After is a 2019 American romantic drama film directed by Jenny Gage, based on the 2014 new adult fiction novel of the same name by Anna Todd. Todd first launched her book on Wattpad for free, earning several million readers, and released several sequels after receiving a positive response. The film stars Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and follows an inexperienced teenage girl who begins to romance a mysterious student during her first months of college.
The film was released in the United States on April 12, 2019, by Aviron Pictures. It was a commercial success, grossing $69.7 million worldwide against a $14 million budget. A sequel, After We Collided, adapting Todd’s next novel, was released in September 2020.
Plot
Freshly graduated from high school, Tessa Young begins to attend college, moving into dorms with the help of her mother and boyfriend, Noah, where she meets Steph, her new roommate, and her girlfriend Tristan.
The day after moving in Tessa befriends a friend of Steph’s: Hardin Scott. Steph invites Tessa to a party, which she declines, but is eventually persuaded to go later on.
At the party, Tessa meets Steph’s other friends Zed, Molly and Jace, and meets Hardin for the second time. The group play truth or dare, revealing in turn Tessa’s virginity; she is dared to make out with Hardin, but refuses. Later at the party, Tessa bumps into Hardin again, who attempts to kiss her.
In Literature class the following day, Landon reveals to Tessa that he and Hardin are going to be related as his mother is engaged to Hardin’s father. Following a debate in class, Hardin approaches Tessa and insists they start over, inviting her to a nearby lake. While they swim, Hardin kisses Tessa, saying that they cannot just be friends.
The two head to a diner, encountering Molly and Zed, who Tessa says she will tell Noah about her and Hardin’s kiss. Hardin tells her not to, saying that he does not date, disappointing Tessa. Noah surprises Tessa with a sudden visit, and the two have an evening together by a bonfire.
In a game of Suck & Blow at the bonfire party, Jace purposely fails in order to kiss Tessa; causing Hardin to become jealous & the two get into a physical fight. While Noah sleeps in Tessa’s bed after the party, she leaves to check on Hardin, who has destroyed the house in drunken anger. She comforts him, and the two kiss.
The next day, Tessa goes back to her dorm to check on Noah, who finds out about her relationship with Hardin and leaves heartbroken. Tessa and Hardin finally decide to date, but her mother threatens to cut her off financially if she continues the relationship, believing Hardin to be a bad influence on her daughter.
Hardin finds an apartment for the two to live in and they attend the wedding reception of his father and Landon’s mother together. Hardin reveals that his father was a drunkard and his mother was assaulted by the men he messed with while drunk. Tessa comforts him and the two head back to their apartment to have sex. The next morning, while they are in the bathtub together, Hardin writes ‘I love you’ on Tessa’s back.
Tessa becomes concerned about the text messages sent to Hardin by Molly. She tries to confront him, but he dismisses her and leaves. After leaving the apartment in search of him, she finds him at a diner with Molly, Zed, Steph and Jace. Molly cruelly reveals Hardin’s true intentions; showing Tessa a video from the first party they went to, revealing that Hardin only pursued Tessa as a challenge to make her fall in love and then break her heart by dumping her in some rude, childish joke.
A shocked & heartbroken Tessa runs from of the diner with Hardin hot on her heels attempting to explain, telling her he loves her. Tessa goes home to reconcile with her mother and Noah, who both forgive her. In the weeks that follow, Tessa cuts ties with Steph and her group of friends, eventually interviewing for a program at Vance Publishing with the intention of leaving college.
However, after Literature class one afternoon, Tessa’s teacher, Professor Soto, returns to her an essay written by Hardin, hinting that his essay was about her. Tessa reads it as she returns to the lake where they shared their first kiss. While Hardin approaches, he continues to narrate his letter, confessing his love for her.
Cast
Josephine Langford as Tessa Young
Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Hardin Scott
Selma Blair as Carol Young
Shane Paul McGhie as Landon Gibson
Khadijha Red Thunder as Steph Jones
Inanna Sarkis as Molly Samuels
Samuel Larsen as Zed Evans
Pia Mia as Tristan
Dylan Arnold as Noah Porter
Jennifer Beals as Karen Scott
Peter Gallagher as Ken Scott
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