Inside Llewyn Davis 2013

In February 1961, we meet Llewyn Davis, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, a struggling folk singer navigating the vibrant yet harsh reality of New York City’s Greenwich Village. Once a merchant marine, Llewyn’s life has turned upside down after the tragic suicide of his musical partner, Mike. His recent solo album, Inside Llewyn Davis, fails to gain traction, leaving him broke and couch-surfing at the homes of friends and acquaintances.

At the Gaslight Cafe, Llewyn performs an emotional rendition of “Hang Me, Oh Hang Me”. After his set, the club owner Pappi (played by Max Casella) informs him that someone is waiting outside. Unfortunately, Llewyn finds himself confronted by a shadowy figure in a suit who brutally attacks him, retribution for heckling a previous performance.

Seeking shelter, Llewyn stays at the apartment of his older friends, the Gorfeins. The following morning, he listens to a track from his and Mike’s album called “Dink’s Song”, before encountering the Gorfeins’ orange tabby cat, which ends up locked out. Llewyn takes the cat to his friends Jim and Jean (the latter played by Carey Mulligan), where complications arise when Jean reveals she is pregnant, compelling Llewyn into an uncomfortable conversation about financial support for an abortion.

The trio attend the Gaslight Cafe once more, but Llewyn’s financial struggles lead him to ask Jim (Justin Timberlake) for assistance, which goes unsuccessfully. Later, Llewyn’s visit to his sister in Woodside proves similarly disappointing, and he ends up impulsively recording a novelty song titled “Please Mr. Kennedy” as part of a group called the John Glenn Singers with Jim and another musician, Al Cody (played by Adam Driver).

Llewyn attempts to set up Jean’s appointment at the gynecologist but learns of a past dilemma he faced concerning another woman. Tension rises between Llewyn and Jean as their lives become increasingly intertwined through their unforeseen circumstances. As he continues searching for money and direction, Llewyn has yet another encounter with the Gorfeins’ cat that leaves him frustrated.

As the story progresses, Llewyn embarks on a road trip to Chicago with two musicians: the quiet Johnny Five (portrayed by Garrett Hedlund) and the abrasive Roland Turner (John Goodman). Roland’s rude remarks only add to Llewyn’s woes. Tragedy strikes when Roland collapses due to a heroin overdose, forcing Llewyn into a precarious situation that leads him to abandon the car with both Roland and the cat inside.

In Chicago, Llewyn seeks out Bud Grossman (played by F. Murray Abraham), only to find his dreams dashed when Grossman claims he received no record from him but agrees to an audition where Llewyn performs “The Death of Queen Jane”. After a lackluster reception, Llewyn hitchhikes back to New York, unintentionally hitting what seems to be the same orange cat.

Returning to New York, he tries to reconnect with his ailing father and wonders about life choices as he prepares for a final goodbye to Jean. Yet, the pressures of his past and the allure of performing again bind him in a cycle of frustration and hope.

At the Gaslight once again, Llewyn confronts disturbing revelations about Pappi’s interactions with female performers, leading him to lash out during someone else’s performance. After being thrown out, he finds refuge one last time at the Gorfeins’, relieved to see the familiar orange cat back home.

The film closes with Llewyn’s poignant reflection as he sings “Hang Me, Oh Hang Me”, followed by a raw performance of “If I Had Wings”. As his journey seemingly comes to an end, a young Bob Dylan debuts on stage, marking the passage of time and the bittersweet nature of Llewyn’s artistic struggles. With a final confrontation outside with the man he previously angered, Llewyn mutters, “Au revoir”, leaving viewers to ponder the cyclical nature of dreams, despair, and the pursuit of artistry.