Exclusive Interview
Nick Robinson & Emilia Jones Break Down ‘Charlie Harper’s Emotional Ending
Charlie Harper doesn’t follow the typical romance movie formula. The film, directed Tom Dean and Mac Eldridge, chronicles Charlie (Nick Robinson) and Harper’s (Emilia Jones) love story, shifting from their happiest times to devastating lows. Charlie Harper, in theaters now, weaves between the past and present, slowly assembling the puzzle of their relationship. Warning: Spoilers for Charlie Harper ahead.
Everyone has their own perspective, and the film explores Charlie and Harper’s differing viewpoints of the same moments in their romance. Charlie Harper doesn’t skew the blame in either direction; it’s a slow-burn breakup as Charlie and Harper realize their life paths are diverging.
“I think you really understand both of these characters and what they want and what their conflicts are,” Robinson told Swooon. “I liked the non-linear storytelling. I thought that was really interesting, and I just thought that the script had a lot to say about love and relationships and the ways that you carry people with you post-breakup and these early relationships be very formative and change you.”
Courtesy of Row K
The movie builds to the inevitable breakup between the characters in the third act. Even the advance notice doesn’t lessen the hurt of watching Charlie and Harper come to the conclusion that their relationship is over. The power of their breakup scene is in its simplicity.
“I do like they give that scene a lot of space to breathe,” Robinson said. Jones noted that it was a “quiet scene to shoot” and felt like a closed set. “Everyone was kind of like leaving us in that room, and in between takes, we just stayed [in it]. I haven’t really done that before, but we just stayed at our number ones, and it just felt very intense,” Jones added.
The second part of Charlie Harper’s ending flashes forward after their breakup. Charlie and Harper, both in thriving places now, catch each other up on their lives. When they were together, they knew everything about each other. Now, it’s almost like they’re meeting for the first time, but there’s still a tether between them that only two people who’ve been in love with each other have.
They’re both able to acknowledge the good and bad parts of their relationship now. At one point, Harper asks Charlie if he misses that time of their lives. Even though there were moments that caused them tremendous pain, the love they shared was beautiful and can’t be replicated.
Courtesy of Row K
“How is it possible to miss the things that hurt so much?” Harper asks Charlie, who replies, “We’re not supposed to forget. It’s how we carry each other with us.”
The final moments are ambiguous as to Charlie and Harper’s future. Instead of wrapping up with a neat little bow, Charlie Harper wants the viewer to decide what’s next. That’s precisely what Robinson and Jones loved about the ending. “I think it’s nice to kind of leave the film on a hopeful note,” Jones told Swooon.
“I like the ending a lot,” the Voicemails for Isabelle star said. “Actually, it’s actually one of my favorite parts of the movie. It’s like, these two people who have had some space and time and distance from each other, coming back together, and kind of getting to say the things that they never got to say before, and leaving it a little bit open-ended of, will they get back together or will they not?”
Watch the full video above for more insight into Charlie Harper from Robinson and Jones.
Charlie Harper, In Theaters Now
