An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls

Year: 2015

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Herman Yau

ComedyAction

A surprise visit from an inspector disrupts a celebratory party hosted by a prominent family. He is investigating the suicide of a young, pregnant woman, shattering the joyous atmosphere intended for an engagement. Initially, family members deny any knowledge of the deceased. However, the inspector uncovers unsettling clues through a diary and photograph, revealing a shocking connection between the family and the tragedy. The inspector gradually exposes how six members of the family are implicated in the girl’s death.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – An Inspector Calls (2015)

Trace every key event in An Inspector Calls (2015) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Dinner party at the Birling residence

The Birling family and Gerald Croft gather in Brumley to celebrate Sheila's engagement. Mr. Birling extols social status and future honors, creating a tense undercurrent beneath the celebration. The women eventually withdraw, leaving the men to continue with cigars and talk of business and the future.

Evening, start of dinner Birling dining room, Brumley
2

Inspector Goole arrives and sets the tone

Edna announces a police inspector has arrived, and Goole introduces himself as the man investigating Eva Smith's suicide. He states he will question the family one by one and takes things 'one thing at a time.' His presence unsettles the room and hints at hidden connections among the guests.

Evening, soon after dinner begins Birling drawing room
3

Birling admits knowing Eva Smith

Mr. Birling reveals Eva Smith had worked in his factory and was dismissed after leading a strike for equal pay. He insists he bears no responsibility for her death and notes she was left without financial means after losing her job. The inspector highlights the cause-and-effect chain starting with his own actions.

Evening Birling drawing room
4

Sheila confronts Eva’s photo and the Milwards incident

Sheila is shown Eva Smith's photograph and recounts the day she tried on a dress at Milwards. She recalls Eva helping her try it on, and her own subsequent humiliation after realizing the dress didn’t suit her. Believing Eva mocked her, she insists on having Eva fired from the shop.

Evening Milwards department store, then back to drawing room
5

Gerald’s connection to Daisy Renton

Inspector Goole reveals Eva Smith had changed her name to Daisy Renton. Gerald admits meeting a woman named Daisy at the Palace Bar and taking her in, providing money and a place to stay, and parting ways after a few months. He explains he tried to help her during a difficult period.

Summer (prior) Palace Bar and Gerald’s flat
6

Daisy seeks help under Mrs. Birling’s name

Daisy arrives at a charity seeking assistance, falsely claiming to be Mrs. Birling. The real Mrs. Birling refuses to help, branding Daisy as irresponsible and denying any responsibility. The inspector cross-examines to expose the truth about Eva/Daisy’s struggles and the charity’s stance.

Evening Charity committee (inference from dialogue)
7

Eric’s confession and the pregnancy

The inspector points to Eric as the father of Eva’s child. Eric enters, breaks down, and admits he raped Alice Grey after a night of drinking, then stole £50 to support her. The confession shocks the family and fuels the mounting crisis of accountability.

Evening Birling drawing room
8

Eva/Daisy/Alice dies and the inspector’s final speech

The inspector reveals Eva Smith's death came from drinking disinfectant after her pregnancy and hardship. He emphasizes that actions touch all lives and that society is interconnected. The family is left to grapple with the moral implications of their earlier confessions.

Evening Birling drawing room
9

Hoax theory arises

The family decides the inspector must be a hoax. They contact the chief constable and the infirmary to verify his existence but find no record of Inspector Goole. The tension shifts from guilt to suspicion of deception.

Late evening Birling home; telephone and infirmary inquiry
10

Relief and lingering guilt

Gerald and the elder Birlings seem relieved, but Eric and Sheila continue to feel haunted by what has happened. The sense of moral unease persists as the evening carries on.

Evening Birling drawing room
11

A phone call confirms another death

A phone rings, revealing that a young woman has died in the infirmary and that the police are on their way to question the family. The inspector’s identity remains unresolved, and the timing adds new gravity to their prior confessions.

Evening Birling house, infirmary, and phone line
12

Ending questions - responsibility and consequence

As the echoes of the night settle, the family confronts the possibility that they have been part of a larger social web that affects others. The inspector’s identity is left unexplained, inviting the audience to consider whether the moral message endures beyond the moment. The final image lingers on the theme of collective responsibility.

End of evening Birling dining room

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:51

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A forensic examination of how small, selfish acts snowball into a devastating outcome.Fans of An Inspector Calls who enjoyed its forensic dissection of a tragedy and its exploration of collective guilt will find similar movies here. These narratives methodically investigate how multiple characters contribute to a single, devastating event, often with a strong social justice theme.

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An Inspector Calls Summary

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An Inspector Calls Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in An Inspector Calls

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