The Netflix movie My Oxford Year, based on Julia Whelan’s novel and starring Sofia Carson, tells the story of Anna, an American who postpones her Goldman Sachs job after graduating from Cornell to study poetry at Oxford. There, she encounters Jamie (Corey Mylchreest), her poetry instructor. Despite an initial mishap, their connection deepens, leading to a life-altering romance.
Here’s a breakdown of how My Oxford Year concludes.
As her Oxford year nears its end, Anna must choose between her secure future in America and staying with Jamie. She decides to remain in Oxford, informing her supportive mother of her decision to decline the Goldman Sachs position.
Jamie is troubled by Anna’s choice due to his secret battle with an aggressive, incurable cancer, the same disease that took his brother’s life. He initially concealed his condition from Anna, which she discovers during a confrontation when she finds out he is undergoing chemotherapy. Jamie worried about burdening her and hindering her future. However, Anna is committed to staying with him, despite his pleas for her to return to America.
Anna, unwavering in her decision, finds Jamie in their cherished Oxford library and declares her intention to stay. Despite Jamie’s concerns about potential regret, Anna insists on living in the moment, solidifying her decision to remain in Oxford with him.
They spend the night together. The following morning, Anna finds Jamie unresponsive. At the hospital, doctors reveal that Jamie has critical pneumonia due to his weakened immune system from chemotherapy. While further treatments are suggested, Jamie’s father, remembering his relentless but ultimately futile efforts to save Jamie’s brother, honors Jamie’s wish to avoid prolonged suffering. This marks a poignant shift in their relationship, as Jamie’s father finally lets go.
Later, Anna and Jamie share a tender moment in bed. Jamie encourages Anna to embark on the “grand tour” they had planned. Anna suggests they go together, her voice tinged with sadness as she acknowledges the impossibility of their dream. She then describes their imagined destinations: a hidden chapel in Amsterdam, the Seine in Paris, Venice, and the Temple of Poseidon in Greece. “We would ,” she says.
As Anna narrates, a montage displays them enjoying their European vacation, sharing passionate kisses by the water. However, Jamie vanishes, leaving Anna alone on the beach. This subtle yet powerful scene symbolizes Jamie’s passing, with the water mirroring their first encounter. My Oxford Year avoids dwelling on Jamie’s suffering, instead focusing on his life and lasting impact on Anna.
My Oxford Year then shows Anna embarking on their planned adventure alone. She experiences the world as they intended, demonstrating how Jamie inspired her to embrace the present moment. While Anna’s growth is apparent throughout the film, her journey highlights her transformation.
The final scene returns to the classroom where Anna studied. A new group of students arrives, and Anna, now a teacher, enters to teach the same course she once took. Having abandoned her Goldman Sachs career, she pursues her passion for poetry. She tells her students that “Poetry can be taught, but really it should be lived,” urging them to embrace poetry and allow it to transform their lives.
Anna offers her students a “bribe” to spark their interest in poetry, revealing a Victoria Sponge cake, echoing Jamie’s teaching style. In this way, Anna continues Jamie’s legacy while creating her own path.
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