The Promotion

The Promotion

Year: 2023

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: Greek

Director: Periklis Hoursoglou

ComedyDrama

In 2012 Athens, film director Nikos prepares for a significant milestone: his promotion ceremony at the University of Thessaloniki. He asks his father, Mr. Andrikos, to join him on the journey, which will be a unique train ride where time unfolds in reverse. The father-son trip promises to be an unusual and reflective experience as they travel toward the important event.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Promotion (2023)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Promotion (2023). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Chicago, Illinois

The story unfolds in a Donaldson's supermarket branch in Chicago, a busy urban-suburban retail hub. The parking lot becomes a social arena where a gang of teens loiters and spills trouble into the store. The deli and break rooms symbolize the daily grind of retail life, where competition and gossip influence morale. The cityscape provides a backdrop for the pursuit of a promotion and the pressure to perform.

🏙️ City setting 🛒 Retail environment

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:54

Main Characters – The Promotion (2023)

Meet the key characters of The Promotion (2023), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Doug Stauber

Assistant manager at a Donaldson's branch in Chicago who believes he is a shoo-in for the promotion but faces intense pressure from a rival. He endures a gang's disruption, negative customer surveys, and rumors about his past while trying to secure his financial future and his wife Jen's support.

❇️ Ambition 🧭 Leadership 🏷️ Public image

Richard Wehlner

Doug's rival who has a history of substance abuse and impulsive remarks. His bid for the job is hampered by a drug test and family strain, and his marriage and daughter are affected as the competition intensifies.

⛑️ Redemption 🧪 Substance abuse 🕊️ Family

Jen

Doug's wife who considers night school to improve their situation, showing the personal stakes behind the promotion.

🏠 Family 💡 Education 💬 Communication

Laurie

Richard's wife who moves away with their daughter to Scotland, leaving him momentarily as he struggles with his behavior and past issues.

👩‍👧 Family 💔 Relationship strain

Mitch

Contact who informs Doug that he has landed the job after the final interview, sealing the competition.

💼 Career 🗣️ Connection

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:54

Major Themes – The Promotion (2023)

Explore the central themes of The Promotion (2023), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏁 Ambition

Two assistant managers jockey for the same promotion, turning work into a high-stakes race. The fear of losing out drives aggressive behavior and a scramble to prove oneself. Personal integrity is tested as rumors, past mistakes, and public perception weigh on decisions. The ending reveals who is truly ready to lead, beyond mere bravado.

⚖️ Office Politics

Boardroom judgments, drug tests, and public apologies drive the plot more than the supermarket's day-to-day tasks. The competition exposes the fragility of reputation and the influence of external scrutiny from directors and community leaders. Misunderstandings—such as the 'cutting the cheese' sign incident—highlight the politics that shape career outcomes. The story uses corporate maneuvering to critique meritocracy and fairness.

👪 Relationships

The job chase strains marriages as Doug's finances and Jen's night-school plans collide with his ambition. Richard's past and impulsive behavior push his wife Laurie and daughter away, splitting the family and testing loyalty. Community and family support become a counterweight to professional rivalry. In the end, relationships are rebuilt or left behind depending on choices under pressure.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:54

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Bittersweet workplace comedies like The Promotion

Comedies where professional ambitions meet relatable personal realities.Looking for movies like The Promotion? This list features comedies and dramedies where the pressure of a job promotion creates a blend of humor and heartfelt drama, exploring the bittersweet reality of achieving career goals.

competitivefrustratedanxioushopefulstrainedreflective

Narrative Summary

Stories typically follow characters in a competitive professional setting, often a single workplace, as they navigate the absurdities and pressures of vying for a career-defining opportunity. The narrative balances comedic mishaps with moments of genuine stress and reflection, culminating in an ending that acknowledges the victory but also its personal cost or the hollow feeling of the chase.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared ability to find humor in the mundane frustrations of work while treating the emotional stakes of ambition with sincerity. They share a medium intensity, a steady pace that builds to a climax, and a tone that skillfully mixes comedic moments with underlying tension.

Movies about reflective journeys like The Promotion

Stories where a physical trip forces a re-examination of the past.If you liked the reflective train ride in The Promotion, explore these other movies where a physical journey prompts characters to confront their past and reassess their relationships, blending drama with a steady, contemplative pace.

reflectivestrainedhopefulmelancholicconversationalintrospective

Narrative Summary

The central narrative device is a journey—a road trip, a train ride, a pilgrimage—that structures the story. As the characters move through space, they are also moving through time emotionally, revisiting key moments, secrets, and regrets. The pacing is often deliberate, allowing space for dialogue and reflection, building towards a climax of emotional revelation rather than action.

Why These Movies?

These movies are connected by their use of travel as a narrative framework for introspection. They share a steady, thoughtful pacing, a tone that blends tension with melancholy or hope, and a focus on the emotional weight of revisiting personal history and family dynamics.

Unlock the Full Story of The Promotion

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Promotion in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Promotion is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Promotion Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Promotion, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Promotion Summary

The Promotion Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Promotion with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Promotion Timeline

The Promotion Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Promotion that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Promotion Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Promotion

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Promotion: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Promotion