The Tearsmith tells the emotional tale of Nica and Rigel, two orphans who, despite their challenging pasts, find solace in each other. Based on Erin Doom’s novel, the movie was released on April 4, 2024. The ending reveals the profound impact of the protagonist’s journey.
The emotional and physical scars of their experiences culminate in a powerful moment of self-discovery. The main character, after enduring intense hardships and confronting their inner demons, finally understands the true meaning of sacrifice and connection.

Nica and Rigel’s Heartfelt Story
This resolution ties together the story’s themes of healing, loss, and the complexity of human emotions, leaving the audience with a sense of closure, yet reflecting on the broader implications of the character’s actions.
Through their time together at the Sunnycreek Orphanage, Nica and Rigel gradually overcome their difficult histories and the struggles of their evolving relationship. By the end of the movie, they confess their love for each other, and their blossoming romance serves as a central theme in this Italian love story.
The Tearsmith Ending: Do Rigel and Nica Have a Child?
The ending of The Tearsmith leaves viewers with an emotional moment as Nica and Rigel finally come to terms with their love for each other. After a night filled with emotional connection, they solidify their bond the following morning.
Fast-forwarding to the future, Nica and Rigel are still together, now with a daughter of their own, as they reflect on their enduring love and the family they’ve built together.
This conclusion brings closure to their love story that began at the Sunnycreek Orphanage, showcasing how they overcame their troubled pasts to embrace happiness together.
The Tearsmith Ending Explained
Following a courageous speech where Nica speaks out against Margaret, the cruel orphanage headmistress, she walks home with Rigel. However, their brief moment of peace is shattered when a classmate, who has feelings for Nica, drives his car toward them in an attempt to intimidate them.
To avoid the oncoming vehicle, Rigel and Nica leap off a bridge into a river, with Rigel managing to stop Nica from falling into the water. Tragically, Rigel’s undiagnosed brain tumors cause him to fall into a coma. Nica, devoted to Rigel, remains by his side in the hospital, visiting him every day as he fights for his life.
Rigel eventually wakes from his coma after Nica, her eyes filled with tears, tells him that she loves him. She refers to him as her “tearsmith,” as he is the only one who can make her cry by drawing out all her emotions at once.
What Happens to Rigel in The Tearsmith?
Rigel and Nica’s fates are intricately tied together in The Tearsmith. They first meet at the Sunnycreek Orphanage, where Nica faces both physical and emotional abuse from the headmistress, Margaret.
Rigel, who is intelligent, plays the piano, and stands out among the other children, is the only one whom Margaret does not mistreat, though this makes him unpopular among his peers. Eventually, Nica and Rigel are adopted by a couple, Anna and Norman Milligan, who are intrigued by Rigel.
Despite their shared experiences, Rigel initially rejects Nica’s attempts at forming a connection, pushing her away and warning her to keep her distance. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Rigel has strong feelings for Nica, but he struggles to express them due to past trauma.
He has been made to believe, especially by Margaret, that he is unworthy of love and that he is somehow a “monster.” Simone Baldasseroni, also known as Biondo, portrays Rigel, while Caterina Ferioli plays Nica in the film.