A Sacrifice (2024) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Ben arrives in Berlin and faces personal upheaval

Ben, an American social psychologist, lives and works in Berlin following his separation from his wife in California. His focus is on the study of cults, but he is also dealing with the emotional aftermath of his divorce. His daughter Mazzy arrives from California to live with him for a semester, adding a new dynamic to his routine.

When

Immediate aftermath of Ben’s separation

Where

Berlin

Ben and Max investigate the cult mass suicide scene

Ben and his colleague Max respond to a crime scene in the suburbs where a group has committed a methodical mass suicide. The police reveal details about the victims, including cyanide pills taken in shifts and small seashells placed in their mouths, indicating a ritualistic element.

When

Day of the mass suicide

Where

Suburban house

Mazzy struggles with her arrival in Berlin

Mazzy attempts to navigate the train system and mistakenly gets lost, seeking help from a man named Martin who introduces himself and exchanges contact information. Meanwhile, Mazzy starts school and Ben continues his research amidst the chaos of the recent tragedy.

When

Following Mazzy’s arrival

Where

Berlin train station and school

Ben conducts interviews and interacts with cult members

Ben interviews a member of the cult behind closed doors and works alongside Nina and Max on investigations. Mazzy begins spending time with Martin and exploring the city, including attending conversations and activities led by a cult figure, Hilma.

When

Days after Mazzy’s arrival

Where

Ben’s apartment and city locations

Martin’s background and connection to the cult

Flashbacks reveal Martin’s childhood living with his grandmother and his involvement with an environmental activist group led by Hilma. He mourns her death, feeling isolated, and begins forming relationships with young people like Lotte and attending protests.

When

Before the events in Berlin

Where

Martin’s childhood home and activist gatherings

New suicide and police response

A second girl drowns herself at a lake with stones in her pockets. Nina states it’s not connected to the mass suicides, indicating an isolated incident. Ben and Nina grow closer, and Mazzy’s growing interest in the cult’s ideology is evident as she listens to Hilma’s talks.

When

Days after the suburban mass suicide

Where

Lake and police scene

Mazzy’s confrontation and discovery of the truth

Mazzy notices her father and Nina kissing, feeling betrayed. She tries to find Martin but is comforted by Hilma. Hilma shares manipulative advice, and Mazzy begins questioning her identity and her parents’ past, hinting at the cult’s influence.

When

Following her heartbreak

Where

Cult meeting location

Mazzy’s night at the club and Martin’s intervention

Mazzy and Larissa go to an underground club, where Mazzy encounters a man trying to pressure her to dance. Martin intervenes violently, stabbing the man. Exhausted, Mazzy and Larissa sleep in a park, showing signs of instability.

When

Night after leaving Elsa’s house

Where

Underground club and park

Martin helps Mazzy after her night out and calls emergency services. Meanwhile, Ben learns Mazzy is missing and tries to locate her. Nina reveals her cult membership and connections to Hilma, exposing the orchestrated nature of the events.

When

Early morning after Mazzy’s night in the park

Where

Park and police station

The cult’s planned mass suicide

Hilma and her followers prepare for mass self-immolation, donning robes, placing seashells in their mouths, and smearing ash on their faces. Hilma leads the ritual, ultimately burning the center down as a symbolic act of devotion.

When

During the mass suicide event

Where

Cult center

Mazzy’s rescue at the lake

Mazzy, hallucinating under the influence of drugs, walks into the lake and sinks. Ben arrives in time to rescue her from drowning. The police arrive to find cult members dead, except for Hilma, who is absent.

When

Dawn of the mass suicide day

Where

Lake

Martin’s suicide and aftermath

Martin, devastated by the loss, does not move his grandmother’s corpse and takes a cyanide pill, joining the others in death. Meanwhile, the police and Ben recover Mazzy, showing the tragic end of the cult’s influence.

When

Soon after the mass suicide

Where

Martin’s apartment

Final discovery and reflection

Mazzy wakes up dazed, hallucinating Lotte in the water, and willingly sinks into the lake. Ben rescues her, emphasizing their emotional bond. The film ends with Elsa watching a video of Hilma online, suggesting the cult’s ideology may persist.

When

After the rescue

Where

Lakeshore and Elsa’s home