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What is the plot?
Lola "Lol" Williams begins the story living a typical suburban life in Chicago, sharing time between her mother Anne, her boyfriend Chad, and her circle of close friends Emily, Janice, and Kyle Ross. School starts again after summer break and in the first days back Lol discovers Chad has been unfaithful. She confronts him and they end their relationship.
In the weeks that follow, Lol and Kyle realize their friendship has shifted into something more. They exchange glances at lockers, linger together after class, and cautiously explore a romantic connection. Their growing intimacy is tense because Chad is not only Lol's ex but also Kyle's best friend, and Chad reacts with jealousy. Adding to the strain, Ashley--the girl who has long antagonized Lol--flirts openly with Kyle at school, creating visible friction. Kyle and Chad play in a band called No Shampoo and they plan to enter the upcoming battle of the bands; Kyle's father disapproves of his son's musical pursuits, insisting they interfere with academics and discipline.
At home Lol negotiates a complicated relationship with her mother Anne, a newly divorced woman who still has a sexual relationship with her ex-husband Allen. Anne and Allen sleep together frequently for a time, but Anne later learns Allen has been intimate with another woman as well, and that knowledge widens the emotional distance between mother and daughter. Their relationship further frays after Lol throws a house party in defiance of her mother's rules. Anne catches Lol hosting the party, grounds her, and threatens to forbid her attendance on the class trip to Paris.
Anne's social life shifts when she meets James, a police officer. They begin dating and James listens to Anne's concerns about reconnecting with her teenage daughter. He offers practical advice, and Anne starts to use that guidance to try to rebuild her relationship with Lol.
At school, a classroom presentation pushes Lol into a painful misunderstanding. After speaking in front of classmates, she goes looking for Kyle in the girls' bathroom and pauses outside a stall where she hears two people having sex. A purse peeks out from the stall, and Lol recognizes it as similar to Ashley's. Concluding that Kyle and Ashley are the ones inside, Lol leaves shaken. The people in the stall are in fact Emily and a boy named Wen; Emily feels ashamed and keeps that secret, unwilling to correct Lol's assumption. Ashley sees Lol's distress and chooses not to deny the accusation, because she likes Kyle and wants to drive a wedge between Lol and him.
The lie explodes into a confrontation. Lol accuses Kyle of cheating and they have a heated argument in the hall outside their lockers. Kyle protests his innocence but Lol refuses to believe him; they break up in anger. Not long afterward Kyle's father discovers that Kyle has lied about his grades and smoked marijuana. In response, he grounds Kyle, confiscates items related to music, and smashes Kyle's guitar in front of him, demanding that Kyle focus on school and responsibility rather than the band.
Feeling betrayed and desperate to make Kyle jealous, Lol turns to Jeremy, a childhood friend who has always liked her. She arranges a moment to make out with Jeremy in public, hoping to provoke a reaction from Kyle. The stunt creates gossip but does not immediately repair anything between Lol and Kyle. Meanwhile Anne and Lol continue to oscillate between estrangement and attempts at understanding. After some conversations prompted by Anne's relationship with Officer James, Anne relents on the Paris trip and tells Lol she may go, reversing her earlier threat. Lol prepares for the class trip to Paris with mixed emotions.
While the class visits Paris, the truth about the bathroom incident comes out. Emily, unable to bear the lie any longer, confesses to Lol that the two people in the bathroom were she and Wen, not Ashley and Kyle. Confronted with this information, Lol recognizes that she misjudged Kyle. She seeks him out and they talk in a dim hotel hallway; Kyle explains that he never cheated on her. They reconcile emotionally, and that night they spend the time together, their reconciliation becoming physical. Lol and Kyle have sex for the first time while they are in Paris.
Returning to Chicago changes the social landscape. Chad and Kyle mend their friendship; Chad accepts that Kyle and Lol are together and gives them his blessing. At a school gathering Chad criticizes Ashley and Lol defends Ashley publicly, refusing to tolerate Chad's insults. That defense surprises Ashley and results in the two girls moving from adversaries toward friendship. Emily, freed of her secret, acknowledges her relationship with Wen openly; she is no longer embarrassed to be with him and they present themselves together at school functions.
At home, Anne discovers Lol's private diary. She reads entries that reveal Lol's sexual encounter with Kyle and her drug use. Outraged and hurt, Anne confronts Lol about the contents. The confrontation turns into a major argument in which Anne accuses Lol of recklessness and Lol accuses Anne of not understanding her adolescence. After this falling-out, Lol leaves her mother's house and moves in with her father, asserting independence and trying to create distance while tensions simmer.
After a period apart, Anne and Lol resume contact. They exchange difficult conversations and apologies until they reconcile; Anne asks Lol to return home, and Lol moves back into her mother's house. Anne's relationship with Officer James provides her with more confidence in handling parenthood, and the two of them try to rebuild trust and affection within the household.
On the musical front Kyle and the members of No Shampoo prepare for the local battle of the bands. Kyle, whose guitar was destroyed by his father, adapts by borrowing instruments and rehearsing with renewed focus. The band performs in front of a crowd, playing a set that wins them the competition. The victory is public and concrete: No Shampoo takes first place at the battle of the bands and the win draws new respect from Kyle's father. Watching his son on stage, Kyle's father softens and begins to support Kyle's musical ambitions; he acknowledges the talent and commitment he previously dismissed.
After the battle Kyle and Lol remain a couple. Kyle keeps playing with No Shampoo, and his father's attitude toward him shifts from punitive to supportive. Chad and Ashley start dating; their flirtation becomes an official relationship that surprises others who once saw Ashley as Lol's rival. Emily and Wen continue as a couple now that Emily has shed her embarrassment about their relationship. Janice remains within the friend group's orbit, attending events and school activities alongside the others.
No characters die over the course of these events; there are no killings, fatal accidents, or deaths depicted in the film. The conflicts are interpersonal rather than lethal.
The film draws to a close with domestic reconciliation and social restoration. Lol has returned to live with Anne after their reconciliation, and the household steadies. Kyle's band enjoys its success, and his father offers tangible support for Kyle's music. Relationship lines that frayed--Lol and Anne, Lol and Kyle, Kyle and Chad--have mended to varying degrees. Chad and Ashley's new relationship continues without public scandal. Emily and Wen appear comfortable together. The final visual shows Anne and Lol lying together on a couch at home; they cuddle and begin to laugh out loud, the sound filling the room as the camera pulls back on the two of them in a domestic scene that closes the story.
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Browse All Movies →What is the ending?
The movie Expiration Date (2023) ends with María passing away around New Year's, after which Javi, who has confessed his lifelong love for her despite having a girlfriend, faces the emotional aftermath of her death and the choices about his own future. The story closes on the poignant note of their deep bond and the impact of María's impending death on their lives.
Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:
As the film approaches its conclusion, María's "expiration date"--the time she has left to live--is near, set around New Year's. Javi, who had been distant from María for about a year, has reconnected with her after learning about her terminal condition. Throughout the film, Javi struggles with his feelings, initially confessing love out of pity but gradually realizing he has loved María all along.
In the final scenes, María is surrounded by her longtime friends, including Javi, each coping with the news of her limited time in their own way. The atmosphere is a mix of tender moments and bittersweet humor, reflecting the film's balance of drama and comedy.
Javi's girlfriend from Montevideo unexpectedly arrives at María's doorstep, complicating the emotional dynamics. This confrontation forces Javi to confront his true feelings and the reality of his relationships. Despite the presence of his girlfriend, Javi openly declares his love for María, showing his emotional transformation and the rekindling of their childhood bond.
As New Year's approaches, María's health deteriorates. The film depicts her final moments with sensitivity, focusing on the emotional exchanges between her and Javi. María passes away peacefully, surrounded by those who love her.
After María's death, the film shows Javi dealing with grief and the consequences of his choices. The ending leaves Javi at a crossroads, reflecting on the love he rediscovered and the life he must now face without María. The fate of the other main characters is tied to their personal ways of coping with loss, but the narrative centers primarily on Javi's emotional journey.
Thus, the ending is a poignant closure to María's story and a turning point for Javi, emphasizing themes of love, loss, and the importance of confronting one's true feelings before it's too late.
Is there a post-credit scene?
I cannot provide information about a post-credits scene for the 2023 film "Expiration Date" based on the available search results. The search results do not contain details about this specific movie's plot, structure, or any post-credits scenes it may contain.
The only relevant result mentions a 2024 short film titled "Expiration Date" about two characters named Jesse and Leo discovering romance while battling against time, but this appears to be a different production from the 2023 film you're asking about.
To find accurate information about whether the 2023 "Expiration Date" has a post-credits scene and what it contains, you would need to consult the film directly, check dedicated film databases, or look for reviews and discussions from viewers who have seen it.
Why does Javi keep his relationship with his girlfriend in Montevideo a secret from María?
Javi keeps his relationship with his girlfriend in Montevideo a secret from María because he doesn't want to shock or upset her after learning she only has one month to live. He fears that revealing this information might complicate María's emotional state during her final days, especially as their own feelings for each other begin to resurface.
What happens when Javi's girlfriend from Montevideo appears at María's doorstep?
When Javi's girlfriend from Montevideo appears at María's doorstep, it creates a tense and emotional situation. Her arrival complicates the dynamic between María and Javi, forcing Javi to confront his conflicting feelings and loyalties, while María must process the reality of Javi's new life and relationship.
How does María react when she finds out about Javi's girlfriend?
María is initially shocked and hurt when she finds out about Javi's girlfriend. Her reaction is a mix of emotional pain and confusion, as she grapples with the revelation that Javi has been hiding this part of his life from her during her final days.
What motivates Javi to confess his love to María?
Javi is initially motivated to confess his love to María out of pity and guilt after learning she has only one month to live. However, as they spend time together, he realizes that his feelings for María have always been present, and his confession becomes genuine as he remembers their lifelong connection and love.
What role do María's other friends play in her final month?
María's other friends each deal with the news of her impending death in their own personal ways. They provide emotional support, companionship, and moments of levity, helping María navigate her final days and adding depth to the story through their varied reactions and interactions.
Is this family friendly?
The 2023 movie Expiration Date (original title Casi muerta) is rated 13+, indicating it is generally suitable for teenagers and older viewers but may not be fully family-friendly for younger children. It is a romantic comedy-drama that deals with the sensitive topic of a character having only one month to live, blending humor with emotional and dramatic moments.
Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include:
- Themes of terminal illness and impending death, which may be emotionally heavy or distressing.
- Some dramatic and emotional scenes related to illness and relationships.
- Mild romantic elements consistent with a romantic comedy.
- The film is rated 13+, so it may contain mild language or situations not suitable for younger children, though no explicit violence, strong language, or graphic content is noted in the available parental guides.
Overall, while the film handles its serious themes with sensitivity and humor, it is best suited for teenagers and adults rather than young children or highly sensitive viewers due to its subject matter and emotional tone.