inadequacy erode communication between partners. The couple's avoidance of discussing their pain creates distance and amplifies conflicts. A crisis involving their neighbors ultimately forces them toward honest dialogue, which becomes essential for healing.

• communication
• relationship
• dialogue
• marriage
• emotional distance

The film has a predominantly melancholic tone, driven by the couple's unspoken grief and pervasive sense of loss. However, it is not without moments of tender hope. The slow pacing reflects the character-focused narrative, allowing space for reflection and unresolved tension.

• tone
• mood
• melancholy
• emotional
• pacing

Sardinia represents both escape and confrontation. The beautiful resort with its sun, sea, and vacation routines contrasts sharply with the couple's internal longing for a child. The lively neighboring family in this setting intensifies the tension between what they have and what they yearn for.

• sardinia
• vacation
• setting
• contrast
• escape

Alice is a married woman portrayed by Lavinia Wilson, struggling with infertility and the grief of failed IVF attempts. During the vacation she experiences emotional exhaustion, envy, and a brief disappearance that becomes a symbolic turning point. She is introspective and ultimately seeks grounding and reconciliation.

• alice
• lavinia wilson
• character
• infertility
• grief

Niklas is Alice's husband, played by Elyas M'Barek. He shares the burden of infertility but processes his pain through tension and withdrawal. His arc focuses on rebuilding closeness and trust with Alice after their emotional ordeal, learning to balance empathy with the frustration of their situation.

• niklas
• elyas mbarek
• character
• husband
• infertility

The story unfolds in contemporary present-day times within a European setting. It mirrors current social dynamics around infertility, IVF treatments, and marital strain. The Sardinian vacation provides a specific time-bound setting where these modern relationship challenges play out.

• present day
• contemporary
• time period
• modern

The film portrays healing as a gradual process requiring acceptance and vulnerability. Alice's return after her disappearance grounds her and signals a shift toward acceptance. The shared vulnerability during a neighbor's crisis helps the couple reconnect, leading to a fragile peace and a future defined by choice rather than expectation.

• healing
• acceptance
• growth
• recovery
• resolution