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Kiss and Cry (2017) movie poster

Timeline

Kiss and Cry (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 76 mins · French
Directed by
Chloé Mahieu, Lila Pinell
Starring
Dinara Drukarova, Sarah Bramms, Xavier Dias, Aurélie Faula, Carla-Marie Santerre, Amanda Pierre

Fifteen-year-old Sarah returns to Colmar to pursue high-performance figure skating and intense competition. As she strives for excellence, she faces a challenging training regimen and the pressures of rivalry with other skaters. The demanding environment tests her physically and mentally, while the distractions of adolescence threaten to derail her athletic ambitions and dreams of success.

Drama Romance Music Cast, crew & box office
On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (13)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

13 events in order · contains spoilers

Kiss and Cry Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Kiss and Cry (2017) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Meet John and a budding romance in Toronto

    Carley Elle Allison is a 17-year-old competitive figure skater based in Toronto, balancing training with school and family. She meets John, a boy from her biology class, at a party, and their romance begins. This relationship becomes a central thread as her health battles unfold.

    When
    early in the story
    Where
    Toronto, at a party

  2. First signs of illness and misdiagnosis

    Carley begins to feel sick with severe breathlessness, which her doctors initially dismiss as asthma. An inhaler offers little relief, and doctors order tests to find the cause. The symptoms disrupt her skating and daily life.

    When
    early in illness
    Where
    Toronto, medical settings

  3. Collapse and cancer diagnosis

    On a date with John, Carley collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Doctors discover a rare cancerous tumor outside her trachea (melanoma). This diagnosis marks a turning point from a hopeful season to a brutal fight.

    When
    a few weeks after initial symptoms
    Where
    Hospital, Toronto

  4. Tracheal surgery

    Carley undergoes tracheal surgery to remove the tumor. Recovery is difficult, including adjustments to her breathing.

    When
    shortly after diagnosis
    Where
    Hospital

  5. Beginning chemotherapy

    Weeks after surgery, she begins chemotherapy to attack the cancer. The treatment is grueling but she stays focused on beating the disease.

    When
    weeks after surgery
    Where
    Hospital

  6. Hair loss and unwavering support

    During treatment, Carley loses her hair but keeps a positive outlook. Her family surrounds her with humor and support, and John remains by her side, choosing to stay positive with her.

    When
    during treatment
    Where
    Home and hospital

  7. Bald vlog and prom invitation

    Carley records a vlog about being bald, sharing her resilience with others. Soon after, John asks her to the prom with a drum set, a heartfelt gesture that brightens her day.

    When
    days after hair loss
    Where
    Home

  8. Prom night, skating lesson, and encounters

    Carley and John go to the prom together, and she teaches him to skate at the rink. She also encounters two former skating teammates who rebuff her, though Selena Gomez later posts encouraging words on YouTube.

    When
    after prom
    Where
    Prom venue and rink

  9. School return and community support

    Back at school, Carley is welcomed with messages of love and encouragement from friends and teachers. The supportive atmosphere helps sustain her through recovery.

    When
    months after initial diagnosis
    Where
    School

  10. Haircuts for Cancer and TV interview

    Carley participates in the Haircuts for Cancer fundraiser and gives a televised interview, sharing her motto to treat cancer like a contact sport—keep moving to beat it.

    When
    during fundraising period
    Where
    Fundraiser event and TV studio

  11. NHL moment and family dinner

    Months later, Carley is invited to sing O Canada to open a televised NHL game, a sign of her resilience. John also brings his Greek family to dinner at Carley's home, showing how life continues despite illness.

    When
    months later
    Where
    NHL arena and Carley's home

  12. Relapse: rediagnosis with lung cancer

    A few months later, Carley is rediagnosed with an extremely rare clear cell sarcoma in her lungs. John and Carley reaffirm their love as they face another battle.

    When
    later that year
    Where
    Hospital

  13. Passing and legacy begins

    Carley passes away at 19, bringing an early end to her bright life. In her honor, Carley’s Angels Foundation is founded to help cover high medical costs and preserve her memory.

    When
    later that year
    Where
    Hospital and foundation

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:52

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Timeline questions answered

Kiss and Cry Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Kiss and Cry (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Carley's cancer initially misdiagnosed as asthma?

Carley's first symptom was severe shortness of breath, which doctors attributed to asthma because the breathing difficulty presented similarly. The prescribed inhaler provided no relief, leading to further medical tests that eventually revealed a rare cancerous tumor outside her trachea, not a respiratory condition.

  • misdiagnosis
  • asthma
  • symptoms
  • tumor
  • breathing problems
Q2

What type of cancer did Carley have and how was it treated?

Carley was first diagnosed with a rare melanoma tumor outside her trachea. She underwent tracheal surgery to remove the tumor, followed by weeks of chemotherapy. The initial treatment appeared successful, with her hair regrowing and doctors giving her hopeful news. However, she was later rediagnosed with clear cell sarcoma in her lungs, an extremely rare and aggressive cancer.

  • melanoma
  • clear cell sarcoma
  • chemotherapy
  • tumor
  • treatment
Q3

Why did Carley decide to record a bald vlog?

After losing her hair from chemotherapy, Carley chose to share her experience openly by recording a bald vlog. She wanted to document her resilience and inspire others facing similar challenges. The vlog became a way for her to maintain her positive outlook and connect with a wider audience during her treatment.

  • bald vlog
  • hair loss
  • chemotherapy
  • sharing
  • resilience
Q4

What happened when Carley encountered her former skating teammates at the rink?

At the rink after prom, Carley encountered two former skating teammates who rebuffed her, treating her coldly. This encounter was difficult for Carley, but she found inspiration elsewhere when Selena Gomez posted encouraging words for her on YouTube, reminding her she was not alone in her fight.

  • teammates
  • rink
  • Selena Gomez
  • rejection
  • inspiration
Q5

Why did Carley's cancer return after she was declared cancer-free?

Despite initial successful treatment with the tumor removed and hair regrowing, Carley's cancer returned several months later. This time, doctors discovered an extremely rare clear cell sarcoma in her lungs. This form of cancer is particularly aggressive and difficult to treat, which is why the rediagnosis was devastating despite her initial recovery.

  • relapse
  • rediagnosis
  • clear cell sarcoma
  • lungs
  • return
Q6

What is clear cell sarcoma and why is it so dangerous?

Clear cell sarcoma is an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer that typically affects soft tissues, often in the limbs. In Carley's case, it appeared in her lungs. Its rarity and tendency to resist treatment make it particularly deadly, which explains why her rediagnosis carried such grave implications despite her earlier progress.

  • clear cell sarcoma
  • rare cancer
  • aggressive
  • soft tissue cancer
Q7

What is Carley's Angels Foundation?

Carley's Angels Foundation was established in Carley's memory after she passed away at age 19. The foundation helps cover significant medical costs for others facing similar battles and continues her legacy of supporting people fighting cancer, particularly young patients facing expensive treatments.

  • foundation
  • charity
  • legacy
  • memory
  • medical costs
Q8

How did Carley meet John and what was their relationship like?

Carley met John, a classmate from her biology class, at a party early in the story. Their relationship blossomed from there, with John becoming a bright spot in her world. Throughout her illness, John remained steadfastly by her side, professing his love, supporting her through treatment, taking her to prom, and even learning to skate so they could share that passion.

  • John
  • romance
  • boyfriend
  • prom
  • support
Q9

What was the significance of Carley singing at the NHL game?

Several months into her recovery, Carley was invited to sing the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada," to open a televised NHL game. This moment represented a significant triumph in her journey, showcasing her resilience and allowing her to return to a public performance, which was meaningful given how her illness had disrupted her athletic and artistic pursuits.

  • NHL
  • O Canada
  • anthem
  • singing
  • performance
Q10

Why did Carley teach John to skate?

After John took Carley to prom, she brought him to the rink and taught him a few skating steps. This moment symbolized their deepening bond, she was sharing something deeply personal from her life as a competitive figure skater. It also represented normal teenage experiences despite her illness, allowing her to maintain a sense of normality in their relationship.

  • skating lesson
  • rink
  • prom
  • bond
  • figure skating
Q11

What was the Haircuts for Cancer event?

Haircuts for Cancer was a fundraising event held to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Carley participated in this event, which involved people getting their hair cut to show solidarity with cancer patients and to generate donations. The event reflected the community support that surrounded Carley throughout her battle.

  • fundraiser
  • hair
  • cancer research
  • community
  • event

Movie threads

More Movies Like Kiss and Cry, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Kiss and Cry tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Tragic yet inspiring stories like Kiss and Cry

Stories where inspiring strength and courage meet a devastating, unavoidable outcome. For viewers who found the resilient spirit in Kiss and Cry moving. This collection features movies like Kiss and Cry about characters who display incredible courage and hope when facing devastating circumstances, blending heartfelt inspiration with profound sadness.

  • tragic
  • inspiring
  • heartfelt
  • somber
  • hopeful
  • resilient
  • Tone: bittersweet, tragic, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a linear path from a life-altering diagnosis or tragic event, through the character's determined struggle and moments of love and connection, culminating in a poignant, often sorrowful conclusion. The focus is on the emotional journey rather than a triumphant resolution.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared emotional core: a heavy, bittersweet tone that balances the beauty of human resilience against the crushing weight of tragedy. The pacing is steady, allowing the emotional weight to build gradually and authentically.

Kiss and Cry movie poster

Kiss and Cry

2017
Dying for Sex movie poster

Dying for Sex

1000
In His Mother’s Eyes movie poster

In His Mother’s Eyes

2023
Love Story movie poster

Love Story

1970
Terms of Endearment movie poster

Terms of Endearment

1983
Mask movie poster

Mask

1985
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl movie poster

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

2015
Six Weeks movie poster

Six Weeks

2022

Movies about shattered youth dreams like Kiss and Cry

Coming-of-age stories where passionate ambition collides with harsh, life-altering obstacles. If you liked the story of a young skater's ambitions in Kiss and Cry, explore these films about passionate young protagonists whose bright futures are irrevocably changed by tragic events, blending coming-of-age themes with heavy drama.

  • coming of age
  • tragic
  • hopeful
  • somber
  • inspiring
  • teen drama
  • Tone: bittersweet, tragic, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, linear
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a talented, driven young protagonist on a path to success. Their world is built around their passion, which is then shattered by a sudden, external force like illness or tragedy. The story charts their emotional journey from denial and fight to a painful, premature maturity.

Why they belong together: They share a specific focus on the destruction of youthful potential, creating a potent mix of hopeful beginnings and devastating conclusions. The tone is consistently heavy, with a straightforward narrative that makes the emotional impact direct and powerful.

Dying Young movie poster

Dying Young

1991
Kiss and Cry movie poster

Kiss and Cry

2017
Life in a Year movie poster

Life in a Year

2020
My All American movie poster

My All American

2015
Forever Strong movie poster

Forever Strong

2008
The Fault in Our Stars movie poster

The Fault in Our Stars

2014
Kiss and Cry movie poster

Kiss and Cry

2017
The Miracle Season movie poster

The Miracle Season

2018

Every angle

Kiss and Cry (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Kiss and Cry in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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