A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a 2025 romantic fantasy film directed by Kogonada and written by Seth Reiss.
It stars Margot Robbie as Sarah and Colin Farrell as David—two strangers who meet at a wedding and, through a mysterious GPS in David’s ageing Volkswagen Passat, embark on a surreal road trip that allows them to revisit defining moments from their pasts.
As their journey unfolds, they explore whimsical locations like a lighthouse-museum and a painted version of Paris, confront heartbreak, and even glimpse a possible future together.
The film blends emotional introspection with fantastical elements, offering a meditation on memory, regret, and second chances. The story is both intimate and sweeping in scope.
Farrell was eager to reunite with Kogonada, with whom he had collaborated on the acclaimed independent film After Yang. And, like Robbie, he was drawn to Seth Reiss’s screenplay. “It was one of the most beautiful scripts I’ve read,” says Farrell. “It has such an enormous heart and a singular and relatable story. Everyone, to some degree, struggles with finding contentment and love.”
For Kogonada, reuniting with Farrell was one of the project’s many highlights. “Colin has such a rich interior life, which is always present in his eyes,” says the filmmaker. “There’s something inherently romantic about him, as well. And I love that Colin got to use his native Irish accent” – which Robbie, as Sarah, pokes fun at in the story – “because he’s really a poet at heart.”
David and Sarah are each other’s equals and opposites and are always engaging. “I think people can see themselves in both David and Sarah,” says Robbie. “She’s terrified of being hurt and making herself vulnerable, especially when it comes to relationships. For years, Sarah has built up this emotional armor and has done such a good job at avoiding being hurt, she’s now someone who hurts other people. Sarah doesn’t like the person she’s become.
“I think we all look back at the way we handled certain things and wish we had done those things better,” Robbie continues. “Sarah and David have the chance to walk through a magical door and confront some actions of their past, and in some cases, even right some wrongs and eventually find romance.”
David, too, is a little lost when we meet him. “And he’s fine with being lost,” says Farrell. “David has yet to find real joy or even contentment and is just drifting through life. Then, he and Sarah embark on a transformative journey that prompts self-reflection on key moments in their lives. That leads to a kind of reawakening of love.”
David and Sarah are immediately drawn to one another. “They just can’t help it,” says Farrell, with Robbie adding, “Sarah initially thinks that he’s the love of her life or the person who absolutely destroys her. Probably both.”
Robbie and Farrell’s chemistry in depicting the characters’ burgeoning love story was apparent from the start, Kogonada points out. “It was palpable from rehearsals. Margot and Colin were so attuned and in sync with one another that they could improvise at will. It felt kinetic and alive from the beginning to the end. I think they engage the world in similar ways. And they share the same sense of humor. Their connection is deep and soulful.”
Some doors bring you to your past. Some doors lead you to your future. And some doors change everything. Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and soon, through a surprising twist of fate, find themselves on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey – an original, funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present…and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey was inspired by the idea of exploring human connection through whimsical, surreal storytelling.
Writer Seth Reiss—known for his sharp, emotionally layered work on The Menu—crafted the screenplay to reflect how chance encounters and unexpected detours can reshape our lives. The film’s central motif, a mysterious GPS guiding two strangers through time and memory, was designed to symbolize the unpredictable paths of love and self-discovery.
Director Kogonada, celebrated for his contemplative visual style in films like Columbus and After Yang, was drawn to the project’s emotional depth and fantastical premise. His interest in memory, identity, and the poetry of everyday life shaped the film’s tone, blending grounded emotion with surreal imagery.
The collaboration between Reiss and Kogonada aimed to create a cinematic experience that feels both intimate and expansive—a journey not just across landscapes, but through the inner worlds of its characters.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is inventive, bold, and imaginative filmmaking, paired with immersive, breathtaking visuals.
Robbie and Farrell showcase their remarkable chemistry as Sarah and David, two unmarried strangers who meet at a wedding and find themselves swept into a magical journey. Through a series of doors that act as portals to their pasts, they revisit defining moments of their individual lives. As Sarah and David experience each other’s memories, they gain a deeper understanding of who they are in the present and open the door to the possibility of love in their future.
Indeed, doors, of all kinds, are a critical element of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. The film’s director, Kogonada notes, “I love the theatre of doors. When I see a door on a theatrical stage, it always sparks the imagination. That door has the potential to lead us anywhere – into the mundane or the magical. Doors represent possibilities. They are inherently mysterious. Opening a door, literally and figuratively, means entering a new space, a new experience, a new moment in your life.”
Kogonada’s use of magical realism seamlessly blends fantastical elements, like the life-changing doors, with practical, everyday settings, creating a grounded, yet whimsical experience crafted for the big screen.
“It’s the kind of film I would want to watch in a packed theater,” the filmmaker states. “It’s surprising and original with two compelling actors – Margot and Colin – at the peak of their craft. They light up the screen together. “Like many movie lovers, I’m hungry for new worlds, new characters, and a new way of thinking about the human experience,” he continues. “But I also want something that feels relatable to my everyday life.”
The characters’ big bold beautiful journey uncovers a world where every door unlocks a memory, reminding us that wherever you are in life, you have the opportunity to open yourself up and change your future.
Seth Reiss is an American writer, actor, and director known for his sharp wit and emotionally layered storytelling. A graduate of Boston University, Reiss began his career as a head writer for The Onion, where he honed his satirical voice. He later became a writing supervisor for Late Night with Seth Meyers, contributing to over 700 episodes. Reiss has written for acclaimed projects like The Menu (2022), co-authored with Will Tracy, and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025), showcasing his ability to blend dark comedy with heartfelt themes. His work spans television, film, and sketch comedy, including directing shorts for UCB Comedy Originals. As an actor, he’s appeared in series like Girls and Comedy Bang! Bang!, often portraying quirky, understated characters. Reiss’s multifaceted career reflects a deep commitment to storytelling across genres and platforms.
Kogonada is a South Korean-born American filmmaker celebrated for his contemplative visual style and philosophical approach to cinema. Originally a video essayist, he gained recognition through essays for The Criterion Collection and Sight & Sound, exploring the aesthetics of directors like Ozu, Kubrick, and Kore-eda. His pseudonym pays tribute to Kogo Noda, screenwriter for Yasujirō Ozu, reflecting his reverence for cinematic tradition. Kogonada made his feature debut with Columbus (2017), followed by After Yang (2021), both praised for their emotional depth and meticulous composition. He has also directed episodes of Pachinko and Star Wars: The Acolyte, expanding his reach into television. His latest film, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025), continues his exploration of memory, identity, and human connection. Known for blending poetic visuals with quiet introspection, Kogonada remains a singular voice in contemporary cinema.
