What Is 1987 About?
The premise of 1987 in 246 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the sweltering summer of 1987, a small Quebec town pulses with the restless energy of its teenagers. Seventeen‑year‑old Ricardo stands at the crossroads of adolescence, juggling the universal cravings for freedom, a first love, and the simple but potent symbols of adulthood—a car and a place behind the bar. Surrounded by a close‑knit group of friends, he bounces between school, after‑party chaos, and the hazy promise of a future that feels both wildly attainable and terrifyingly out of reach.
The film paints a vivid portrait of youthful ambition against a backdrop of late‑80s culture, where music, fashion, and a lingering sense of rebellion color every interaction. Ricardo’s heart is torn between his current girlfriend, Marie‑Josée, and the alluring new crush, Sarah, whose presence adds a fresh spark to his already complicated social map. Family dynamics add another layer of tension; his father’s quiet, unconventional pursuits hint at the gray areas the boy might soon be tempted to explore.
As the season progresses, Ricardo becomes increasingly determined to fast‑track his dreams, leveraging an unexpected inheritance as a shortcut toward the life he imagines. This impulse to seize control sets the tone for a summer that feels both exhilarating and precarious, hinting at choices that could reshape his relationships and self‑perception. The story balances humor and yearning, inviting viewers to linger on the bittersweet edge of growing up while wondering just how far a teenager will go when the line between ambition and impulse begins to blur.
What Happens in 1987?
The complete story of 1987, from the first scene to the last, in 513 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
In 1987, 17-year-old Ricardo [Jean-Carl Boucher] faces the usual teenage maze: a crush on Sara [Alyssa Labelle] and a girlfriend named Marie-Josée [Éléonore Lamothe], all while enjoying the freedom that comes with having a car. With three friends by his side, he dives into parties, drinks a lot, and dreams loud, sometimes crossing lines as he and his circle try to figure out where they’re headed after graduation. After a night when they fail to get into a bar, Ricardo dares to open one for underage teens, imagining a path to independence and notoriety.
On the first night of running the makeshift venue, Ricardo is supposed to take a step toward adulthood by being intimate with Marie-Josée, but chaos erupts when he accidentally damages a BMW. The cost of repairs lands on the restaurant’s budget, and he is promptly fired; a heated quarrel with his father follows, driving him to witness his dad turning to illegal wine production as a precarious back-up plan. The misadventures continue when Ricardo and his friends stumble upon a valuable radio left in a car. They take it, hoping to cash in, and the theft marks a turning point as they drift further into petty crime. They manage to gain entry to the bar, and Ricardo finds himself drawn closer to Sara, even as the risk of getting caught grows.
As prom night arrives, Ricardo learns Marie-Josée has had an affair with a man at the bar he’s always trying to reach, and the project to open their bar ends up getting planned in a nearby region. One of his friends is named to the NHL, adding a tangle of competing dreams to the mix. Seeking some revenge against Marie-Josée, Ricardo arranges a date with Sara, but the plan backfires when Sara reveals she is homosexual, deflating his expectations and complicating his feelings. The tension heightens when Ricardo catches Dallaire [Pier-Luc Funk] with Marie-Josée, a moment that pushes him toward confrontation rather than reconciliation.
In a heated moment, Ricardo tries to talk to Marie-Josée while under the influence of his father’s wine, and the night ends with a police arrest after officers discover the stolen radios; he attempts to flee, only to be overwhelmed by the consequences of his choices. Believing that Dallaire trapped him into chasing Marie-Josée, Ricardo lashes out and blames his friend for the crumbling plan. The morning after brings another argument with his parents about Ricardo’s reckless activities and his father’s illegal business, a clash that is interrupted when Ricardo’s sister reveals that Marie-Josée has called. Driven by a stubborn mix of pride and longing, Ricardo climbs onto a bike and rides for hours—three hours to Trois-Rivières, a grueling 136 kilometres (85 miles)—to try to rekindle what he thinks he’s lost.
Ultimately, it’s revealed that the romance with Marie-Josée fades after about three years, and Ricardo never sees Dallaire again. The film traces a young man’s fall and possible awakening as he navigates love, loyalty, risk, and the consequences of choices made in a time when youth belts out loud ambitions and louder mistakes.
1987 Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Ricardo's teenage life and a forbidden crush” to “End of the relationship and fading ties”. 6 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Ricardo's teenage life and a forbidden crush
In 1987, 17-year-old Ricardo navigates teen life with a crush on Sarah while juggling a girlfriend named Marie-Josée. He has a car and spends weekends partying with his three friends, often getting drunk. The year marks the start of a reckless streak that drives his decisions.
When:1987
- 2
Opening an underage bar after graduation
After they fail to enter a bar following graduation, Ricardo decides to open one for underage teens. He takes on responsibility for the venture and pushes forward despite the risks. The move pulls him deeper into the nightlife and its consequences.
When:Post-graduation
- 3
First night of work goes wrong
On his first night at the new bar, Ricardo is supposed to have sex with Marie-Josée and lose his virginity, but he instead breaks a BMW. The damage burdens the restaurant’s budget and he is fired. An argument with his father leads the latter to start making wine illegally.
When:First night of work Where:Bar/restaurant
- 4
Ricardo and friends become thieves
One night Ricardo and his friends discover an expensive radio in a car and steal it to raise money. The theft marks the start of their descent into petty crime. Their new 'career' strains friendships and foreshadows more trouble.
When:A night after first job Where:In a car
- 5
Bar entry brings Ricardo closer to Sarah
After finally gaining entry to the bar, Ricardo finds himself drawn closer to Sarah, despite ongoing tensions with Marie-Josée. The growing closeness introduces a tempting but complicated dynamic. The situation foreshadows coming conflicts.
When:After bar entry Where:Bar
- 6
Prom day revelations: affair, relocation, NHL
On prom day, Ricardo learns Marie-Josée had an affair with someone from the bar he frequents, leading to a breakup. He also discovers that his bar project has been moved to a nearby region, and a friend has been admitted to the NHL. The day leaves him reeling and rethinking his plans.
When:Prom day
- 7
Ricardo pursues revenge with Sarah
To get back at Marie-Josée, Ricardo arranges a date with Sarah. The evening goes awry when Sarah announces her homosexuality, complicating Ricardo's feelings and plans. The moment heightens tensions and uncertainty.
When:Prom night Where:Date location
- 8
Confrontation, drinking, and arrest
Ricardo finds Dallaire with Marie-Josée, triggering a confrontation. He drinks from his father’s wine and becomes intoxicated, and the police arrest him after finding the stolen radios. He tries to flee, worsening his predicament.
When:That night Where:Police/bar vicinity
- 9
Ricardo blames Dallaire
Believing Dallaire tricked him into pursuing Marie-Josée, Ricardo blames Dallaire for the stolen radios. The accusation strains their fragile friendship and deepens the rift within the group.
When:That night
- 10
Morning argument with parents
The next morning, Ricardo quarrels with his parents about his reckless activities and his father's illegal business. Their clash is interrupted when Ricardo’s sister announces that Marie-Josée has called.
When:Next morning
- 11
A long bike ride to see Marie-Josée
Ricardo hops on a bike and rides 136 kilometres to Trois-Rivières to have sex with Marie-Josée. The grueling journey underscores his stubborn desire to reconnect, despite the mounting consequences. The trek reveals the depth of his obsession.
When:That day Where:Trois-Rivières
- 12
End of the relationship and fading ties
It is later revealed that the relationship has ended after three years, and Ricardo never sees Dallaire again. The trio's friendship dissolves as their paths diverge, leaving Ricardo to reflect on the reckless years of his youth.
When:3 years later
Who Are the Main Characters in 1987?
4 characters, among them Ricardo Trogi (Jean-Carl Boucher), Marie-Josée (Éléonore Lamothe) and Sara Delorme (Alyssa Labelle): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- RT
Ricardo Trogi (Jean-Carl Boucher)
Played by Jean-Carl Boucher
A 17-year-old whose crushes and bravado drive reckless choices. He chases romance with Sarah while juggling a girlfriend in Marie-Josée, attends parties and drinks, and participates in acts that land him in trouble. His impulsive nature is tempered by loyalty to friends even as his plans unravel.
- 🧒 Teenage rebel
- 💕 Romantic pursuit
- 🧭 Risk-taker
- M(
Marie-Josée (Éléonore Lamothe)
Played by Éléonore Lamothe
Ricardo's girlfriend who becomes the object of his affection and jealousy. Her affair with a man at the bar destabilizes their relationship and foreshadows the breakup after years together. She remains a catalyst for Ricardo's emotional upheaval.
- 💖 Love interest
- 💔 Betrayal
- 🗝️ Bar life
- SD
Sara Delorme (Alyssa Labelle)
Played by Alyssa Labelle
A love interest who becomes central when Ricardo pursues a date with Marie-Josée, only to be confronted with Sara's declaration of homosexuality. Her trajectory intersects with Ricardo's plans and contributes to his misadventures.
- 💃 Romance
- 🌈 LGBTQ+
- 🗺️ Adventure
- D(
Dallaire (Pier-Luc Funk)
Played by Pier-Luc Funk
One of Ricardo's friends linked to the thefts and the tense moments around the stolen radios. His actions spark suspicions and influence the night’s course, contributing to Ricardo's reputation and the unfolding drama.
- 🤝 Friendship
- 🕵️ Crime
- 🗝️ Secrecy
Where and When Is 1987 Set?
1987 is set in Québec, Canada, Trois-Rivières, bar, restaurant, home (1987). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1987
The events take place in 1987, a pre-digital era where teenagers navigate romance and rebellion through direct, in-person interactions. Parties, prom-night plans, and barroom escapades define the social scene, often with impulsive decisions and limited adult oversight. The period’s social norms and family dynamics frame the consequences that follow the characters’ actions.
Where
Québec, Canada, Trois-Rivières, bar, restaurant, home
Set primarily in Quebec, the film unfolds across homes, bars, and restaurants, with a memorable trip to Trois-Rivières. The late-1980s milieu shapes teen antics, family tensions, and legal trouble. The local atmosphere captures the contrasts between small towns and urban nightlife in a Quebecois context.
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🏙️ Small-town Life
- 🧭 1980s Culture
What Are the Themes of 1987?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Coming of Age, Rebellion & Consequences and Love & Betrayal.
-
01
Coming of Age
The story follows a teenager's messy journey toward independence, driven by romance, peer pressure, and a desire to belong. Ricardo's misadventures illuminate the fragile line between innocence and risk. Growth emerges from repeated mistakes and their fallout.
-
02
Rebellion & Consequences
Thrill-seeking leads to theft, illegal activity, and arrest, illustrating how impulsive acts ripple through family life and future plans. The pursuit of excitement clashes with responsibility, revealing the fragility of adult-style plans for a teenager. Consequences accumulate, reshaping relationships and self-perception.
-
03
Love & Betrayal
Romantic entanglements, jealousy, and revelations strain relationships and test loyalties. The interplay between Marie-Josée, Sarah, and Ricardo exposes how trust can fray under pressure. Betrayal accelerates emotional volatility and shifts the course of friendships.
What Kind of Film Is 1987?
Bittersweet in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A chaotic and nostalgic coming-of-age film that follows a teenager's impulsive summer defined by bad decisions, messy relationships, and eventual consequences that feel both inevitable and bittersweet.
- frustrated
- impulsive
- adventurous
- teenage angst
- reckless
- nostalgic
- coming of age
- friendship
- first love
- betrayal
Content notes: underage drinking, petty theft, lawbreaking.
Quiz
How well do you remember 1987? Test yourself on the story.
