A Master Builder

A Master Builder

Year: 2014

Runtime: 130 min

Language: English

Director: Jonathan Demme

Drama

A renowned architect's life takes a dark turn as a mysterious figure resurfaces, confronting him with a past he thought buried. Haunted by accusations of a forgotten wrongdoing, he struggles to piece together fragmented memories. The unfolding truth exposes a tangled history of deception and regret, forcing him to confront painful realities and profoundly impacting the lives of those involved.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen A Master Builder yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – A Master Builder (2014)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Master Builder (2014). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold in a contemporary setting, hinting at modern societal expectations and personal aspirations. This time period reflects personal struggles with ambition, identity, and the impact of relationships on one's life.

Location

Norway

Set in the serene and picturesque town of Norway, this location is known for its stunning landscapes and rich architectural heritage. The town serves as the perfect backdrop for an architect's journey, highlighting the balance between natural beauty and human creativity.

🌄 Scenic 🏡 Architectural

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:10

Main Characters – A Master Builder (2014)

Meet the key characters of A Master Builder (2014), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Halvard Solness

Halvard Solness is a talented architect grappling with personal and professional aspirations. He is depicted as both ambitious and deeply introspective, revealing a fear of heights that symbolizes his broader struggles with success and emotional fulfillment.

🏗️ Architect 🌪️ Ambitious

Hilde Wangel

Hilde Wangel is a dynamic and vibrant young woman who re-enters Solness's life with a boldness that challenges him. She represents a muse-like figure that brings both inspiration and chaos, prompting Solness to confront his past and his fears.

🌟 Muse 🦋 Free Spirit

Aline

Aline, Halvard's wife, represents the stability in Solness's life yet also the somber reality of his unfulfilled dreams. Her presence anchors his ambitions but also highlights the emotional distance created by his obsessive pursuits.

🏠 Supportive 💔 Sacrificial

Doctor Herdal

Doctor Herdal is an old friend of Solness who adds depth to the narrative through his understanding of Solness's psyche. His return serves as a reminder of past connections and the intertwining of personal histories.

🩺 Friend 🧠 Insightful

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:10

Major Themes – A Master Builder (2014)

Explore the central themes of A Master Builder (2014), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏗️ Ambition

Ambition drives Halvard Solness as he strives to achieve greatness in his architectural career. The film explores how his aspirations shape his relationships and ultimately lead to introspection about his fears and desires.

🌈 Illusion vs Reality

The theme of illusion versus reality permeates the narrative, with Hilde's presence serving as a catalyst for Solness's inner battles. As the lines blur between dreams and actual events, it addresses the complexities of human perception and the longing for escape.

🧗 Fear

Fear, particularly Solness's acrophobia, plays a crucial role in the story, highlighting the struggles one faces when confronting personal limitations. The film presents a poignant exploration of overcoming fears through external encouragement and internal resolve.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:10

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

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.

Movies about confronting the past on a deathbed like A Master Builder

Characters forced to face their buried past as their life reaches its end.If you liked A Master Builder's exploration of a dying man's psychological reckoning, you'll find similar stories here. These movies focus on characters revisiting their past sins and deceptions as they face mortality, offering a heavy, melancholic viewing experience centered on memory and regret.

introspectivesomberpsychologicalunsettlingregretfuldying light

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a linear but psychologically complex path. A dying protagonist is visited by someone connected to a past transgression, triggering a series of flashbacks or confrontations that blur the line between memory and present reality. The central conflict is internal, leading to a climactic revelation of truth that is often tragic or sorrowful.

Why These Movies?

These films share a heavy emotional weight, a melancholic tone, and a slow, deliberate pacing that allows for deep character study. They are united by the core theme of a life review under the shadow of death, creating a cohesive experience of psychological drama and somber reflection.

Movies with a dreamlike psychological blur like A Master Builder

Narratives where the lines between memory, fantasy, and truth become indistinct.For viewers who appreciated the dreamlike ambiguity of A Master Builder, this section features similar films that challenge perception. These stories often use psychological drama to weave narratives where reality and fantasy are intertwined, perfect for those seeking intellectually engaging and atmospheric cinema.

dreamlikeunsettlingpsychologicalintrospectiveambiguousatmospheric

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a central character whose perception of events is unreliable. The story unfolds through their subjective experience, blending hallucinations, memories, and reality without clear demarcations. This creates a moderate complexity as the audience must decipher the truth, typically leading to a revelation about the character's mental state or a painful reality they've been avoiding.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared technique of blurring reality to serve psychological themes. The dreamlike mood, moderate narrative complexity, and focus on internal conflict create a distinct viewing experience characterized by unease, introspection, and a challenging of objective truth.

Unlock the Full Story of A Master Builder

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Master Builder 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 A Master Builder is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Master Builder Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Master Builder, 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.

A Master Builder Summary

A Master Builder Timeline

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

A Master Builder Timeline

A Master Builder Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Master Builder 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.

A Master Builder Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Master Builder

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Master Builder: 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 A Master Builder

Similar Movies to A Master Builder

Discover movies like A Master Builder that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.