What Is Italian Studies About?
The premise of Italian Studies in 265 words, with nothing given away. The full story and the ending follow below.
In the restless pulse of New York City, a writer awakens to a world that feels both familiar and alien. Alina Reynolds drifts through bustling streets, cafés, and hidden stairwells, her sense of self fragmented by an inexplicable loss of memory. The city itself becomes a living collage of sounds, colors, and fleeting encounters, each corner offering both a reminder of who she might have been and a question about who she is now. The tone is intimate yet expansive, blending the lyrical confusion of a mind in flux with the gritty, vibrant backdrop of urban life.
Amid the neon glow and late‑night chatter, Alina crosses paths with a circle of young artists led by a charismatic presence known as Simon. Their world is a kaleidoscope of creativity, spontaneous conversation, and the raw energy of youthful ambition. Through shared meals, impromptu performances, and quiet moments on rooftops, they extend an invitation to Alina—a chance to anchor herself in the chaotic beauty of the city and perhaps glimpse fragments of a forgotten past. Their interactions are textured with humor, vulnerability, and an unspoken understanding that art can be both refuge and revelation.
The film hovers between the tangible and the imagined, letting the audience linger in the spaces where memory slips away and new connections take root. Alina’s journey is less about solving a mystery than about navigating the delicate balance between loss and belonging. The atmosphere is dreamy yet grounded, inviting viewers to feel the city’s heartbeat alongside her own, and to wonder how many stories lie hidden in the streets we think we know.
What Happens in Italian Studies?
The complete story of Italian Studies, from the first scene to the last, in 594 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Opening with the protagonist attending a vibrant party with her partner in the heart of NYC, we swiftly transition to a stark daytime scene. Here, she encounters a young girl who offers her a cigarette, yet the protagonist struggles to remember their connection.
On what seems like an ordinary day, she finds herself in a hardware store, leaving her dog tied up outside. Upon exiting, a sudden wave of disorientation washes over her, erasing her memory of everything. Consequently, she begins to roam the city, her sense of direction lost and time unclear.
As she stumbles upon some familiar steps, she pauses, recalling past interactions with a group of young people. With every stride through the bustling streets, her memories continue to elude her grasp. At a diner, she converses with a teenager, revealing her uncertainty about even the most fundamental details of her life, including her dietary choices, which she speculates might be vegetarian.
In this exchange, she expresses her confusion about her identity, sharing an embarrassing moment at a corner shop where she runs into trouble over her inability to pay. Later, in another shop, desperation drives her to grab items and flee.
Arriving at a small hotel, she approaches the receptionist, attempting to retrieve her key for room 234. However, her inability to provide any identification leads to disappointment. Outside, she finds a secluded spot to relieve herself and eventually curls up for sleep in a stairwell.
A chance encounter occurs when a woman approaches, inquiring if she is the author Alina Reynolds, noted for her work “Italian Studies.” The woman reminisces about attending a reading two years prior, describing the book as a collection of coming-of-age tales. This revelation sparks a glimmer of recognition, urging Alina to locate her book in the library.
As she reads a chapter, she stumbles upon a mention of room 234, prompting a faint smile as she borrows a pen to sign the book. A man reprimands her for defacing it, only to apologize upon realizing she is the author.
Delving into the chapter titled Lucinda, more fragments of Alina’s memory resurface, revealing that the interviews she conducted were with a younger version of herself. The teen from the diner, Simon, shares a poignant story about his first love.
Throughout this journey, various teens narrate their perspectives and memorable anecdotes. At a fast-food restaurant, the older version of Alina had recounted her plans for a novel based on their stories, leading the teens to pool their resources to help her cover her bill after she admits to being short on cash.
As Alina attends another lively party filled with youth, she finds it challenging to connect with them as she once did, facing open hostility instead. In a moment of vulnerability with Simon, she acknowledges that they are both “broken,” leading to a fleeting kiss before he departs.
The narrative shifts to a serene beach scene, where Alina catches up with Lucinda. During their conversation, she suddenly realizes her little white dog is missing. Panic sets in as she rushes back to the city, retracing her steps to the hardware store to find her beloved pet.
In the present, the girl who once offered Alina a cigarette recommends reaching out to Simon, now a college student. Hesitating, Alina expresses her fear that doing so might taint her nostalgic memories, hinting at past mental struggles that she believes her husband now fears might resurface.
As Alina and her husband journey back home, the scene is filled with reflections of the key interviewees from her past explorations.
Italian Studies Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Vibrant NYC Party” to “Reflection on Relationships”. 12 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Vibrant NYC Party
The film opens with the protagonist, Alina, at a lively party in New York City with her partner. The scene sets a vibrant mood as the audience is introduced to her character amidst laughter and excitement.
Where:New York City
- 2
Encounter with the Young Girl
Alina encounters a young girl who offers her a cigarette, prompting her to ponder their connection. This moment represents the first instance of confusion that will haunt her throughout the day.
- 3
Disorientation at the Hardware Store
While at a hardware store, Alina steps outside to find her dog tied up, only to be struck by a sudden wave of disorientation. This marks the beginning of her journey through the city, with her memories fading inexplicably.
Where:Hardware Store
- 4
Roaming the City
Lost and disoriented, Alina starts wandering through the bustling streets of the city. Her sense of direction is compromised, and she struggles to grasp the most basic details of her life.
Where:City Streets
- 5
Conversation at the Diner
Inside a diner, Alina engages in a conversation with a teenager, revealing her uncertainty about her identity and dietary choices. This moment highlights her disconnection from her own life and experiences.
Where:Diner
- 6
Embarrassment in a Corner Shop
Alina finds herself in an embarrassing situation at a corner shop when she is unable to pay for items. This incident further emphasizes her confusion and feeling of dislocation.
Where:Corner Shop
- 7
Desperation Leads to Theft
In a moment of desperation, Alina steals items from a shop. Her actions showcase the depths of her struggle as she grapples with her identity and her lost memories.
Where:Shop
- 8
Failed Hotel Check-In
Arriving at a small hotel, Alina attempts to retrieve her key for room 234. However, her lack of identification leads to disappointment, symbolizing her lost sense of self.
Where:Small Hotel
- 9
Meeting a Fan
Alina meets a woman who recognizes her as the author Alina Reynolds, sparking a faint memory of her past. The woman reminisces about a reading, igniting Alina's interest to explore her own narrative.
When:Two years ago
- 10
Reading Her Own Book
In a library, Alina reads a chapter from her own book and finds a reference to room 234, leading to a moment of joy and recognition. This serves as a pivotal point in reconnecting her with her past.
Where:Library
Show the other 5 events of Italian Studies Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Reflections on Interviews
Through the chapter titled *Lucinda*, Alina begins to recover pieces of her memory related to interviews she conducted with a younger version of herself. This insight allows her to understand her past experiences more clearly.
- 12
Teen's Story of First Love
The teenager from the diner, Simon, shares poignant tales of his first love during their interactions. This deepens Alina's understanding of the youth she used to connect with, further rekindling her memories.
Where:Fast-Food Restaurant
- 13
Connection and Vulnerability
At another youth party, Alina struggles to connect with the younger generation, facing hostility. Her moment of vulnerability with Simon, where they share a brief kiss, reveals the emotional weight of their mutual struggles.
Where:Party
- 14
Panic at the Beach
While at the beach with Lucinda, Alina suddenly realizes her dog is missing, leading to a panic. This prompts her to retrace her steps back to the city in search of her beloved pet.
Where:Beach
- 15
Reflection on Relationships
In the closing scenes, Alina contemplates reaching out to Simon, now a college student. As she and her husband head home, they reflect on key figures from her past exploration, suggesting a journey of personal growth and understanding.
Where:Car
Who Are the Main Characters in Italian Studies?
2 characters, among them Alina Reynolds (Vanessa Kirby) and Simon (Simon Brickner): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Alina Reynolds (Vanessa Kirby)
Played by Vanessa Kirby
Alina is a once-renowned author grappling with memory loss and a sense of self. As the story unfolds, she embarks on a poignant journey of rediscovery, interacting with youth and reflecting on her past. Her vulnerability and struggles depict her as a complex character seeking to reconnect with lost fragments of herself.
- 📝 Author
- 🌀 Disoriented
- 💭 Reflective
- S(
Simon (Simon Brickner)
Played by Simon Brickner
Simon represents the youthful energy and perspective in Alina's journey. His poignant reminiscences about young love provoke reflections in Alina, serving as a bridge between her past and present. Simon's interactions highlight the theme of connection across generational divides.
- 🌟 Youth
- 🥰 First Love
- 🤝 Connection
Where and When Is Italian Studies Set?
Italian Studies is set in New York City and Beach. Here is why the place matters to the story.
When
The story unfolds in contemporary times, characterized by the protagonist's struggle with memory and identity. It captures a moment in life where clarity is obscured, highlighting themes of youth, nostalgia, and the complexities of personal history against a modern urban landscape.
Where
New York City, Beach
The movie predominantly takes place in New York City, known for its vibrant culture, bustling streets, and diverse populace. As a central hub of art and literature, the city serves as a backdrop for Alina's journey of self-discovery and memory recovery. A serene beach scene contrasts the city's chaos, symbolizing a moment of reflection and peace.
- 🌆 City
- 🏖️ Beach
What Are the Themes of Italian Studies?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Memory, Identity and Nostalgia.
-
01
Memory
Memory plays a pivotal role in the narrative, as Alina navigates through fragmented recollections of her past. The film explores how memories shape identity and the fear of losing them completely. Alina's encounters trigger reflections on her life, prompting her to confront the nature of her memories and how they inform her relationships.
-
02
Identity
The theme of identity is intricately woven throughout Alina's journey. Faced with amnesia, she struggles to piece together who she is and what her life has been. The film delves into the concept of self-perception, especially in the light of one's past and the impact of experiences that shape a person.
-
03
Nostalgia
Nostalgia echoes throughout the film, manifesting in Alina's encounters with various characters from her past. As she reconnects with memories associated with youth, the narrative examines how nostalgia can both comfort and haunt an individual. It evokes a bittersweet yearning for moments that once brought joy but are now tinged with loss.
How Does Italian Studies End?
The last act of Italian Studies and what it means, in 288 words. The ending lands as bittersweet. Big spoilers: read the plot summary first if you have not seen it.
The final act, in full
Alina’s journey in the film is a disorienting and ambiguous experience that blurs the lines between reality, memory, and imagination. Throughout the story, she appears to suffer from sudden memory loss, unable to recall her identity or her past, which is depicted as both a literal and metaphorical disappearance. Her time in New York—meeting Simon and the teenagers, reflecting on her own stories—could be a real experience, a constructed hallucination, or a mixture of both. The film suggests that her memories and experiences may be fluid, unreliable, and perhaps even self-created to serve some deeper purpose—possibly her writing or her subconscious desire for detachment from her past.
At the end, Alina is back in London and appears to have regained a sense of her self and her memories. She recalls her encounters with the teenagers and, though she struggles to find concrete evidence that her experiences in New York were real, she ultimately chooses to accept the uncertainty. She expresses a desire to leave certain things unresolved, preferring to live in the present rather than chase a possibly lost past. Her refusal to reconnect with Simon or clarify her history suggests she has found some peace in acknowledging her fragmented memory and embracing the now.
The film’s ending maintains its ambiguity, leaving open the question of whether her memories were restored or simply reimagined. It hints that her feelings of loss, confusion, and the urge to reconstruct her identity are universal, reflecting how human memory itself can be fleeting, elusive, and sometimes a story we tell ourselves. Ultimately, Italian Studies explores the fragile nature of identity and memory, emphasizing that sometimes the things we hold onto—or choose to let go—are what shape who we are in the present.
What Kind of Film Is Italian Studies?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a complex story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Complex
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A dreamlike and melancholic journey through a fragmented New York City, experienced through the disorienting lens of amnesia, blending nostalgic reflections on youth with a quiet search for self.
- dreamlike
- disorienting
- melancholic
- introspective
- nostalgic
- lonely
- memory loss
- identity crisis
- urban isolation
- fragmented narrative
Content notes: mental health struggle.
Quiz
How well do you remember Italian Studies? Test yourself on the story.
