WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS
The romance between Anna and Jamie at the end of My Oxford Year is bittersweet, but it does provide meaning, especially behind the foundations of our lives.
Anna’s life takes an unexpected turn when she visits Oxford, England, a dream she had before returning to New York for her predetermined job at Goldman Sachs. Her encounter with Jamie, her poetry and literature teacher at Oxford University, becomes a catalyst for a significant change in her life.
The story tries to convince the audience that Anna and Jamie are casually dating purely for “fun”, but it becomes clear as soon as they kiss for the first time that the pair are in trouble. However, Jamie’s persistence in keeping it fun, knowing that Anna has to return to America, loses logic, especially when deep feelings emerge.
Jamie’s Secret
Anna, who becomes suspicious of Jamie’s behaviour, finds out the truth, which is far darker than expected, and learns of his secret. Jamie has a terminal illness, and he is refusing to take on more treatment after his brother went through the same ordeal and died. Cecelia, whom Anna presumed had a romantic entanglement with Jamie for most of the film, was actually in a relationship with Jamie’s deceased brother.
As the film progresses, Jamie and Anna continue to date casually, despite the elephant in the room that Jamie’s life is going to be short. He wants to enjoy the life he has left, and for Anna to pursue her career goals.
But there are complications – Jamie’s father is understandably devastated that his son will not take further treatment, which is why the father and son are not speaking much throughout the film. The father tries to persuade Anna to encourage his son to take experimental treatment.
In the third act, Jamie and his father reconcile, drunkenly, during Anna’s birthday party; however, the tension between Anna and Jamie reaches a point where unspoken words no longer work – they love each other; it’s no longer about “fun” anymore, making their situation serious.
Jamie is annoyed that Anna has decided not to return to America to pursue her career and that she’d rather stay in Oxford with him and pursue a different life. He believes her choice is not wise, considering their relationship will be short-lived.
After a period of not speaking to each other after a heated argument, Anna and Jamie reconcile. Jamie accepts Anna’s decision to stay in Oxford, a choice that symbolizes her commitment to their relationship and her willingness to embrace a different life. This decision also reflects the film’s exploration of love, sacrifice, and the unpredictability of life.
Does Jamie Die?
It’s not abundantly clear what happens to Jamie, and if you are not familiar with the source material, the ending of My Oxford Year may confuse you. The final scenes show Jamie and Anna enjoying trips, romantic moments, and tourist spots together after rekindling their relationship. However, as the scenes progress, some of the tourist spots that previously featured Jamie and Anna show Anna on her own instead. Presumably, she is visiting the same places she once enjoyed with Jamie before he died.
By the end of My Oxford Year, Jamie has passed away, a fact that the film strongly implies, even if it’s not explicitly shown in a single scene or dialogue. Anna continues to honor Jamie’s memory by visiting the same places they once enjoyed together. But she also takes a step further. In the final scene, Anna enters the same lecture room that Jamie used to teach in. She has taken over Jamie’s role as the teacher of poetry and literature, and she offers the entire class cake to introduce herself, just as Jamie did at the start of the film.
This ending suggests that Anna is helping Jamie’s spirit and memory live on through her, providing a heartwarming conclusion to their story. It also teaches us that life is far too short, and we should make the most of what we have while we are still here. While the conclusion of the film feels sad and bittersweet, it’s also surprisingly happy and hopeful.