Life in a Year

Two years from leaving school, Daryn is a practical dreamer who believes life can be treated as an open book. When Isabelle learns she is dying, he refuses to accept the limits of her illness. He crafts a bold plan to compress a full lifetime into the year she has left. The idea is to fill ordinary days with new experiences, shared adventures, and small triumphs that feel like milestones, so Isabelle can remember a life larger than a diagnosis. They seek music, nature, laughter, and ordinary pleasures, racing against time as friends and family weigh in with hope and worry. Through it all, their bond tightens, offering a new lens on what it means to truly live each day.

Directed by Mitja Okorn, Life in a Year arrived in 2020 as an original drama from writers Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, weaving a hopeful romance into a story about seizing time and turning love into lived experience for viewers.

Critics described the film as earnest and conventional, with Jaden Smith and Cara Delevingne delivering the emotional core that keeps the romance steady. It centers on love, mortality, and choosing to live with intention when time feels short, rather than flashy spectacle or easy shortcuts. Its tone stays intimate throughout.

Cultural impact is modest, with no standout quote or meme defining the movie. It slots into contemporary teen romance dramas that emphasize living fully in the moment rather than grand gestures. Viewers may remember its performances and simple messages about cherishing everyday connections. It gives a gentle reminder about relationships.

Box Office: The film opened with a limited release and grossed modestly, reflecting its niche appeal and streaming strategy. It found audiences mainly online, rather than in a wide theatrical push. The reception underscored genre limits for this intimate romance.