When in Rome 2002

Twins Leila Hunter, [Ashley Olsen], and Charli Hunter, [Mary-Kate Olsen], travel to Rome to join a Summer Intern Program alongside Paolo, Nobu, Dari, and Heidi. The city’s timeless energy surrounds them as they dive into a schedule of design briefs, daily critiques, and team lunches, all while chasing a chance to prove themselves in a high-stakes environment. From the first moments, the group feels the pull between bold creativity and the strict expectations of the professional world, and the interns begin to glimpse how much this opportunity could change their lives.

Early on, the excitement clashes with reality. Despite their enthusiasm, the four other interns—Paolo, Nobu, Dari, and Heidi [Michelangelo Tommaso], [Archie Kao], [Ilenia Lazzarin], [Valentina Mattolini]—are soon sidelined after a string of careless mishaps, and the mood shifts from bright optimism to anxious concern. The setback forces Leila and Charli to confront the pressures of responsibility and the mistakes that can follow when ambition runs ahead of discipline. They find themselves navigating not just design challenges but the politics of a program that values precision as much as personality.

In a moment that shifts the dynamic, the sisters cross paths with Derek Henson, who rehires the group and invites them to spend a day at his house. There, Leila encounters Ryan, a rebellious but charismatic designer who catches her eye. Ryan is played by [Derek Lee Nixon], and his easy confidence contrasts with the interns’ earnest efforts, shaping a budding connection that adds a personal pulse to the professional drama unfolding around them. The day away from the typical studio floor helps Leila and her sisters see a different side of their own talents—and the way a single confident mentor can tilt a career’s balance.

Back at work, the interns grow closer as a team. They strike up friendships with the other interns and begin to pull together under pressure, learning to share long hours, tighten up bad habits, and lean into each other’s strengths. Charli and Paolo, in particular, develop mutual feelings that complicate decisions about creative direction and future opportunities. The group learns to blend their distinct voices into a cohesive vision, even as outside temptations and internal tensions threaten to fracture their progress.

A turning point arrives when Mr. Tortoni, the project’s towering figure of authority, sabotages a shoot by stealing the dresses. Leila, with Ryan’s help, takes decisive action by capturing evidence of the act and delivering the photographs to Derek. The crew rallies to salvage the project, and new dresses are quickly crafted—this time using Charli’s designs as the backbone of the shoot. The moment marks a clear shift: the interns’ ingenuity, teamwork, and willingness to improvise under pressure begin to redefine their standing in the program.

The photoshoot itself becomes the test of everything they’ve learned. As the team pulls together to regain control of the shoot, the tension surrounding Mr. Tortoni’s jealousy becomes evident—he’s shown to crave not just success, but control over money, status, and the attention of the people around him. The confrontation hints at deeper motivations, revealing that his actions have been driven by insecurities as much as ambition.

With the crisis averted and the shoot a success, Derek arrives to reinforce the interns’ position, and the power dynamics within the program start to settle. The conclusion underscores the twins’ growth: what began as reckless enthusiasm has matured into disciplined collaboration, genuine artistry, and a sense of direction for the future. The team’s resilience wins the day, and the experience leaves them with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.

In the final moments, the story threads of romance, ambition, and friendship come to a quiet head. Jamie and Derek, along with Charli and Paolo, share a moment of connection, while Ryan’s boldness leads to a respectful hug from Leila as she acknowledges a boundary she’s prepared to keep. The closing beat reveals a bold, forward-looking choice: Derek decides to take all the interns to New York, opening the door to new opportunities, collaborations, and the next chapter in their careers. The film ends on a note of hopeful momentum, with the twins and their friends stepping into a wider world where their talents can truly shine.