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Timeline

A Colony (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 103 mins · French
Echo score 81
Directed by
Geneviève Dulude-De Celles
Starring
Robin Aubert, William Dufault, Sylvie Lemay, Noémie Godin-Vigneau, Émilie Bierre, Josée Beaulieu

Two sisters, Camille and Mylia, navigate different paths in life. Camille embraces a carefree existence, often wandering the countryside. Mylia, more introverted, struggles with family uncertainty, a new school environment, and early social experiences. When Camille introduces Mylia to Jimmy, a young man from a nearby reserve, he encourages her to find her own way and break free from her struggles.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (14)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

14 events in order · contains spoilers

A Colony Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of A Colony (2018) 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. Mylia starts high school in rural Quebec

    Mylia begins high school in rural Quebec while living with her younger sister Camille and their parents, Nathalie and Henri. The move places her in a new social environment where class and identity issues will unfold. The start of the school year marks the beginning of a challenging new chapter.

    When
    early fall, start of the school year
    Where
    Rural Quebec
  2. Locker beside cousin Gab; Gab is cold

    On her first day, Mylia discovers her locker is beside her cousin Gab, who remains cold to her. The strained family dynamic hints at tensions beneath the surface of the school day.

    When
    first day of school
    Where
    High school hallway
  3. Jacinthe asks for Mylia's help in history class

    In history and citizenship, Jacinthe notices Mylia's careful note taking and asks for help to avoid failing the course. They meet to work on assignments and grow closer as classmates.

    When
    early in the school year
    Where
    History and citizenship class
  4. Jacinthe invites Mylia to a party

    Jacinthe invites Mylia to a party after they finish their homework together. The invitation marks a potential new social circle for Mylia beyond her limited peer group.

    When
    shortly after their initial collaboration
    Where
    School vicinity
  5. Party night ends with Mylia waking up on a reserve

    She attends the party and drinks, becoming intoxicated and vomiting. She wakes up on a reserve at Jimmy's grandmother's house, where she is allowed to recover on her couch.

    When
    that same night
    Where
    A reserve on a local Indigenous community; Jimmy's grandmother's house
  6. Mylia returns home; denies drinking

    Back at home, she finds her father, Henri, sleeping on the couch for the night. She denies that she had been drinking, hoping to keep the incident secret.

    When
    that night
    Where
    Mylia's home
  7. Mylia grows closer to Jimmy; Camille uses his trampoline

    Mylia becomes acquainted with Jimmy, and he helps Camille by letting her use his trampoline. Their growing bond develops through everyday interactions in the neighborhood and at the reserve.

    When
    following days
    Where
    Jimmy's home and neighborhood
  8. Tensions in history class; Jimmy's suspension

    In history class, the discussion of Europeans' early contact with Indigenous peoples triggers tension. Jimmy becomes angry in the halls, has a physical altercation with boys, and is suspended from school.

    When
    shortly after
    Where
    School; history class
  9. Halloween party; Fifth Harmony vs Indian costume

    Jacinthe invites Mylia to a Halloween party where the group plans to dress as Fifth Harmony. The party falls on Camille's birthday, and Jimmy reveals he will dress as an Indian while criticizing Mylia's planned outfit.

    When
    Halloween
    Where
    Halloween party
  10. Party night; peer pressure and after

    At the party, Mylia is pressured to kiss a boy named Vincent but resists the sexualized pressure. She leaves the party and meets Jimmy outside, hinting at unresolved tensions.

    When
    that night
    Where
    Party location and nearby setting
  11. Separation revealed; parents move out

    Back home, Nathalie and Henri reveal they are separating and moving out of the house, leaving Mylia and Camille shocked and unsettled.

    When
    shortly after the party
    Where
    Family home
  12. Mylia meets Jimmy and confesses love

    Mylia leaves the home and encounters Jimmy; she tells him that she loves him, expressing a dangerous honesty about her feelings.

    When
    soon after the separation talk
    Where
    On the street near their homes
  13. New school; letters to Jimmy

    Time passes and Mylia begins at a new school. She writes to Jimmy about learning the Scramble for Africa and how none of her classmates believe her when she says she is from a forest and has an Abenaki warrior friend.

    When
    some time later
    Where
    New school; correspondence with Jimmy
  14. Choosing authenticity over fitting in

    She notes that her peers find her unusual and that she does not want to be like everyone else, signaling a resolve to stay true to herself.

    When
    end of the summary
    Where
    New school

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 13:57

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Timeline questions answered

A Colony Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of A Colony (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Mylia wake up at Jimmy's grandmother's house after the party?

After drinking too much at the party, Mylia becomes intoxicated and vomits. Jimmy brings her to his grandmother's house on the reserve where she is allowed to recover on the couch. This event marks her first time on the reserve and establishes her connection to Jimmy's family, showing they provide her with care when she needs it.

  • mylia
  • jimmy
  • party
  • reserve
  • intoxication
Q2

Why does Jimmy get suspended from school?

In history class, the discussion turns to European contact with Indigenous peoples, with readings that depict Indigenous people through racist stereotypes. Jimmy becomes angry and physically confronts other boys in the hallway about their treatment of him and the offensive material. His suspension stems from this outburst and highlights the racial tensions simmering beneath the school's surface.

  • jimmy
  • suspension
  • history class
  • indigenous
  • racism
Q3

What happens between Mylia and Jimmy at the Halloween party?

At the Halloween party, Jimmy tells Mylia he plans to dress as an "Indian" and criticizes her planned Fifth Harmony costume, suggesting it reveals something false about her. This exchange exposes tension around identity and authenticity, Jimmy feels compelled to reject stereotyping while Mylia is caught between wanting to fit in with her new friends and her growing connection to Jimmy and his culture.

  • halloween
  • costume
  • fifth harmony
  • jimmy
  • identity
Q4

Why do Mylia's parents separate?

The movie doesn't explicitly explain the cause of Nathalie and Henri's separation, it's presented as a turning point that creates instability for both girls. The announcement comes after the Halloween party, and the timing suggests accumulated tensions in the household finally surface, leaving Mylia and Camille to cope with the family upheaval.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show unspoken tension in the home and a strained moment where Henri sleeps on the couch.

  • parents
  • separation
  • nathalie
  • henri
  • family
Q5

Why does Mylia tell Jimmy she loves him?

After learning about her parents' separation and the family breaking apart, Mylia seeks comfort from Jimmy. She confesses her love during a vulnerable moment, expressing hope and honesty amid the uncertainty in her life. This confession represents her reaching for connection and stability during a time of emotional upheaval.

Foreshadowing: Their bond has been growing through Mylia's visits to the reserve and Jimmy's support of Camille.

  • mylia
  • jimmy
  • love confession
  • parents separation
Q6

What is the significance of Mylia writing to Jimmy about the Scramble for Africa?

The letters show Mylia processing what she learns at her new school and sharing it with Jimmy as a way of maintaining their connection despite distance. The Scramble for Africa lesson reflects the same colonial history being taught in her citizenship class, and her choice to share this knowledge with Jimmy, who challenged the racist curriculum, suggests she's finding her own voice and solidarity with his perspective.

  • letters
  • scramble for africa
  • jimmy
  • new school
  • connection
Q7

What does Mylia's final decision about not fitting in mean?

At her new school, Mylia faces disbelief and isolation when she mentions her forest home and her Abenaki friend Jimmy. Rather than changing herself to fit in, she chooses to remain true to her experiences and identity. This resolution shows her growth from a girl trying to navigate new social circles to someone confident in her own perspective, even if it makes her different.

Foreshadowing: Earlier moments show her struggling between fitting in with Jacinthe's group and her connection to Jimmy's world.

  • authenticity
  • identity
  • fitting in
  • mylia
  • self-discovery
Q8

Why does Camille get bullied at school?

Camille endures ongoing bullying from her peers throughout the movie, though the specific reasons aren't detailed. Mylia becomes her only true ally, offering quiet support as they navigate adolescence together. The bullying adds to the family's stress and highlights the challenges both sisters face in their different ways.

  • camille
  • bullying
  • sisters
  • peer pressure
Q9

Why does Jimmy let Camille use his trampoline?

Jimmy allows Camille to use his trampoline as a way to connect with Mylia and show kindness to her sister. This gesture helps build trust between Mylia and Jimmy, demonstrating how their relationship extends beyond romantic interest to include genuine care for each other's families.

  • camille
  • jimmy
  • trampoline
  • relationship building
Q10

Why does Mylia deny being at a party when she returns home?

When Mylia returns home after waking up at Jimmy's grandmother's house, she finds her father sleeping on the couch. She lies about drinking because she's ashamed and wants to keep the incident secret. The lie establishes her attempt to navigate between her new social world and her family life, setting up tension around honesty and identity.

  • mylia
  • drinking
  • denial
  • father
  • lie

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Colony, by Mood & Story

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

Introspective Coming-of-Age Movies like A Colony

Movies about adolescents finding their way through the unease of growing up. If you liked A Colony, explore other movies about young protagonists navigating the complexities of adolescence. These films share a focus on internal growth, social anxiety, and finding one's voice, offering a similar bittersweet and hopeful vibe.

  • coming-of-age
  • introspective
  • awkward
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • self-discovery
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, observational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a young protagonist through a pivotal period of change. The plot is character-driven, unfolding through realistic, everyday challenges like school, first love, and family dynamics, leading to a gradual and often bittersweet self-realization.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific, introspective mood and a focus on the raw, authentic emotions of teenage life. They balance melancholy with hope, offering a steady, observational pacing that feels true to the often-awkward process of growing up.

Movies about Family and Identity like A Colony

Emotional dramas where personal growth is shaped by family dynamics and cultural roots. Discover films similar to A Colony that delve into themes of family separation, sibling bonds, and the search for cultural identity. These dramas share a bittersweet tone and a focus on how personal identity is shaped by one's roots and relationships.

  • family drama
  • self-discovery
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • cultural identity
  • sibling relationship
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, grounded
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern revolves around a central character grappling with a fractured family unit or a conflicted sense of belonging. The story examines how these external pressures force a re-evaluation of self, culminating in an ending that acknowledges loss while embracing newfound strength or clarity.

Why they belong together: This thread connects movies through their central thematic focus on identity formation within the context of family and culture. They share a medium emotional weight and a bittersweet tone, creating a cohesive viewing experience for those interested in character-driven stories about personal and familial transformation.

Every angle

A Colony (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Colony 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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