My Oxford Year is a heartfelt, emotional ride that takes viewers through love, loss, and the pursuit of dreams. The Netflix film, based on the 2018 novel by Julia Whelan, follows Anna De La Vega (played by Sofia Carson), a student studying poetry at Oxford University, and her complicated relationship with her professor, Jamie Davenport (played by Corey Mylchreest).
As the film builds towards its emotional ending, here’s everything you need to know about what happens to Anna and Jamie and the story’s resolution.
The Heartbreaking Twist
At first, My Oxford Year feels like a love story between two people with very different life plans. Anna, an ambitious student from New York, develops a close relationship with Jamie, a passionate professor at Oxford. Though they initially agree to keep things “fun,” they quickly fall deeply in love.
However, things take a dramatic turn when Anna discovers that Jamie has been distancing himself. She becomes suspicious and believes he is seeing someone else. After storming into his house to confront him, Anna is shocked to learn the truth: Jamie has been secretly battling a rare form of cancer.
He had been undergoing treatment in private, and his reluctance to commit was because he didn’t want to burden Anna with his illness.
Jamie’s diagnosis is heart-wrenching. He tells Anna that he’s been diagnosed with the same incurable cancer that took his brother’s life, and he has decided to stop treatment because he believes it won’t cure him. Instead of continuing with painful treatments, he chooses to live fully in the time he has left.
Anna’s Devotion to Jamie
Despite Jamie’s request for her to move on and live her life, Anna chooses to stay by his side. She turns down her prestigious Goldman Sachs job in New York City to care for him. Together, they make the most of their remaining time, including planning for a “grand tour” across Europe, a dream they hope to fulfill before his health deteriorates further.
Sadly, Jamie succumbs to pneumonia, a complication of his weakened immune system. He dies with Anna by his side, and the loss leaves her heartbroken.
Anna’s Journey After Jamie’s Death
After Jamie’s death, Anna is devastated but decides to honor his legacy by embarking on the grand tour they had dreamed about. In the final scenes of the film, we see Anna traveling across Europe by herself. She visits places they had hoped to see together, including Paris, Venice, and Amsterdam.
The emotional montage shows Anna drinking wine by the Seine, sleeping in a gondola, and admiring a church in Amsterdam—all the things she and Jamie planned to do together. The montage highlights Anna’s personal growth, as she continues to live out Jamie’s philosophy of “living life fully” despite loss.
In the final moments, Anna returns to Oxford and takes over Jamie’s role as a poetry professor. She brings a pound cake to her first class, just as Jamie did when he was a professor.
Anna’s final words to her students reflect Jamie’s enduring influence: “Poetry can be taught, but really it should be lived. Let it in, and allow it to change your life.”
What Happens to Jamie?
Jamie’s decision to stop treatment and live fully, despite his cancer diagnosis, is a major turning point in the film. His decision is painful for his family, especially his father, William Davenport (played by Dougray Scott), who initially struggles to respect his son’s wishes.
However, after Jamie’s critical case of pneumonia, William finally respects his son’s choice and allows him to die on his own terms.
In the film’s final scenes, as Jamie dies, the audience is treated to a montage of Anna and Jamie’s dream trip across Europe. This sequence begins with them exploring the sights and ends with Anna alone on a beach, symbolizing Jamie’s passing.
Anna’s Legacy
After Jamie’s death, Anna continues to honor his legacy by living the life they had planned together. She not only goes on the grand tour but also returns to Oxford to teach poetry, taking Jamie’s place and continuing his work.
The film ends with a powerful message about life after love and loss, showing that while Anna may have lost Jamie, his lessons and love continue to guide her.
Differences Between the Book and the Film Ending
The film’s ending differs from the book. In the 2018 novel, Jamie survives the pneumonia, thanks to a successful medical trial. He is able to travel with Anna across Europe.
However, the film’s version has Jamie’s character die before the trip, a change that reflects the film’s emphasis on life after loss.
Both Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest have spoken about how the film’s ending is more powerful than the book’s. Mylchreest explained that Jamie’s decision to face death on his own terms was important for the story, while Carson echoed the sentiment, saying the film was meant to end with hope and light, even after Anna’s heartbreaking loss.
My Oxford Year is a beautiful story about love, loss, and personal growth. While Anna and Jamie’s relationship starts as a whirlwind romance, it evolves into something deeper as Anna chooses to stay with Jamie during his final months.
The film’s ending shows Anna’s strength as she honors Jamie’s legacy by embarking on their grand tour and teaching poetry at Oxford.
It’s a story about embracing life fully, no matter how difficult or short it may be.
