Liberal Arts
2012 · Movie · PG-13 · 97 min · ★ 6.5 · 64% critics
A 35-year-old man, newly single and stuck in a rut, gets pulled back toward the life he misses when a beloved former professor invites him to return to his old college for a retirement event. The visit sparks new connections, old memories, and a push to rethink what growing up should look like.
Where to watch
Watch free on Kanopy — also streaming on AMC+, SundanceNow Doc Club, Sundance Channel +3 more.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2012
- Release date
- 2012-09-14
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Critic score
- 64/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (575 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a gentle, thoughtful dramedy about nostalgia, books, and figuring out adulthood, with light romance and humor; Not for you if you need big laughs, fast pacing, or high-stakes drama like Begin Again.
Pros: warm, easygoing tone; witty, quotable dialogue; nostalgic college vibe | Cons: uneven pacing; plays it too safe; romance may not land
Themes
- age difference
- literature
- classical music
- college
- letter
- retirement
- education
- nostalgia
- aging
- campus
- coming of age
- growing up
- +7 more
Cast & crew
Josh Radnor
as Jesse Fisher
Elizabeth Olsen
as Zibby
Richard Jenkins
as Professor Peter Hoberg
John Magaro
as Dean
Zac Efron
as Nat
Allison Janney
as Professor Judith Fairfield
Elizabeth Reaser
as Ana
Kate Burton
as Susan
Robert Desiderio
as David
Kristen Bush
as Leslie
Directed by Josh Radnor