The Age of Adaline

| 2015

Directed by: Lee Toland Krieger

Main Plot

The Age of Adaline follows the life of Adaline Bowman, a young woman who, after a near-fatal accident, mysteriously stops aging. Living in the 1920s, she experiences a life filled with love and loss, but as the years pass, she chooses to isolate herself to protect her secret from the world. Adaline adopts a new identity every decade to avoid suspicion and maintain her extraordinary condition. Her solitary existence is disrupted when she meets a charismatic man who reignites her desire for love and connection. As their relationship deepens, Adaline is faced with the challenges of revealing her true identity and the implications of her timeless existence. The film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of living a life that is both a gift and a burden, as Adaline navigates the emotional turmoil of her unique situation.

Characters

  • Blake Lively plays Adaline Bowman, a woman who mysteriously stops aging after a car accident and navigates life while keeping her secret, impacting her relationships and identity.
  • Michiel Huisman plays Ellis Jones, a charming philanthropist who falls in love with Adaline, a woman who has remained 29 years old for nearly eight decades.
  • Harrison Ford plays William Jones, a man who recognizes Adaline from his past, complicating her secretive, ageless existence and rekindling old emotions.

Ending Explained

In the ending of The Age of Adaline, Adaline, who has lived for decades without aging due to a freak accident, faces a pivotal choice about her future. After a series of events that lead her to reconnect with her past and confront her feelings for Ellis, she grapples with the implications of her immortality. The climax occurs when she meets her daughter, who has aged normally, and realizes the emotional toll her secret has taken on her family. The resolution comes when Adaline decides to embrace the possibility of love and a normal life. In a transformative moment, she allows herself to age naturally after a second encounter with the same lightning that initially halted her aging process. This choice signifies her acceptance of mortality and the beauty of living a full life, even with its inevitable end. The film concludes with Adaline and Ellis together, suggesting a hopeful future where she can experience love and connection without the burden of her past. This resolution ties back to the overarching themes of love, sacrifice, and the desire for a meaningful existence, ultimately highlighting the importance of embracing life’s fleeting moments.

Lee Toland Krieger Drama Fantasy Romance Blake Lively Michiel Huisman Harrison Ford