What Is The Christophers About?
The premise of The Christophers in 305 words, with nothing given away. The full story and the ending follow below.
Julian Sklar stands as a fading monument to London’s explosive 1960s and 70s pop-art scene, a once-celebrated painter whose canvases captured the spirit of an era. Now elderly and eccentric, he lives in quiet poverty, his brushes dormant and his reputation gathering dust in the corners of art history. The vibrant world that once clamored for his work has moved on, leaving behind a man whose creative fire appears extinguished—though perhaps not entirely forgotten.
Into this stillness step two figures from his past: his estranged children, Barnaby and Sallie, whose interest in their father has less to do with reconciliation than with the inheritance they believe awaits them. Their scheme requires someone skilled enough to gain Julian’s trust without raising suspicion—someone who understands both art and the murkier territories of the art world. To this end, they enlist Lori Butler, an art restorer with a complicated history of her own, to pose as a prospective assistant and gain access to his estate.
What begins as a calculated arrangement soon draws Lori into the orbit of a man whose public persona may hide sharper instincts than anyone anticipated. Julian’s studio, filled with unfinished works and decades of memory, becomes a space where questions of authenticity, legacy, and artistic integrity refuse to stay buried. As Lori navigates her dual role, she finds herself confronting not only the expectations of her employers but also the unpredictable nature of a creative mind that has never quite conformed to rules.
Set against a world where art and commerce collide, the story explores what remains when fame fades and whether creation can still hold meaning when everyone wants a piece of it. The tension between genuine artistic passion and calculated ambition hums beneath every interaction, promising revelations about what it means to leave something behind—and what it costs to claim it.
What Happens in The Christophers?
The complete story of The Christophers, from the first scene to the last, in 653 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Lori Butler, Michaela Coel is a young artist who hasn’t exhibited in years and is drawn into a calculated plan by Julian Sklar’s unscrupulous children to finish the Christophers behind his back after his death. Julian Sklar, Ian McKellen, is a renowned painter based in London, now elderly and eccentric. In the 1990s, he completed two series of paintings called The Christophers based on a former lover; a third series remains unfinished, and he has not worked on them in years. His reputation has faded as he has aged, even as his current life includes long sessions of recording Cameos for his fans to earn a living.
His unscrupulous children, Barnaby Sklar James Corden and Sallie Milton Sklar Jessica Gunning, hatch a plan to hire Lori to pose as Julian’s assistant and finish the paintings behind his back so they can cash in after his death. Lori meets Julian, who spends much of his time on Cameos to sustain himself, and she quickly becomes entangled in the painter’s circle. He soon orders her to shred the unfinished Christophers; instead, she forges doubles of each painting and shredds the fakes, a move that seeds distrust and signals that she is not merely a hired help but a collaborator with her own artistic stake.
Julian, sharper than he initially appears, soon deduces that Lori is an artist in her own right and that she has been brought in by his children. She confesses, and their relationship deepens as she proves her knowledge of his work and offers pointed critiques of his second Christophers series. When Barnaby and Sallie visit to check on progress, Lori and Julian manage to fool them into believing that the shredded fakes were the real paintings, foiling the siblings’ scheme and introducing a fragile trust between artist and mentor. Julian makes a bold, and controversial, move: he intends to burn the unfinished third series, but Lori resists, and she challenges him to do it himself if that is what he truly wants.
With a tense hesitation, Julian leads the two of them back to his studio, and he decides to finish the series in a way that would render them unsaleable. In a moment of twisted artistic joy, he adds glitter, feathers and other ornaments to two of the unfinished works before stopping. He accuses Lori of manipulating him into finishing the paintings and savages her work, which he has even been able to assess online. Hurt and disillusioned, she leaves his employ.
Frustrated but calculating, Lori briefly reconnects with Barnaby and Sallie and attempts another angle, guessing they have already sold the paintings and are deep in debt. Later, Julian visits Lori at home and admits that it was wrong to judge her work without seeing it in person. He realizes that years earlier, he had harshly criticized her on a television program, an act that helped push her from exhibiting. They repair their relationship, and he asks her to return to work for him in a week or so. Before she can, Julian dies, found by his masseuse with a paintbrush in hand, a moment that shifts the entire landscape of the unfinished legacy.
Sometime after, Lori takes the real Christophers from the house and forges a letter in Julian’s name granting ownership of the works to Christopher, Julian’s former lover. At a museum show honoring Julian’s legacy, Christopher displays the portraits—now finished in the “unsalable” style that Julian had begun to revive—leaving it unclear whether Lori or Julian actually completed them. Beside these, Lori unveils a contemporary piece honoring Julian by compiling dozens of his Cameo videos, a testament to his far-reaching influence and to the way art, life, and reputation have become intertwined in unexpected ways. The masseuse delivers Julian’s final painting to Lori—a self-portrait unfinished—signed “for Lori” on the back, a last, enigmatic gesture that leaves the true author of the final works open to interpretation.
The Christophers Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Julian Sklar in late career” to “Final painting and signature message”. 15 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Julian Sklar in late career
Julian Sklar is an elderly, renowned painter based in London whose reputation has faded by the 1990s. He has completed two Christophers and a third unfinished, living with eccentric energy as he ages. The period sets the stage for his continuing, imperfect productivity.
When:1990s Where:London
- 2
Lori Butler hired to finish the Christophers
Barnaby and Sallie hire Lori Butler, a younger artist who has not exhibited in years, to pose as Julian's assistant and finish the unfinished Christophers behind his back. Their plan is to sell the completed paintings after Julian dies for a fortune. Lori’s involvement is kept secret as the scheme unfolds.
When:early 1990s Where:Julian's studio, London
- 3
Lori meets Julian and the Cameos
Lori meets Julian, who spends much of his time recording Cameos for his fans to earn a living. He quickly sets her to work and begins to test their working relationship. The dynamic reveals a sharp, almost mentorship-like rapport between artist and collaborator.
When:soon after introduction Where:Julian's studio, London
- 4
Lori fabricates doubles and shreds fakes
Julian orders Lori to shred the unfinished Christophers, but she instead forges doubles of each and shreds the fakes. The act signals her willingness to subvert the plan and probe Julian's resolve. The shredded fakes complicate the project and blur lines of authorship.
When:early in collaboration Where:London studio
- 5
Julian realizes Lori is an artist
Julian suspects Lori is a genuine artist rather than a mere pawn. He grows to trust her as their friendship deepens and she demonstrates strong knowledge of his work. He begins to critique his own second series with her by his side.
When:shortly after the forgery incident Where:Julian's studio
- 6
Deception fools the sellers
Barnaby and Sallie visit to check Lori's progress and are fooled by Julian and Lori into believing the shredded fakes are the real paintings. Their scheme is endangered by this deception and they remain unaware of the true state of the artworks. The pair's grip on the plan loosens as the truth threatens to surface.
When:shortly after Lori's actions Where:Studio, London
- 7
Decision to finish the third series
Julian decides to burn the unfinished third series and orders Lori to do it. Lori refuses and challenges him to take responsibility, bringing the works back to the studio. Julian, hesitating, chooses to finish them in a deliberately terrible way so they become unsellable, adding glitter and ornaments to two of the pieces. The act marks a deliberate reclaiming of control over the artworks.
When:mid-collaboration Where:Studio, London
- 8
Confrontation and career critique
In a burst of artistic judgment, Julian accuses Lori of manipulating him and criticizes her work after examining it online. Lori, frustrated, leaves his employ but remains connected to the evolving project. The conflict tests their fragile alliance.
When:after the paintings are finished Where:Julian's studio
- 9
Lori hints at renewed schemes with debt in mind
Lori briefly renews her scheme with Barnaby and Sallie, sensing that they have already sold the paintings and are in debt. She contemplates the potential shifts in ownership and the leverage she might gain. The tension between personal ambition and financial pressure grows.
When:soon after Where:Lori's home
- 10
Reconciliation attempt
Julian visits Lori at her home and admits that he was wrong to judge her without seeing her work in person. They repair their relationship, and he asks her to return to work in a week. The moment hints at a renewed creative partnership, even as underlying tensions remain.
When:shortly after Where:Lori's home
Show the other 5 events of The Christophers Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Julian dies suddenly
Before Lori can return, Julian dies and is found with a paintbrush in hand by his masseuse. The death abruptly ends their collaboration and upends the project’s ownership dynamics. The loss hangs over the unfinished Christophers.
When:after reconciliation Where:Julian's home
- 12
Lori seizes the Christophers
Lori takes the real Christophers from the house and forges a letter in Julian's name granting ownership of the works to Christopher, Julian's former lover. The move redirects the artworks away from Lori's original plan toward a new beneficiary. The deed deepens the mystery of authorship.
When:after Julian's death Where:Julian's house
- 13
Museum show and unsalable legacy
At a museum show honoring Julian, Christopher exhibits the portraits—all finished in the unsalable late style. It remains unclear whether Lori or Julian completed them. The exhibit intertwines the past with current reinterpretations of ownership and value.
When:posthumous Where:Museum
- 14
Lori's modern homage alongside the Christophers
Alongside the portraits, Lori presents a modern work honoring Julian by compiling dozens of his Cameo videos. The piece contrasts the old legacy with contemporary media and raises questions of authorship and influence. Viewers encounter a hybrid of old and new forms.
When:posthumous Where:Museum or gallery
- 15
Final painting and signature message
The masseuse gives Lori Julian's final painting, an unfinished self-portrait, signed 'for Lori' on the back. The signature hints at an ambiguous end to the relationship and the artistic negotiation. The painting becomes a last, enigmatic token in the saga.
When:post-show Where:Masseuse's space
Who Are the Main Characters in The Christophers?
7 characters, among them Lori Butler (Michaela Coel), Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen) and Barnaby Sklar (James Corden): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Lori Butler (Michaela Coel)
Played by Michaela Coel
A young artist who has fallen from regular exhibitions, Lori is hired to pose as Julian Sklar’s assistant and to complete the unfinished Christophers. She displays artistic insight, resilience, and a desire to reclaim her own voice, even as she navigates a shady manipulation by Julian’s children. Her loyalty shifts as she proves she understands the value and danger of art, leading to a fractured but honest relationship with Julian.
- 🎨 Artist
- 🕵️ Deception
- 🤝 Loyalty
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Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen)
Played by Ian McKellen
An elderly, brilliant painter whose fame has waned, Julian spends his time recording Cameos for fans. He is sharper than appearances suggest, quickly discerning Lori’s talent and the family’s scheme. His shift from suspicion to reluctant mentorship culminates in a controversial decision about the third Christophers, and his death leaves the question of authorship unresolved.
- 🎨 Artist
- 🧠 Clever
- 🤝 Mentor
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Barnaby Sklar (James Corden)
Played by James Corden
One of Julian’s unscrupulous children, Barnaby is driven by money and status. He and his sister Sallie orchestrate a plan to sell the finished Christophers for a fortune, pushing Lori to the edge of criminal deception. His scheming reveals a ruthless family dynamic that prioritizes wealth over legacy.
- 💰 Greed
- 🧩 Scheming
- 👨👩👧 Family ties
- SM
Sallie Milton Sklar (Jessica Gunning)
Played by Jessica Gunning
Sallie partners with Barnaby in the bid to monetize Julian’s work. She checks on Lori’s progress and buys into the scheme, only to be foiled by Julian and Lori’s counter-move. Her role highlights the pressure from within the family to manipulate art for profit.
- 💰 Greed
- 🤝 Manipulation
- E(
Esme (Tilly Botsford)
Played by Tilly Botsford
A resident character in Lori’s circle, Esme appears as part of the living environment around Lori. She represents the everyday context in which an artist operates, contributing to the social texture of Lori’s world without driving the main plot.
- 🏡 Flat environment
- 🗣️ Supporting role
- LF
Lori's Flatmate #1 (Lucy McCormick)
Played by Lucy McCormick
One of Lori’s roommates, she helps flesh out the ordinary life surrounding Lori’s artistic ambitions. She provides a window into the artist’s daily life away from the studio and auction houses.
- 🏠 Flatshare
- 🗨️ Supportive
- LF
Lori's Flatmate #2 (Le Fil)
Played by Le Fil
Another member of Lori’s living space, Le Fil adds to the sense of a bustling, intimate urban art milieu. Their presence reinforces the contrast between personal life and the cutthroat art market.
- 🏠 Flatshare
- 🧭 Observant
Where and When Is The Christophers Set?
The Christophers is set in London and United Kingdom (1990s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1990s
Set in the 1990s London art scene, the period carries gallery politics, media exposure, and the waning fame of an aging painter. The era amplifies tensions around value, reputation, and the pressure to produce a marketable legacy. It’s a time when art streams through both traditional studios and evolving celebrity culture, shaping the characters’ decisions.
Where
London, United Kingdom
The story unfolds in London, a sprawling backdrop of studios, galleries, and media buzz. The city’s art world provides a sharp contrast between aging masters and ambitious heirs. Its wet streets and bustling neighborhoods frame a tale about legacy, authenticity, and the often volatile dance between creativity and commerce.
- 🎨 Artsy
- 🏙 Urban
- 🏛 Cultural hub
What Are the Themes of The Christophers?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Art & Authenticity, Family & Exploitation and Legacy & Memory.
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01
Art & Authenticity
The Christophers saga centers on what makes a work genuine—hand, intention, or sales value. Lori forges doubles and Julian contemplates finishing the third series in a way that questions authorship and truth. The shredding and subsequent reassembly of paintings probe the fragility of artistic identity under market pressure. In the end, the question remains: who really creates art, the hand that signs it or the perception that sustains its value?
-
02
Family & Exploitation
Barnaby and Sallie exploit their father’s reputation to chase fortune, hiring Lori to finish paintings behind his back. The scheme relies on deception, debt, and manipulation within a family dynamic that should be protective but instead becomes predatory. Lori’s involvement complicates loyalties, forcing ethical choices in a world driven by profit. The tension between familial obligation and ruthless ambition threads through the whole plot.
-
03
Legacy & Memory
The narrative repeatedly tests how memory shapes value—old critiques, televised judgments, and the museum show all color what endures. Julian’s late-life actions reframes past judgments, while Lori’s forged and real works redefine who gets credit for the final creations. The unresolved question of authorship lingers as the works circulate, leaving the legacy of Julian, Lori, and the Christophers in a murky yet compelling memory.
How Does The Christophers End?
The last act of The Christophers and what it means, in 409 words. The ending lands as ambiguous. Big spoilers: read the plot summary first if you have not seen it.
The final act, in full
Sallie and Barnaby’s plan depends on Lori completing Julian’s unfinished Christopher series well enough for the works to be sold as originals. They have already promised the paintings to a businessman who intends to disguise the purchase as charity for a tax advantage, and they blackmail Lori with an earlier shady transaction when she tries to withdraw. Lori first tells them the originals were shredded, although they are actually waiting outside to be burned according to Julian’s wishes. Her refusal to destroy them makes Julian confront his own attachment to the series. He brings the canvases back to the studio intending to finish them badly as an insult to his children, only to discover that even his sabotage produces compelling work. The fragile collaboration collapses when he attacks Lori’s worth as an artist. Later he recognizes her Untitled No. 7 as the painting that had stayed in his memory, understands that his cruelty helped destroy her confidence, and apologizes at her studio. They agree to work together the following week, but Julian dies before that can happen. Lori ultimately gives Sallie and Barnaby the Christophers, yet neither sibling can authenticate who completed them. She also forges a letter in Julian’s name granting the works to his muse, Owen Christopher Appleton, who presents them at an exhibition. Whether the final surfaces belong to Julian, Lori, or both remains deliberately unprovable.
The missing authentication is not merely a caper twist; it overturns every character’s attempt to make authorship serve ownership. Sallie and Barnaby need a clean Julian signature because his name converts paint into a financial instrument. Julian initially treats Lori as an inferior imitator because defending the singularity of his talent protects both his ego and market value. Lori, however, knows the work closely enough to identify the private experiences behind it, and Julian’s recognition of her old painting proves that influence has already moved in both directions. Her forged letter is unlawful and self-interested, but it also blocks the children’s tax scheme and directs the series toward the muse whose presence helped generate it. The exhibition therefore rests on several incompatible truths: the paintings may contain Julian’s hand, Lori’s labor, Owen’s history, and the children’s coercion at once. Instead of resolving those claims, the ending removes the expert signature that would rank them. Viewers are left to look at the Christophers without the certainty the buyers demand, which is precisely the position Julian and Lori’s aborted collaboration made possible.
What Kind of Film Is The Christophers?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A contemplative and bittersweet drama about artistic legacy and deception, blending melancholy with moments of wry humor and complex human connection.
- reflective
- melancholic
- witty
- contemplative
- nostalgic
- fraught
- artistic legacy
- forgery and authenticity
- family greed
- mentorship
Quiz
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