Ever feel like your entire world shifted in just twelve months? That’s basically the raw, bleeding heart behind the movie Life in a Year (or Toda una vida en un año, as it’s known to Spanish-speaking audiences). It’s not just another teen tearjerker. Honestly, it’s a heavy exploration of what happens when the clock starts ticking way too fast. People usually go into these movies expecting a light sob, but then they end up staring at their ceiling at 3:00 AM wondering if they’re actually living or just existing.
The film stars Jaden Smith and Cara Delevingne. It’s a polarizing pair for some, but their chemistry works because it’s awkward. Life is awkward. The plot follows Daryn, a high-achieving track star whose life is mapped out by his intense father, played by Cuba Gooding Jr. Then he meets Isabelle. She’s dying. He decides to give her a "whole life" in the year she has left. It sounds cliché. Sometimes it is. But the way it handles the crushing weight of terminal illness in a "hustle culture" world makes it worth a second look.
What People Get Wrong About Toda una Vida en un Año
Most critics dismissed this as another The Fault in Our Stars clone. That’s a lazy take. While both deal with sick teens, Toda una vida en un año is much more focused on the collision of two different socioeconomic realities and the toxic pressure of "milestones." Daryn isn't just a boyfriend; he’s a kid who has been conditioned to treat life like a checklist. When he tries to apply that "checklist" mentality to Isabelle’s bucket list, the movie shows how futile—and sometimes even selfish—that can be.
The film sat on a shelf for three years before it finally hit streaming. That usually means a movie is a disaster. Surprisingly, it found its footing because the timing of its release coincided with a global period where everyone felt like they were losing time. It’s weird how that happens. A story about compressed time suddenly felt very relevant to a world stuck in lockdown.
Isabelle, played by Delevingne, isn’t your typical "manic pixie dream girl" who exists just to teach the boy a lesson. She’s cynical. She’s often mean. She’s scared. The movie doesn't shy away from the fact that dying isn't poetic. It’s messy. It involves hair loss, fatigue, and the absolute destruction of the family unit. Mitja Okorn, the director, brought a specific European sensibility to the production that keeps it from being too "Hollywood shiny," even when the script leans into those beats.
The Real Cost of "Milestones"
In the movie, Daryn tries to squeeze marriage, a career, and travel into months. It’s frantic.
We do this in real life too, right? We think we need to have the house by thirty, the career by twenty-five, the perfect life by next Tuesday. Toda una vida en un año acts as a mirror to that anxiety. It asks: if you knew the end date, would you still care about the track meet? Would you still care about the Ivy League acceptance letter?
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The conflict between Daryn and his father is the most grounded part of the film. Cuba Gooding Jr. delivers a performance that reminds you why he has an Oscar. He isn't a villain. He’s a Black father who knows how hard the world is and wants his son to be "bulletproof." Watching that pragmatism crumble when faced with the irrationality of love and death is painful. It’s a nuance often missed in reviews that focus only on the romance.
Why the Soundtrack Matters More Than You Think
Music is the backbone of this story. Since Daryn is an aspiring rapper, the sonic landscape shifts from the rigid, classical expectations of his father to the chaotic, expressive world of hip-hop. This isn't just background noise. It represents his internal liberation.
- The lyrics Daryn writes aren't "movie good"—they're "teenager good."
- They feel authentic to a kid trying to process grief through rhythm.
- The inclusion of actual rap culture elements gives it a texture that other YA (Young Adult) films lack.
If you pay attention to the scene where he performs, it’s not about him becoming a superstar. It’s about him finally saying something that wasn't scripted by his dad. That’s the "whole life" he was looking for. Not the travel or the dates, but the autonomy.
Comparing Reality to the Screen
Medical professionals often point out that movies like Toda una vida en un año romanticize the "end-of-life energy." In reality, stage four cancer rarely leaves someone with the stamina to go on elaborate adventures every night.
Isabelle’s portrayal is a bit more realistic than most, showing the physical toll, but it still takes liberties. It’s important to acknowledge that for many families, this journey is much quieter. It's spent in hospital rooms, not at underground concerts. However, as a piece of metaphorical storytelling, the film succeeds. It uses the extreme scenario to highlight a universal truth: we are all terminal. Some of us just have a clearer timeline than others.
The "one year" conceit is a narrative device, sure. But it’s also a psychological experiment. If you had 365 days, would you spend them the way you spent today? Probably not. Most people would quit their jobs. They’d call the person they’ve been ignoring. They’d stop worrying about their LinkedIn profile.
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The Production Delay and Its Impact
The movie was filmed in Toronto back in 2017. It didn't see the light of day until 2020.
Why?
Studios often get cold feet with "sick lit" adaptations. They worry about the market being oversaturated. By the time it came out on Amazon Prime Video, Jaden Smith had already moved on to different phases of his career, and the hype had cooled. But that actually helped the film. It didn't arrive with a massive marketing machine telling people what to think. It was discovered by people who actually needed it.
The chemistry between Smith and Delevingne was actually praised by several critics who otherwise hated the script. They felt like real teenagers. They were goofy. They made bad jokes. They didn't speak in the polished, Socratic dialogues that characters in John Green novels often do. That's the human element.
Taking Action: How to Actually "Live" a Year
Watching Toda una vida en un año shouldn't just result in a good cry. It should probably result in a bit of an audit. You don't need a terminal diagnosis to stop living on autopilot.
First off, audit your "Shoulds." Daryn’s life was built on "I should do track" and "I should go to Harvard." What are your "shoulds"? If they don't align with what you’d do in your final year, they might be anchors rather than sails.
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Secondly, look at your relationships. The movie is as much about the father-son bond as it is about the romance. Radical honesty is a recurring theme. Isabelle doesn't have time for social niceties. She says what she thinks. Try that for a day. It’s terrifying, but it clears the air.
Lastly, stop waiting for the "perfect" time to start the thing you love. Daryn waited until he was forced by circumstance to pursue music. Don't wait for a crisis to be the catalyst for your own life.
Key Takeaways for the Soul
Don't just watch the movie for the plot. Look at the subtext.
- Time is non-linear. A single month of intense, meaningful connection can outweigh decades of bored cohabitation.
- Grief is a transformation. It doesn't just make you sad; it changes your DNA. Daryn at the end of the film isn't just the "sad version" of himself; he's a completely different person.
- Parental expectations are a burden, but they usually come from a place of fear. Understanding that can help you break free without the resentment.
The film reminds us that "Toda una vida" isn't about the number of days. It's about the depth of the experience within those days. Isabelle gave Daryn a lifetime of perspective because she had no other choice. We have the choice, which is both a blessing and a trap. We think we have forever, so we waste Tuesday.
If you’re looking to watch it, it’s widely available on major streaming platforms. It’s a heavy lift, so maybe don’t watch it if you’re already feeling particularly fragile. But if you need a jolt to the system—a reminder that the clock is, in fact, ticking—it’s a solid choice. It isn't perfect cinema, but it’s an honest attempt at exploring the most difficult human experience there is.
Start by identifying one goal you've been putting off until "someday." Treat "someday" like it's six months away. The urgency might be the only thing that actually gets you moving. Whether it's a creative project, a conversation, or a career shift, the lesson of the film is that waiting is the only truly irreversible mistake.
Don't just consume the story. Use the discomfort it creates to evaluate your own 365-day cycle. If you wouldn't want to live this year again, it's time to change the script.