What Is Jeremy About?
The premise of Jeremy in 246 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the bustling yet intimate world of a New York City performing‑arts high school, a shy, bespectacled teenager navigates his days between music rooms, a modest apartment, and an after‑school dog‑walking gig. He devotes himself to the cello, finding solace in the precision of practice, the quiet focus of chess, and the occasional thrill of picking winners at the racetrack without ever placing a bet. His life moves at a careful rhythm, punctuated by the low hum of city streets and the steady pulse of his own ambitions.
When a new presence glides into the school’s corridors, the atmosphere shifts. Susan arrives as a dedicated ballet student, older and already seasoned in her craft, carrying the quiet determination of someone who has moved to the city to chase a dream. Their first encounter—a brief, hesitant exchange in an empty classroom—sparkles with the electricity of unexpected connection. Both are drawn to each other’s artistic devotion, sensing a resonance that hints at something deeper than ordinary friendship.
The film unfolds with a measured, observant tone, rendering ordinary moments—walks to class, shared glances, the soft echo of cello strings against the backdrop of rehearsed pirouettes—into a delicate portrait of adolescence. It captures the tender uncertainty of a first love blooming amid the pressures of demanding creative pursuits, inviting the audience to linger on the quiet textures of youth, ambition, and the fragile hope that two young artists might find a shared rhythm in a city that never truly sleeps.
What Happens in Jeremy?
The complete story of Jeremy, from the first scene to the last, in 842 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In a quiet, observant New York City drama, Jeremy Jones, Robby Benson, is a shy, bespectacled, Jewish fifteen-year-old who lives in a small apartment with parents who are busy with their own pursuits, leaving him largely to figure things out on his own. He attends a private high school that focuses on the performing arts, where he pours his energy into cello study and dreams of musical greatness. Beyond the classroom, he keeps himself busy with an after-school job as a dog walker, and his spare moments are filled with poetry, chess, and occasional looks at horse racing, where he consistently seems to pick winners even though he never places a bet. The world feels big and a little intimidating, yet he moves through it with a cautious sincerity that makes his small moments of joy feel earned.
When he encounters a new presence in an otherwise familiar space, the moment is electric. One day he slips into an empty classroom in the arts-focused high school and spots Susan Rollins, Glynnis O’Connor, practicing ballet. The brief exchange between them is shy and awkward, and Jeremy is so flustered that he forgets to ask for her name. He learns soon afterward that she is indeed the new girl, older than he is and in a higher grade. He begins to follow her from a distance, while his more confident friend Ralph tries a gentler approach to break the ice. Susan sends him a message through Ralph, inviting him to call, and, after a moment of hesitation sparked by the sight of her walking with an older boy, Jeremy resolves to take the step and call her. Their first real connection comes after a school recital where Jeremy plays cello as a featured soloist, and Susan, listening intently, offers warm congratulations that light a spark in him.
From that moment, the pair fall into a rhythm built on daily walks to school, conversations in parks, and visits to the city racetrack. They share small discoveries about one another—Jeremy’s seriousness about his cello, his quiet humor, Susan’s experience of moving to New York after her mother’s death—and the bond between them deepens with each passing day. Jeremy finds himself falling in love, a realization he confides to Ralph in the privacy of a late-night chess game and poetry reading. The romance becomes a central thread of their days, and the two of them begin to navigate the contours of a first, powerful love that feels both exhilarating and fragile.
Their affection culminates in a moment of vulnerability: on a rainy afternoon, as they sit together in Jeremy’s room and play chess, they openly confess their love for one another and share a first intimate moment. The scene crystallizes their closeness and the sense that they have found something rare and transformative in each other. For a little while, the world feels navigable and bright, colored by the music of Jeremy’s cello and the quiet support they offer one another.
But happiness meets a sudden interruption. Susan learns that her father has been offered a better job back in Detroit, and the family must move soon, perhaps within the next few days. She attempts to explain her feelings to him, hoping he’ll understand the depth of what she’s experienced with Jeremy, but her father Treats the relationship as something temporary, not lasting enough to justify disruption in her life. The next day, Susan breaks the news to Jeremy with a trembling honesty that mirrors the unsure footing they now find themselves on. Jeremy seeks counsel from his own family and from Ralph, but neither is receptive to the idea of a sudden, distant future with someone he has just discovered he loves. The tension between what they feel and what their families are willing to accept creates a distance that neither can easily bridge.
As the days count down, the sense of inevitability thickens. The two lovers attempt to hold onto their connection, but the practical pull of reality—distance, parental skepticism, and the looming departure—presses down on them with quiet seriousness. The farewell arrives in a stark, public moment at the airport, where Susan and Jeremy say their goodbyes with a shared, aching sadness. She departs for Detroit, leaving Jeremy standing alone, the hum of the city around him, and the ache of first love lingering in the air.
What remains when the plane disappears is a portrait of a brief, bright chapter in a teenage life: a young artist discovering a calling beyond his cello, a new friendship that deepens into something profound, and a relationship that blossoms under the pressure of timing and circumstance. It is told in careful, measured detail—rich in small scenes and everyday textures—so that the emotional truth of two young people who dare to fall in love, only to be parted by circumstance, remains clear and honest. The film captures the tension between idealized yearning and the practical limits of adolescence, leaving the audience with a lingering sense of what might have been, while honoring the sincerity of what was.
Jeremy Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Jeremy's quiet life in New York” to “Left behind, but not forgotten”. 13 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Jeremy's quiet life in New York
Jeremy Jones leads a quiet life in a New York City apartment. He is a shy, bespectacled fifteen-year-old who attends a private high school for the performing arts and spends his days practicing cello, reading poetry, and walking dogs after school. His world centers on small routines—chess, park visits, and following horse racing—where he keeps his larger dreams largely to himself.
When:present Where:New York City
- 2
Susan appears in the classroom
While looking for chalk in an empty classroom, Jeremy glimpses Susan Rollins practicing ballet. He is instantly smitten by her beauty, but his nerves keep him from asking her name. The moment leaves him curious and a little breathless.
When:school hours Where:School classroom
- 3
Ralph bridges the gap
Ralph, Jeremy's more confident friend, explains the situation to Susan and passes along a message for Jeremy to call. Susan sends back the instruction that he should call her. The setup nudges Jeremy toward taking a chance on love.
When:shortly after Where:School
- 4
Jeremy hesitates to call
Jeremy spots Susan walking with an older, handsome boy and decides not to call, misreading her signals and letting fear win. The moment highlights his longing and his social insecurity within the school scene.
When:same day Where:School
- 5
Susan's recital and Jeremy's solo
At a school recital, Jeremy delivers a cello solo that Susan attends. She congratulates him afterward, impressed by his talent and moved by the positive attention. Her encouragement gives him the push to finally call and ask her out.
When:recital day Where:School auditorium
- 6
First date and discovery
On their first date, Jeremy learns that Susan's mother is dead and that she and her father recently moved from Detroit for a new job. They share a growing connection as they explore New York together.
When:first date Where:New York City
- 7
New romance and daily walks
They begin walking to school together every day and spend time in the park and at the racetrack, building a closeness that feels new and exciting. Jeremy confides to Ralph that he is falling in love.
When:the next three weeks Where:Various NYC locations
- 8
Confession and first time
One rainy afternoon, while playing chess in Jeremy's room, Susan and Jeremy confess their love for each other and then make love for the first time. The moment is intimate and bonds them in a way that changes their dynamic.
When:rainy afternoon Where:Jeremy's room
- 9
News of the Detroit move
Susan returns home to find that her father has been offered a better job back in Detroit, and they will be leaving New York soon. The announcement unsettles them both and casts a shadow over their future together.
When:shortly after the night together Where:Susan's home
- 10
Moving closer to goodbye
The next day, a tearful Susan tells Jeremy the news about moving, and he is stunned by how quickly their world is changing. They try to process the impending separation while clinging to the remaining days.
When:the next day Where:Phone calls / Susan's home
Show the other 3 events of Jeremy Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Seeking support, finding none
He tries to reach out to his father and Ralph to talk about his feelings, but neither is receptive. The lack of support deepens his sense of isolation and loss.
When:following days Where:Jeremy's home
- 12
Airport farewell
At the airport, Jeremy and Susan share a tearful goodbye as she departs for Detroit, leaving him alone with a painful mix of memories and what-ifs.
When:departure day Where:Airport
- 13
Left behind, but not forgotten
Jeremy is left alone again after Susan's departure, carrying the memory of their brief romance and the ache of what could have been. The experience lingers as he returns to his routines in New York.
When:immediately after Where:New York / home
Who Are the Main Characters in Jeremy?
4 characters, among them Jeremy Jones (Robby Benson), Susan Rollins (Glynnis O'Connor) and Ralph Manzoni (Len Bari): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Jeremy Jones (Robby Benson)
Played by Robby Benson
A shy, observant fifteen-year-old cellist who grapples with love, identity, and the pressures of living up to artistic promise. His quiet demeanor hides a determined, imaginative mind and a longing for connection beyond his world. He experiences a first, transformative romance with Susan that deepens his emotional awareness.
- 🎻 Cello prodigy
- 🧠 Shy
- 🫶 Romantic
-
Susan Rollins (Glynnis O'Connor)
Played by Glynnis O'Connor
A capable, older classmate who carries the weight of her mother’s death and a recent move from Detroit. She is drawn to Jeremy’s sincerity and talent, navigating a new city and a growing sense of independence. Her relationship with Jeremy becomes a bridging moment between two worlds.
- 🎼 Artistic
- 🧭 Independent
- 💔 Loss of mother
- RM
Ralph Manzoni (Len Bari)
Played by Len Bari
Jeremy’s more confident, impulsive friend who helps push him toward taking steps with Susan. He acts as a practical bridge between Jeremy’s shyness and Susan’s interest, offering encouragement and realism. His presence highlights the dynamics of teenage friendship and loyalty.
- 🗣️ Confident
- 🤝 Loyal
- 🎯 Bold
- SF
Susan's Father (Mr. Rollins) (Ned Wilson)
Played by Ned Wilson
A pragmatic, protective father who places professional opportunities above romance. He moves the family back to Detroit, which sets the stage for the emotional distance between Susan and Jeremy. He represents adult priorities and skepticism toward teenage relationships.
- 💼 Pragmatic
- 🚶♀️ Protective
- 🧭 Realistic
Where and When Is Jeremy Set?
Jeremy is set in New York City and Detroit. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
New York City, Detroit
The story primarily unfolds in New York City, focusing on a modest apartment and a private high school for the performing arts. The urban setting provides intimate spaces for personal growth, romance, and artistic pursuit, with scenes in parks and at a racetrack enriching the backdrop. Detroit appears as a distant hometown connected to Susan’s past and future, foreshadowing the separation at the story’s end when the family leaves for Detroit.
- 🗽 New York City
- 🚗 Detroit
- 🏙️ Urban environment
What Are the Themes of Jeremy?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love, Coming of Age and Artistic Ambition.
-
01
Love
A quick, intense teenage romance blossoms between Jeremy and Susan, driven by admiration, attraction, and first experiences. The relationship is tender yet fragile, shaped by shyness, miscommunication, and the fear of an impending departure. Their bond becomes the emotional center of the story, tested by age difference and the looming threat of separation.
-
02
Coming of Age
The narrative follows a young boy's transition from adolescence toward greater emotional maturity. Jeremy navigates self-doubt, family dynamics, and the complexities of budding love while pursuing his cello craft. The plot traces his attempts to express himself and connect with others in a world that feels both intimate and overwhelming.
-
03
Artistic Ambition
Jeremy’s dedication to the cello and his dream of artistic greatness drive much of the story. The private arts school setting and his solo performances demonstrate the pressures and rewards of pursuing talent. The relationship between personal ambition and emotional vulnerability is a recurring theme.
-
04
Separation
The possibility of moving back to Detroit creates a sense of inevitability around the couple’s farewell. Parental priorities and practical concerns overrule romantic urgency, culminating in an airport departure that leaves Jeremy alone again with his memories. The end underscores the fragility of a first love when faced with adult decisions.
What Kind of Film Is Jeremy?
Bittersweet in tone, with slow pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Sad
A quietly observant and tender film that captures the fragile intensity of first love between two young artists, building a nostalgic and ultimately melancholic mood as their bright chapter ends with a painful separation.
- nostalgic
- melancholic
- quiet
- tender
- introspective
- yearning
- first love
- coming of age
- artistic pursuit
- teenage romance
Quiz
How well do you remember Jeremy? Test yourself on the story.
