What Is Tomorrow Is Today About?
The premise of Tomorrow Is Today in 292 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the sultry heat of a 1991 Spanish summer, José Luis takes his wife Pilar and their two teenagers on a beachside getaway that is meant to be a simple family holiday. Beneath the playful waves, however, the simmering restlessness of teenage life surfaces when Lucía confides in her boyfriend Charly about a secret plan to leave home behind. The tension between youthful yearning and parental expectations creates a fragile balance that threatens to upend the whole family, setting the stage for a vacation that becomes anything but ordinary.
A sudden storm shrouds the sea, and the family’s paddle boat is thrust through an uncanny ripple in time, depositing José Luis, Pilar, and Rodrigo into the year 2022. The jump lands them in a Spain that has reshaped itself over three decades—towering skylines, neon‑lit streets, and a cultural pulse that feels both familiar and foreign. The film captures this dislocation with a tone that oscillates between wistful nostalgia and sharp contemporary marvel, inviting the audience to experience the country’s evolution through the eyes of visitors still rooted in the early ’90s.
As the displaced parents navigate this vivid modern landscape, they must reconcile the past they left behind with the present that challenges their assumptions about family, identity, and change. Pilar finds herself drawn to new opportunities, while Rodrigo grapples with the unsettling feeling of being out of sync with his own timeline. Their journey becomes a quiet meditation on how love and responsibility endure, even when the world around them has leapt ahead. The story promises a blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and a reflective look at how a single summer can echo across generations, leaving viewers eager to see how the characters will bridge the gap between then and now.
What Happens in Tomorrow Is Today?
The complete story of Tomorrow Is Today, from the first scene to the last, in 554 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
During their 1991 summer holidays, José Luis Gaspar takes his wife Pilar and their two teenagers, Lucia and Rodrigo, to the beach. Lucia gets into a heated argument with her family and leaves with her boyfriend, Charly, to attend a carnival, much to Jose’s chagrin. The rest of them head out to sea in a paddle boat, and a sudden thunderstorm sweeps them away, transporting them to the year 2022 in a bewildering twist of fate.
In the future, they navigate a changed world and track down Rodrigo’s best friend and Jose’s employee, Quique, who is now a middle-aged man. He explains that Lucia died at the carnival back in 1991, and the family suspects that [Charly] killed her. Desperate to save their daughter, Jose and Pilar seek help from a local fortune teller, Ana Clara, and her cousin/assistant, Elvirita. Ana Clara had received Lucia’s personalized bracelet from Jose in 1991, and the trio believe that this magical link can guide them to a way back. Meanwhile, Pilar and Rodrigo begin adapting to life in the future: Pilar lands a job at a fashion boutique, and Rodrigo rekindles his school life with a little help from Quique.
At a bar, Jose and Ana Clara spot an older [Charly], advertising his family’s condo for sale, and confront him at an open house in the hope of eliciting a confession. He fled, and a car strike on the street leaves Pilar witnessing the accident. That same night, during a family dinner at Quique’s condo, Pilar bluntly berates Jose for bringing danger into the family’s life. Refusing to give up, Jose makes another bold bid to travel back to 1991: he and Pilar, with Rodrigo, paddle toward another thunderstorm in a near-identical paddle boat, and this time their plan succeeds. They find Lucia back on the beach in 1991, believing only a few hours have passed.
Back in 1991, Jose and Pilar reunite with Lucia, who thinks only a brief moment has elapsed. They race to the carnival to prevent Lucia’s fate, first by throwing her a grand birthday party and then by explaining their time-warp ordeal. Lucia remains skeptical and leaves with [Charly], while Jose, Pilar, Rodrigo, and Quique hurry after them to the carnival. There, Lucia and Charly encounter teenage [Ana Clara] and [Elvirita], and they are about to board a Ferris wheel when Lucia discovers a smartphone from 2022 hidden in her jacket, showing footage of a gravestone in the future. She runs away and finds Quique, and they choose the Ferris wheel as a way to formulate an escape plan. Lucia declines a kiss from Quique, and in a surge of jealousy, Quique attempts to assault her. Jose shows the bracelet to teenage Ana Clara, whose clairvoyant abilities point them toward the Ferris wheel. Jose climbs up to rescue Lucia, but tragically falls from the carriage and dies.
In 2022, older Pilar, Rodrigo, Lucia, and Charly—now married to Lucia with Pilar’s blessing—return to the beach alongside Lucia and Charly’s teenage daughter, as well as Ana Clara and Elvirita, to once again brave the coming storm and to attempt another quest to bring Jose back. The countdown of time, weather, and family bonds continues to test their resolve as they chase a future that might keep their beloved father and husband safely with them.
Tomorrow Is Today Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Family arrives at the beach for 1991 summer holidays” to “Back in 2022, the family continues the search”. 15 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Family arrives at the beach for 1991 summer holidays
José Luis Gaspar takes Pilar and their two teenagers, Lucia and Rodrigo, to the beach for their 1991 summer holidays. Lucia argues with her family and leaves with her boyfriend Charly to attend a carnival. The rest of the family goes out to sea in a paddle boat, setting up the initial family fracture that frames the story.
When:1991 Where:Beach
- 2
Lucia leaves with Charly for carnival
Lucia's argument with her family leads her to leave with Charly and head to the carnival. Jose and Pilar feel torn as the family unit splits, increasing tension. The afternoon continues without Lucia as the others remain at sea on the paddle boat.
When:1991 Where:Beach
- 3
Thunderstorm transports family to 2022
A sudden thunderstorm overtakes the paddle boat and the family is swept into a time jump. They find themselves in the year 2022, in a future version of their neighborhood. The shock of time displacement sets the new stakes for their attempt to reunite and return.
When:2022 Where:Sea near the beach
- 4
In 2022, the truth about Lucia's death emerges
In the future, the family meets Quique, Rodrigo's childhood friend now grown into a middle-aged man. He explains that Lucia died at the carnival in 1991, and the family suspects Charly is involved. The revelation deepens the mystery and motivates their plan to bring Lucia back.
When:2022 Where:Future neighborhood
- 5
Ana Clara and Elvirita as guides
Jose finds fortune teller Ana Clara and her cousin Elvirita, who may help with time travel. Ana Clara possesses Lucia's bracelet from 1991, a clue the family hopes will unlock a way back. Pilar and Rodrigo begin adapting to the future while focusing on the mystery.
When:2022 Where:Fortune teller's shop
- 6
Pilar and Rodrigo adjust to life in 2022
Pilar secures a job at a fashion boutique, and Rodrigo tries to resume school life with Quique's help. They start building routines in the 2022 city and slowly integrate into a new normal. The family bonds begin to strengthen despite the timeline disruption.
When:2022 Where:City, 2022
- 7
Confrontation with Charly at an open house
Jose and Ana Clara spot a visibly older Charly advertising his family condo in a 2022 open house and demand a murder confession. Charly flees, triggering a tense confrontation that highlights the danger Lucia faced. The moment heightens the urgency of their mission.
When:2022 Where:Charly's condo/open house
- 8
Charly is struck by a car
Charly runs away from the confrontation and is hit by a random car, witnessed by Pilar. The incident reinforces the possibility that Charly was involved in Lucia's death and complicates the family's mission. The family grapples with the consequences of their pursuit.
When:2022 Where:Street near condo
- 9
Dinner at Quique's condo and a tense warning
That night they have a family dinner at Quique's condo, where Pilar berates Jose for getting a man killed. The argument exposes the emotional cost of their quest and the strain on family bonds. The dinner underscores the stakes of their time-travel intervention.
When:2022 Where:Quique's condo
- 10
The second trip to 1991 begins
Jose sets out to travel back to 1991 again, paddling toward another thunderstorm, this time with Pilar and Rodrigo joining at the last moment. The plan succeeds, and they arrive back in 1991, believing only an hour or two has passed. The family prepares to intervene to save Lucia.
When:1991 Where:Sea
Show the other 5 events of Tomorrow Is Today Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Back in 1991, Lucia is alive; plan to prevent her death
The family returns to the beach in 1991 with Lucia alive, thinking only a short time has passed. They set out to prevent her death by altering plans around the carnival. The dynamic shifts as they prepare for the events to come.
When:1991 Where:Beach
- 12
Carnival preparations and Lucia's resistance
The plan includes hosting a grand birthday party to warn Lucia and explain the time travel. Lucia believes they are lying and leaves with Charly, complicating the rescue attempt. The family follows to the carnival, hoping to intervene.
When:1991 Where:Carnival (1991)
- 13
At the carnival: Ana Clara, Elvirita, and the bracelet
At the carnival, Lucia and Charly meet teen Ana Clara and Elvirita, and a smartphone containing footage of Lucia's gravestone is revealed. Jose shows Ana Clara Lucia's bracelet, and Ana Clara uses her clairvoyant powers to guide them toward the Ferris wheel. The group races to find a way to change Lucia's fate.
When:1991 Where:Carnival, 1991
- 14
Tragic fall: Jose dies trying to rescue Lucia
Quique kisses Lucia; he tries to assault her in a jealous rage, creating danger. Jose climbs the Ferris wheel to rescue Lucia but slips and falls from the carriage, dying. The hopeful mission collapses, leaving the others to confront the consequences.
When:1991 Where:Ferris wheel, Carnival
- 15
Back in 2022, the family continues the search
In 2022, the older Pilar, Rodrigo, Lucia, and Charly (now married to Lucia), along with Lucia and Charly's adolescent daughter, Ana Clara, and Elvirita, go to the beach ahead of a thunderstorm and paddle out into the next attempt to bring Jose back. The time loop remains unresolved, but the family remains determined.
When:2022 Where:Beach
Who Are the Main Characters in Tomorrow Is Today?
12 characters, among them José Luis Gaspar (Javier Gutiérrez), Pilar Gaspar (Antonia San Juan) and Lucía: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
José Luis Gaspar (Javier Gutiérrez)
Played by Javier Gutiérrez
A devoted husband and father who pushes to rescue his daughter from the tragedy of 1991. He relentlessly pursues a way to reunite his family across time, ultimately paying the ultimate price during the attempt.
- 👨👩👧👦 Family
- ⏳ Time
- 🔎 Resolve
-
Pilar Gaspar (Antonia San Juan)
Played by Antonia San Juan
A practical mother who faces the challenges of two eras. She supports Jose Luis's mission while questioning the risks and consequences, and witnesses the dangerous events unfold.
- 👩👦👦 Family
- ⚖️ Responsibility
- ⏳ Time
- L
Lucía
Played by Carla Díaz
A headstrong teenager who runs off with Charly to a carnival, triggering the time-travel sequence. She experiences the weight of actions across two eras and remains the catalyst for the family’s quest.
- 👧 Youth
- 🎡 Freedom
- ❤️ Love
- R
Rodrigo
Played by Asier Rikarte
The son who adapts to life in the future, exploring new relationships and navigating generational shifts with the help of Quique.
- 👦 Youth
- 🕰️ Adaptability
- C(
Charly (1991)
Played by Gabriel Guevara
Lucía’s boyfriend who accompanies her to the carnival and becomes a focal point in the events surrounding her fate.
- 💑 Romance
- 🌀 Tension
- C(
Charly (2022)
Played by Antonio Pagudo
The same character in the future timeline, now married to Lucia, adding complexity to the family dynamics.
- 💑 Romance
- 🕰️ Time
- Q(
Quique (1991)
Played by Toni Garrido
Lucía’s adolescent friend whose actions contribute to the carnival’s dangerous atmosphere and the surrounding tension.
- 🕺 Youth
- 🧭 Risk
- Q(
Quique (2022)
Played by Pepón Nieto
Adult Quique who helps Rodrigo navigate the future, reflecting the evolution of roles across timelines.
- 🧑🦳 Mentor
- 🕰️ Change
- AC
Ana Clara (1991)
Played by Elena de Lara
The fortune teller encountered in 1991 who is connected to Lucia through the bracelet and the quest to alter fate.
- 🔮 Mystic
- 🧭 Guidance
- AC
Ana Clara (2022)
Played by Silvia Abril
The clairvoyant figure in 2022 who helps guide the family toward a possible rescue.
- 🔮 Mystic
- 🧭 Guidance
- E(
Elvirita (1991)
Played by Blanca Tamarit
Ana Clara’s cousin and assistant who aids the family in the past.
- 🧭 Ally
- 🗝️ Link
- E(
Eva (2022)
Played by Aixa Villagrán
A future character who interacts with the family as they explore the storm and the beach.
- 🗺️ Explorer
- 🧠 Intelligence
Where and When Is Tomorrow Is Today Set?
Tomorrow Is Today is set in beach, old neighborhood and carnival (1991 and 2022). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1991 and 2022
The film alternates between the summer of 1991 and the year 2022. A thunderstorm propels the family through time, triggering the central rescue mission. In 2022 they navigate a grown-up world while trying to bring back a loved one from the past.
Where
beach, old neighborhood, carnival
The story centers on a seaside beach vacation in 1991 and returns to the same coastal area in 2022. The old neighborhood and the carnival become key locations where the family confronts fate across timelines. The beach serves as the anchor point linking past and present as they attempt to alter events.
- 🏖️ Beach
- 🏘️ Neighborhood
- 🎡 Carnival
What Are the Themes of Tomorrow Is Today?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Time Travel, Family and Mortality.
-
01
Time Travel
Time travel drives the plot, moving the family between 1991 and 2022. The mechanism creates opportunities and dangers as past and present collide. Clues from Ana Clara and the bracelet connect the two periods, guiding attempts to change the outcome.
-
02
Family
The narrative centers on a family trying to stay together across eras. Parents grapple with protecting their children while adapting to new realities in 2022. The repeated attempts to rescue Lucia test loyalties and forgiveness.
-
03
Mortality
The rescue efforts carry life-or-death stakes, culminating in Jose Luis's death during a critical moment. The threat of fatal consequences shadows each decision across timelines. The possibility of reviving him remains a driving yet somber motif.
-
04
Technology & Clues
A 2022 smartphone shows footage of Lucia's gravestone, creating a tangible link between eras. The bracelet and clairvoyant hints from Ana Clara act as guiding artifacts. Technology amplifies memory, proof, and the hope of reconciliation.
What Kind of Film Is Tomorrow Is Today?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A bittersweet family comedy with a steady pace that blends nostalgic charm with anxious hope as parents travel through time to prevent a tragedy, exploring deep bonds and the cost of changing fate.
- nostalgic
- hopeful
- anxious
- family-focused
- magical-realist
- time travel
- family relationships
- grief and loss
- parenting
- fate
Content notes: character death, sexual assault implication, child endangerment.
Quiz
How well do you remember Tomorrow Is Today? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch Tomorrow Is Today
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Amazon Prime Video 
Amazon Prime Video with Ads Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
