"Based on a true love story."
All My Life - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
Now or Never
It symbolizes the urgency of life and the necessity of taking risks. It transitions from a casual flirtation line to a life-defining philosophy and eventually the name of a bar opened by Sol's friends.
First used when Sol asks if he should cook for Jenn "now," and later adopted as the motto for their accelerated wedding plans.
Otis the Dog
Otis represents the presence of "bad news" and the reality of Sol's illness that the couple initially tries to ignore.
Sol suggests getting a dog if the news from the doctor is bad; he later surprises Jenn with Otis to signal that his cancer has returned.
Blue Converse All-Stars
A symbol of authentic love and a direct tribute to the real-life Jennifer Carter, representing a rejection of traditional wedding perfection in favor of personal significance.
Jenn wears these light blue sneakers under her wedding dress, a detail taken directly from the real-life wedding of Jennifer and Solomon.
27,375 Days
This number symbolizes the "average" human lifespan, used to contrast the quantitative length of life with the qualitative value of specific, memorable days.
Mentioned in Jenn's opening and closing monologues as she reflects on how few days people actually remember.
Philosophical Questions
What constitutes a 'quality of life'?
The film explores whether 'quality' is determined by physical comfort and medical survival or by the fulfillment of emotional milestones like a wedding.
Does knowing the end of a story devalue the beginning?
By showing the audience the terminal nature of the relationship from the start, the film asks if we can still invest in a journey whose destination is known tragedy.
Core Meaning
The core of the film is the philosophy of "Carpe Diem"—specifically the idea that the quality of a life is measured not by its duration in days, but by the intensity and meaning of the moments remembered. The director emphasizes that while tragedy is inevitable, the choice to face it with collective joy rather than isolated sorrow is a form of resilience. It suggests that community and love are the primary tools for transcending the finite nature of human existence.