Upamanyu Biswas
Netflix’s ‘The Heart Knows‘ ends with Juan and Valeria coming face to face with one another after the truth behind the former’s falsehoods is laid bare. As such, the duo must navigate the intricate reasons behind their coming together and whether they should embrace it as part of their future. In the meantime, we also get a concrete answer behind what awaits the El Progreso neighborhood, which lies at the center of a tug-of-war between the innocent residents and the city’s municipality. Despite the looming threat of potentially losing their homes, the inhabitants make a stand against the decisions taken by the city’s higher officials, which they fear could lead to their eviction. The final moments provide a resolution to this ongoing conflict as an unforeseen twist offers the answers everyone hopes for. SPOILERS AHEAD.
The Heart Knows Plot Synopsis
The movie begins with a glimpse into the life of Juan, a seemingly self-centered man who leads a high-end life as the CEO of a construction company, Concretar. Juan spends his time navigating the stresses of his position while also maintaining a social life amongst the elite members of society, which includes a relationship with a woman named Gi. One day, Juan feels a sense of discomfort around his chest as he goes about the day’s routine, passing it off as a normal part of his existence. However, the situation only worsens as the day progresses, leading to more intense pain around the chest and arm area. This finally comes to bear during the night when he suffers a heart attack while driving to the airport. After an emergency call, he is picked up by an ambulance and rushed to Vior Medical for immediate treatment.
Juan’s sister, Deborah, and his lawyer arrive at the hospital to check up on his health. Unbeknownst to either, they are informed by Juan’s cardiologist, Arturo Eslanian, that the protagonist has had chronic heart issues for a long time. As such, his heart health is at an all-time low, and he is in dire need of a replacement. Fortunately, they locate a donor at the right time, leading to Juan’s recovery. The donor turns out to be Pedro, a man we follow concurrently while also catching up with Juan’s story. Pedro lives with his wife Valeria and son Tiago in the El Progreso neighborhood of the city, a downtrodden region lacking development. Tragically, while Juan suffers his heart attack, Pedro ends up in a road accident that leads to his brain death. His wife makes the decision to donate his organs for the betterment of others, one of whom turns out to be Juan.
Three months after the successful heart transplant, we learn that Juan’s personality undergoes a radical shift. The house cleaner, Nancy, states that Juan is much softer in the wake of his heart attack, suggesting that the protagonist has gone through a period of post-traumatic growth. He is also increasingly detached from his work and the demands of his role as a CEO. Instead, he is filled with a burning desire to find out more about his new heart and the donor who saved his life. With help from his lawyer, Juan is able to track him down, learning about Pedro’s identity and his death. Subsequently, he drives to the El Progreso neighborhood to learn more about Pedro’s family. However, he first needs to disguise himself appropriately in order to fit into the humble environment of El Progreso. Before long, this turns into an obsession and a secret double life between his work hours.
The Heart Knows Ending: Do Juan and Valeria Reconcile Their Differences?
After Juan begins frequenting the El Progreso neighborhoods, he very quickly develops an interest in Valeria and her son Tiago. With Pedro’s heart beating inside his chest, Juan feels a sense of connection with the woman and her son. However, he keeps his reasons for visiting the place entirely hidden from everyone, including her. Meanwhile, Valeria also feels a sense of connection with Juan, especially after she sees him being kind to her community and her son on numerous occasions. Her only qualm is his mysterious way of finding construction materials and other costly objects without ever explaining how he procured them in the first place. She worries that he may be illegally obtaining such things to get in her good graces, which he convinces her that he isn’t.
Despite their relationship progressing in a seemingly positive manner, even resulting in a kiss during a get-together event, things hit a roadblock when Valeria learns the truth behind Juan’s real identity. She makes the connection after discovering his cell phone inside his borrowed car. The truth stings her all the more because, on the same morning, she receives the news that the reconstruction of the El Progreso neighborhood has been handed over to Concretar, the same company run by Juan. Thus, when she finds out the truth, it makes her feel like he betrayed her. Subsequently, she goes to his office to confront him once and for all, questioning him about his actions. In the ensuing conversation, Juan is compelled to reveal the whole truth, including the part about Pedro’s heart being in his chest.
At the end of ‘The Heart Knows,’ Valeria and the residents prepare to defend themselves as Concretar’s construction vehicles roll into the El Progreso neighborhood accompanied by the mayor. Believing that their community is under threat, Valeria organizes the residents to hold their hands in protest against the municipality. However, her fears are unfounded as the mayor reveals that they have no plans to evict the residents of the area, a decision taken after much discussion with Concreator’s CEO, Juan. Thus, Juan plays a significant role in putting a stop to the relocation plans of El Progreso, a move that buys him Valeria’s trust once more. It tells her that he never played with her emotions nor tried to take advantage of her. As such, they kiss on the road as a final declaration of their love, meaning their relationship can now flourish without any hitches down the road.
What Happens to El Progreso?
While Juan and Valeria get their happy ending, the same is true for the El Progreso neighborhood. Despite fearing they might be evicted, the residents put up a strong resistance throughout the movie, hoping that by contributing to the construction of a recreation center, they might be stopping any plans by the municipality to interfere and relocate them. Fortunately, their fears never turn into reality because of the efforts of Juan, who plays a significant role in convincing the mayor to work alongside the residents in improving their neighborhood. As such, the construction plans are changed to renovate the buildings of the region, including the addition of new infrastructure that will facilitate the development of the people. Thus, everything works out perfectly, and Juan and Valeria reach the fairy tale conclusion they deserve.
Read More: Is The Heart Knows Based on a True Story?
