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Timeline

Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 96 min · English
JustWatch #17,040
Directed by
David Lowery
Starring
Keith Carradine, Ben Foster, Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, Nate Parker

After taking the blame for a crime, a man is imprisoned, leaving behind his love and their child. Determined to reunite with his family, he risks everything to escape and return to them. The film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds of loyalty as he navigates a dangerous journey toward redemption.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Ain't Them Bodies Saints
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013)

Where can you watch Ain't Them Bodies Saints? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on AMC+, Philo and Sundance Now: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Ain't Them Bodies Saints Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013) 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. Ruth's Frustration

    Ruth Guthrie strides across a vast field while being pursued by Bob Muldoon. Bob pleads with her, but Ruth, frustrated by his earlier decisions, is resolute in her choice to leave for her mother's home.

  2. Revelation of Pregnancy

    In a moment of vulnerability, Ruth reveals to Bob that she is pregnant. This revelation leads to a heartfelt reconciliation between the two, bringing them closer together despite the tensions.

  3. Criminal Act Ignites Tension

    While Ruth waits anxiously in a getaway vehicle, Bob and Freddy engage in a criminal act. Their activities attract the attention of the police, leading to a high-stakes confrontation at a nearby farmhouse.

    Where
    Farmhouse
  4. Chaos and Loss

    Amid the chaos of the confrontation, Freddy is killed. In a desperate attempt to protect herself, Ruth shoots Patrick, further complicating the already dire situation.

    Where
    Farmhouse
  5. Bob Takes the Blame

    To shield Ruth from legal repercussions, Bob heroically takes the blame for both Patrick's shooting and the criminal activity. Their surrender marks a significant turn in their relationship and sets the stage for future struggles.

  6. Life in Prison

    While serving time in prison, Bob pours his heart into writing multiple letters to Ruth. He expresses his longing to be reunited with her and their unborn child, creating a bond that sustains them during their separation.

    Where
    Prison
  7. Sylvie's Birth

    Ruth gives birth to their daughter, Sylvie, during Bob's imprisonment. This moment marks a new chapter in Ruth's life as she navigates motherhood while carrying the weight of her past.

  8. Ordinary Life in Meridian

    Years later, Ruth and Sylvie settle into a seemingly ordinary life in the quaint town of Meridian, Texas. However, Ruth remains unaware of the lurking shadows from her past that threaten to disrupt their peace.

    Where
    Meridian, Texas
  9. Patrick's Visit

    Patrick visits Ruth with alarming news about Bob's escape from prison. This revelation prompts Ruth to make difficult choices to protect her daughter and herself from the potential dangers that follow.

  10. Bob's Escape

    As Bob makes his way through Missouri after escaping prison, he seeks refuge from a friend named Sweetie in Texas. This journey leads him directly into the line of fire set by bounty hunters in pursuit of him.

    Where
    Texas
  11. A Tense Confrontation

    At Sweetie's place, Patrick seeks information about Bob, leading to increased tension. Bob narrowly escapes capture but leaves behind a cherished photograph of Ruth and Sylvie, reminding him of what he fights for.

  12. Sylvie's Birthday

    On Sylvie's birthday, Patrick gives her a guitar while also learning about Ruth's plans for a trip. However, Bob, having arrived at their home, overhears and retreats, unaware of the imminent danger awaiting him.

    Where
    Ruth's home
  13. Struggle for Survival

    Bob encounters bounty hunters during a frantic struggle, resulting in the death of one hunter. He suffers severe injuries but manages to escape, highlighting the dire circumstances of his situation.

  14. Gunfire and Chaos

    As chaos unfolds, Ruth and Sylvie are taken to the police station for protection. Meanwhile, outside, Patrick confronts the remaining bounty hunters, leading to another violent confrontation that affects everyone.

  15. Final Moments

    In a heartbreaking climax, Ruth finds Bob critically wounded in their home. As Sylvie witnesses her father's final moments, the pain of their separation and tragedy culminates in an emotional farewell that leaves a lasting impact.

    Where
    Ruth's home

Last updated: November 15, 2024 at 18:53

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Timeline questions answered

Ain't Them Bodies Saints Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Bob take the blame for Ruth shooting the deputy?

Bob takes the blame to protect Ruth from prison. Since Ruth was the one who shot Deputy Patrick Wheeler during the farmhouse confrontation, Bob voluntarily confesses to both the shooting and the earlier crime. This sacrifice allows Ruth to avoid legal consequences and care for their unborn child. Throughout his imprisonment, Bob writes letters to Ruth promising he will return to them.

  • bob muldoon
  • ruth guthrie
  • patrick wheeler
  • blame
  • confession
  • prison
Q2

Why does Ruth shoot Deputy Patrick Wheeler?

Ruth shoots Patrick in a moment of desperation during the chaotic farmhouse confrontation. As police close in on Bob and Freddy, Freddy is killed and Ruth, waiting in the getaway vehicle, fires at Patrick. The shooting occurs amid the panic of the raid, with Ruth acting to protect herself and possibly Bob from being captured.

  • ruth guthrie
  • patrick wheeler
  • shooting
  • farmhouse
  • police
Q3

Why does Patrick help Ruth and Sylvie after Bob escapes?

Patrick帮助Ruth是因为他一直怀疑她与当年的枪击有关,但选择不深究。当Bob越狱后,Patrick担忧Ruth和Sylvie的安全,因此警告她搬家,带走Bob的信件,并在 bounty hunters 来袭时保护她们。他感到对这些年发生的一切负有责任。

  • patrick wheeler
  • ruth guthrie
  • protection
  • bounty hunters
  • letters
Q4

Why does Bob leave his photograph at Sweetie's?

Bob leaves the photograph of Ruth and Sylvie behind during his narrow escape from Patrick at Sweetie's place. While fleeing through the window under pressure, Bob drops the photograph unintentionally. The cherished memento falls into police hands, later returned to Ruth by Patrick.

  • bob muldoon
  • photograph
  • sweetie
  • escape
  • ruth
  • sylvie
Q5

Why are bounty hunters chasing Bob?

The bounty hunters pursue Bob because he escaped from prison and is wanted for the crimes he originally confessed to. After Bob's escape, law enforcement and bounty hunters track him across Missouri toward Texas, hoping to collect the reward for capturing the fugitive.

  • bounty hunters
  • bob muldoon
  • escape
  • prison
  • pursuit
Q6

Why does Bob go to Ruth's house knowing he's being hunted?

Bob returns to Ruth's home despite the danger because he is desperately driven to see his family one last time. Severely injured from the bounty hunter confrontation and having already crossed significant distance, Bob hijacks a car and insists on going to Ruth's house, unable to stay away any longer.

  • bob muldoon
  • ruth guthrie
  • reunion
  • danger
  • injuries
Q7

How does Bob die at the end?

Bob dies from injuries sustained during his confrontation with the bounty hunters. After killing one hunter in a struggle and being shot himself, Bob escapes but bleeds severely. He manages to reach Ruth's home, but dies in her arms as Sylvie watches, fulfilling his promise to return but meeting a tragic end.

  • bob muldoon
  • death
  • bounty hunters
  • injuries
  • final moments
Q8

Why does Ruth blame Bob for telling Freddy about leaving?

Ruth is angry because Bob told Freddy that he intended to "strike out on his own," which prompted Freddy to act immediately and force Bob into the criminal act that same night. Ruth feels this reckless decision trapped them into the dangerous situation, leading directly to the farmhouse confrontation and subsequent tragedy.

  • bob muldoon
  • freddy
  • leaving
  • decision
  • ruth guthrie
Q9

What does Patrick do after learning Bob escaped?

After learning Bob escaped, Patrick visits Ruth to warn her about the danger and advises her to relocate for safety. He also retrieves the letters Bob wrote from prison, letters the police intercepted, and returns them to Ruth. Later, Patrick protects Ruth and Sylvie by taking them to the police station during the bounty hunter attack.

  • patrick wheeler
  • bob escape
  • warning
  • letters
  • protection
Q10

What happens when Sylvie meets her father Bob?

Sylvie finally meets her father Bob on the night he returns home, but it is a tragic reunion. Wounded and dying, Bob is cradled in Ruth's arms when Sylvie enters the room. The young girl witnesses her father's final moments, the first and last time she sees him alive.

  • sylvie
  • bob muldoon
  • meeting
  • father
  • death
  • final moments

Movie threads

More Movies Like Ain't Them Bodies Saints, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Ain't Them Bodies Saints tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Somber Melodramas like Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Tragic love stories set against a somber and atmospheric backdrop. If the melancholic, doomed romance of Ain't Them Bodies Saints captivated you, explore these movies. This section features atmospheric love stories with heavy emotional weight, where characters are torn apart by fate, crime, or their own tragic choices, all leading to a poignant, sad ending.

  • melancholic
  • doomed romance
  • somber
  • nostalgic
  • atmospheric
  • yearning
  • Tone: melancholic, somber, tragic
  • Pacing: slow, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow lovers whose bond is tested by external forces—often crime, social pressures, or separation. The plot builds slowly towards an inevitable tragic conclusion, focusing less on the thrill of the chase and more on the deep, aching emotional toll of their separation and longing.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared commitment to a melancholic, atmospheric tone and a central, doomed romance. They prioritize mood and emotional resonance over plot complexity, creating a somber viewing experience centered on love that cannot survive its circumstances.

Character-Driven Fugitive Stories like Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Character-driven stories of outlaws on the run, focused on sacrifice and consequence. For viewers who appreciated the deliberate pacing and emotional depth of the fugitive narrative in Ain't Them Bodies Saints. Discover movies that use the 'man on the run' trope to explore themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the heavy consequences of crime, all with a slow, tense build.

  • tense
  • grim
  • desperate
  • lonely
  • somber
  • atmospheric
  • Tone: tense, grim, melancholic
  • Pacing: slow burn, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey is internal as much as it is physical. A character, often motivated by love or a desperate need for redemption, escapes confinement and navigates a path back to something they've lost. The tension comes from the constant threat of capture and the emotional unraveling, leading to a finale that emphasizes consequence over catharsis.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films that share a specific approach to the crime genre: a slow pace, a melancholic tone, and a focus on the fugitive's psychological and emotional state. The thrill is replaced by dread, and the action is secondary to the atmospheric tension and moral reckoning.

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Every angle

Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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