My Oxford Year, a recent addition to Netflix, has captivated audiences with its poignant love story set against the backdrop of the prestigious Oxford University. Starring Sofia Carson as Anna, a driven American student, and Corey Mylchreest as Jamie, her charming professor, the film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and living life to the fullest. The emotional ending has left many viewers seeking a deeper understanding of the characters’ choices and the story’s underlying message. This article delves into the heart of My Oxford Year, unpacking its key moments and exploring the emotional impact of its conclusion.
Is there anything more romantic than an American traveling to the UK for a life-altering experience? That’s the gist of My Oxford Year. Carson plays Anna, who after graduating from Cornell University and lining up a job as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, she finagles a year off before starting the gig to follow her passion: studying poetry at Oxford University. It’s there she meets Jamie (Corey Mylchreest), who teaches her poetry course. Though their friendship starts off on the wrong foot (Jamie drives over a puddle, leaving her soaking wet), they soon launch into a romance that will change both of their lives forever.
Anna’s Pivotal Decision
The climax of My Oxford Year revolves around Anna’s difficult choice between a promising career at Goldman Sachs and staying in Oxford with Jamie. With only two weeks remaining in her program, she decides to forgo her secure future in America to remain with the man she loves. This decision is a testament to her growth throughout the year, embracing passion and spontaneity over a predetermined path.
With two weeks left to go in her year at Oxford, Anna has to decide between returning to her life in America, where a stable, high-paying career awaits her, or risking it all to stay with Jamie in Oxford. Anna decides to stay, calling her mother to say that she’ll let Goldman Sachs know she plans to turn down the job. Her mother is shocked, but understanding, telling Anna that she and her father are ready to support her no matter how she chooses to live her life.
Jamie’s Heartbreaking Revelation
The emotional weight of the film intensifies with the revelation of Jamie’s secret – his battle with an aggressive form of incurable cancer. He initially conceals his illness from Anna, fearing he would burden her and hold her back from her potential. This secret adds layers of complexity to their relationship, highlighting themes of selflessness and the desire to protect loved ones from pain.
Jamie, however, is very upset by her decision. It’s not because he doesn’t want to be with her, but that he knows their relationship can’t last forever. That’s because Jamie has been secretly living with an aggressive form of incurable cancer, the same one that already claimed his brother’s life. While he initially kept this a secret from Anna, she found out when she stormed into his house, worried he was cheating on her, only to learn that his big secret was that he was undergoing chemotherapy. Jamie feared that he’d hold her back, and didn’t want to burden Anna with the reality of caring for a dying person. But Anna loves Jamie, and wants to be with him until the very end, despite his protestations that she head back to America and let her life begin.
A Final, Unforgettable Journey
Despite Jamie’s initial reservations, Anna remains steadfast in her commitment. She convinces him that she wants to be with him until the very end. They share a night together, but the following morning, Jamie is found unresponsive. The film then subtly conveys Jamie’s passing, avoiding a drawn-out depiction of suffering. Instead, it focuses on how he lived and the profound impact he had on Anna’s life.
Anna is not someone who can be easily deterred. She surprises Jamie in the secret Oxford library where their relationship truly began to blossom, telling him she isn’t going anywhere. “Anna, I want this more than anything, but this is madness. I fear that you’ll regret it,” Jamie says. Anna has made up her mind: “I’m of the opinion that you should never regret the things you do,” she responds. And that’s that. Anna is staying in Oxford with Jamie.
That night, they sleep together. But when Anna wakes up in the morning, she finds Jamie unresponsive in bed. At the hospital, Anna waits with Jamie’s parents. The doctor reveals a bad prognosis—Jamie has a critical case of pneumonia, as the chemotherapy has weakened his immune system. The doctor suggests further treatments, but Jamie’s father resists, respecting Jamie’s wishes to not suffer any longer in an attempt to keep him alive. It’s a touching and heartbreaking moment, as Jamie’s father agrees to let his other son go.
Living the Grand Tour
In a touching sequence, Anna and Jamie imagine their grand European adventure. Although their dream of traveling together is cut short, the film shows Anna embarking on the journey alone after Jamie’s death. This montage highlights Anna’s transformation, showcasing her ability to embrace spontaneity and live fully in the present, a lesson learned from Jamie.
Later, Anna and Jamie lie in bed together. “Now that you’ve stayed, you have time to go on your grand tour,” Jamie tells her. “We should go together,” Anna responds. There’s a tinge of heartbreak in her voice—she knows the grand European adventure they always wanted to take is now impossible. Anna then narrates where they could go; to a hidden chapel in the red light district in Amsterdam, to the Seine in Paris, where they’d drink all night, to Venice, where they’d spend the day and night on a gondola; and to the Temple of Poseidon in Greece, where they’d swim in the Aegean sea. “We would ,” she says.
During Anna’s narration, we see a montage of them living out their grand vacation, enjoying every moment of their time together across Europe. They kiss passionately on the beach by the water. But as the camera swirls around them, Jamie disappears, leaving Anna alone at the beach. It’s a subtle but potent moment—Jamie has passed, with the water motif recalling how they first met. My Oxford Year elects not to draw out Jamie’s suffering, granting him the peaceful way out he longed for. A quick shot of them lying in bed together suggests that Jamie may have died in bed with Anna in his arms, but it’s open to interpretation. Wisely, the film is far less invested in how Jamie died, instead focusing on how Jamie lived, and how he forever impacted Anna’s life.
A Legacy of Poetry and Passion
The film concludes with Anna returning to Oxford as a teacher, taking over Jamie’s poetry course. She has given up her job at Goldman Sachs and embraced her passion for poetry, inspired by her experience with Jamie. In a poignant tribute, she recreates Jamie’s tradition of offering a Victoria Sponge cake to her students, symbolizing the continuation of his legacy and her own personal growth.
My Oxford Year leans into another montage, showing Anna alone on the grand adventure they wanted to take together. She does all the things she and Jamie planned to do, discovering a world she so wanted to explore with him. It’s a striking moment that shows how Jamie changed Anna, allowing her to let go and worry less about the future and live more in the moment. There are glimpses of Anna’s growth throughout the film, including when she stops living her Oxford year by checklist and embraces spontaneity, but her trip signifies that Anna has truly changed.
In the final scene, we’re back in the classroom where Anna spent most of her year earning her Master’s degree. It’s a new year of students, and the door opens to reveal Anna, now teaching the same course she took under Jamie’s tutelage. Anna has officially given up her job at Goldman Sachs and decided to lean into her passion for poetry, the reason she came to Oxford in the first place. “Poetry can be taught, but really it should be lived,” she tells her students, encouraging them to “let it in, and allow it to change your life.”
Before the class begins, Anna tells her students she wants to offer them a “bribe” to help them get excited about poetry. She reveals a Victoria Sponge cake, the same way Jamie began his class. In this unique way, Anna can carry Jamie’s legacy with her while forging a path entirely her own.
Final Thoughts on My Oxford Year
My Oxford Year is a touching exploration of love, loss, and the courage to embrace life’s unexpected turns. The film’s emotional ending underscores the importance of living in the moment and cherishing the connections that shape us. Anna’s journey from a career-driven student to a passionate teacher is a testament to the transformative power of love and the enduring legacy of those who inspire us.
The film leaves a lasting impression, prompting viewers to reflect on their own priorities and the choices they make in the pursuit of happiness. It serves as a reminder that even in the face of heartbreak, life can be filled with purpose and meaning.
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