Plot Summary

Inside Llewyn Davis is set in 1960s America, in the heart of New York’s Manhattan folk music scene. Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac), a struggling singer-songwriter, is determined to survive through his music and earn artistic recognition in an industry as competitive as it is indifferent. While chasing respect and stability, he is forced to endure the harsh realities of city life, drifting between ambition and disillusionment.

Deeply shaken by the recent death of his musical partner, Llewyn finds himself emotionally adrift, his creative journey slipping into despair. A series of poor decisions further complicates his life, leaving him without a permanent home and dependent on the temporary hospitality of friends and acquaintances. Each performance brings effort, but rarely reward, reinforcing his growing sense of failure.

Amid this turmoil, Llewyn reconnects with his former girlfriend Jean Berkey (Carey Mulligan), only to discover that she is pregnant. The uncertainty surrounding the child’s paternity—whether it belongs to Llewyn or to Jean’s husband, fellow musician Jim (Justin Timberlake)—adds another layer of tension and responsibility to an already fragile existence.

As pressures mount, Llewyn pins his hopes on an audition organized by influential music manager Bud Grossman (F. Murray Abraham). The outcome of this performance becomes a defining moment, forcing him to confront the limits of his talent and perseverance. What follows is a bleak yet reflective journey toward Chicago, where the promise of success glimmers faintly against the reality of missed chances.

Through its understated narrative and melancholic tone, Inside Llewyn Davis offers a poignant portrait of artistic struggle, capturing the loneliness, repetition, and quiet resilience of a musician trapped between passion and obscurity.