My Oxford Year (2025) is a romance drama that tells the story of Anna De La Vega, an American student chasing her dreams of studying at Oxford University. In addition to its core love story, the movie delves into themes of ambition, self-discovery, and intellectual development amidst Oxford’s literary rich heritage. Historic colleges, libraries, and pubs in the city offer a direct connection to such authors as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Oscar Wilde, which adds depth to the story.
Directed by Iain Morris and written by Melissa Osborne and Allison Burnett, it stars Sofia Carson as Anna and Corey Mylchreest as Jamie Davenport, with supporting cast Dougray Scott and Catherine McCormack. Following Julia Whelan’s 2018 novel, it was shot in Oxford and made by Temple Hill. The movie releases on Netflix on August 1, 2025.
How do Oxford’s Literary Landmarks Shape the Story of My Oxford Year?
Oxford’s historic buildings, including the Eagle and Child pub, Ashmolean Museum, and Bodleian Library, are the core of My Oxford Year, lending the film’s theme of intellectual and personal development its foundation. The Bodleian Library, a library that is centuries old in Europe, contains rich literary collections and is a symbol of Oxford’s tradition of scholarship. Its existence in the film establishes a sense of respect for knowledge and captures Anna’s passion for her studies.
The Eagle and Child pub, a traditional gathering spot for the Inklings—a literary circle consisting of Tolkien and Lewis—highlights Oxford as an intellectual hub of exchange, underscoring themes of community and inspiration. The Ashmolean Museum, filled with its cultural relics, provides historical richness to the story, linking Anna’s scholarly studies to Oxford’s literary heritage. These monuments, shot on location, add to the film’s atmosphere and bring out how the heritage of the city influences Anna’s journey beyond the romance narrative.
The Inklings’ Influence on Anna’s Oxford Experience
The Inklings, a literary discussion group that consisted of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, shaped My Oxford Year’s depiction of Anna’s academic journey. The Inklings, which operated between the 1930s and 1949, convened at the Eagle and Child pub and Lewis’s Magdalen College rooms, discussing books such as The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.
The movie taps into this heritage to portray Anna’s involvement in Oxford’s cultural intellectualism, where exchange and guidance define her academic worldview. The Inklings’ collaborative ethos, born of Oxford’s literary tradition, accentuates visions of community and exchange of ideas, illustrating how the city’s setting nurtures Anna’s development as a scholar. This link highlights Oxford’s traditional function in developing literary talent, supporting the movie’s emphasis on Anna’s changing ambitions and personal discovery.
How does Literature Guide Anna?
My Oxford Year weaves together Oxford’s associations with J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Oscar Wilde to enhance its exploration of ambition and self-expression. Tolkien, a lecturer at Exeter and Merton Colleges, and Lewis, a lecturer at Magdalen, lend their contributions to the story’s themes of myth-making and moral exploration, in keeping with Anna’s coursework. Oscar Wilde, another alumnus of Magdalen, also brings a note of wit and nonconformity to bear, affecting Anna’s academic style and personal decisions.
Locations such as Exeter College and the Oxford Botanic Garden, with these writers in mind, underscore the tone of amazement and introspection of the film. Sofia Carson revealed researching Oxford poets to prepare for the role, relating Anna’s path to the city’s literary past. These numbers and sites denote Oxford as a hub for revolutionary thinking, guiding Anna’s intellectual and personal development above romance.
As Anna walks the same cobbled paths as literary legends, My Oxford Year reminds us that Oxford’s greatest magic isn’t just in its dreaming spires, but in the way its stories, old and new, continue to shape those daring enough to learn beneath them. Stay tuned for more news and updates.
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Arvind is a Senior Writer and Editor at Hilvaro, specializing in anime, entertainment, and pop culture. With a BSc in Transportation Technology, his passion for storytelling led him to a career in journalism. He has previously contributed to Sportskeeda and GameRant, covering anime and entertainment with a keen eye for detail.
Outside writing, Arvind loves gaming and is fond of anime, binge-watching movies and television series. He spends some of his free time listening to rock music and writing poetry. What Arvind appreciates most about pop culture is the theme that makes it more alive and engaging for this generation; thus the possibility of such content reaching readers across the globe.
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