Liberal Arts is a 2012 romantic comedy-drama film written, directed, and starred in by Josh Radnor (known for his role as Ted Mosby in How I Met Your Mother). The film also stars Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, and Zac Efron.
The movie follows Jesse Fisher, a 35-year-old college admissions officer who returns to his alma mater in Ohio for his favorite professor Peter's retirement dinner. Jesse is forever nostalgic for his college days and finds himself drawn to Zibby, a 19-year-old sophomore at the university.
Jesse starts exchanging letters with Zibby and their exchanges become more intimate as they open up to each other about their fears, hopes, and desires. Jesse finds himself falling in love with Zibby despite the almost twenty-year age difference between them.
The film also explores the themes of nostalgia, regret, growing older, intellectual snobbery, and how age does not necessarily translate to maturity. The interactions between the characters are witty, charming, and often poignant.
Ultimately, Liberal Arts is a heartwarming and relatable film that reminds viewers that it is never too late to revisit what makes us happy, and to seize the opportunities that life presents us, no matter how unexpected they may be.