1987 2014

Comedy

Drama

Runtime

105 mins

Language

French

Directed by

Ricardo Trogi

Made by

GO Films

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1987 Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for 1987 (2014). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

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

Follow the complete movie timeline of 1987 (2014) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

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.

1987

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.

Post-graduation

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.

First night of work Bar/restaurant

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.

A night after first job In a car

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.

After bar entry Bar

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.

Prom day

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.

Prom night Date location

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.

That night Police/bar vicinity

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.

That night

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.

Next morning

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.

That day Trois-Rivières

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.

3 years later

1987 Characters

Explore all characters from 1987 (2014). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Ricardo Trogi (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

Marie-Josée (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

Sara Delorme (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

Dallaire (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

1987 Settings

Learn where and when 1987 (2014) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

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.

Location

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

1987 Themes

Discover the main themes in 1987 (2014). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🪞

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.

🧭

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.

💔

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.

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1987 Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of 1987 (2014). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

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.