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Alaska (2015) movie poster

Timeline

Alaska (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 125 mins · Italian
Directed by
Claudio Cupellini
Starring
Roschdy Zem, Elio Germano, Orietta Notari, Antoine Oppenheim, Elena Radonicich, Paolo Pierobon

Nadine, a young woman from France, and Fausto, an Italian man pursuing a career as a restaurant waiter in Paris, unexpectedly meet at a luxurious hotel. Both are vulnerable, isolated, and yearning for a seemingly impossible happiness. Their passionate romance faces trials as their personal ambitions and underlying desperation come to the surface, testing the strength of their connection.

Drama Romance Cast, crew & box office
On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (10)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

10 events in order · contains spoilers

Alaska Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Alaska (2015) 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. Prison release and Alaska's birth

    Fausto, recently released from prison after a violent life, seeks a fresh start. He partners with Sandro and opens Alaska, a disco that he hopes will redefine his future. Nadine, a French model who previously helped him meet Sandro, is part of the venture behind the scenes.

    When
    shortly after release
    Where
    City (Alaska club)

  2. Nadine's past and Fausto's betrayal

    Nadine had a successful modeling period in Milan but is now broke. Fausto uses her savings to invest in Alaska, doing so behind her back. This betrayal strains their relationship from the start.

    When
    before opening
    Where
    Milan; Alaska (city)

  3. Alaska opens and finds success

    Alaska opens with Sandro, a man Fausto met through Nadine, and the club's early nights draw crowds. The business starts to thrive as the venture gains momentum. Fausto enjoys the success, buoyed by the new venture.

    When
    opening day
    Where
    Alaska disco

  4. Nadine's betrayal

    Nadine discovers that Fausto used her savings to fund Alaska. In response, she betrays him by sleeping with her boss. The trust between them fractures beyond repair.

    When
    shortly after discovery
    Where
    Nadine's workplace / boss's location

  5. Fausto's outrage and withdrawal

    Fausto is outraged by the betrayal and declares he wants nothing more to do with Nadine. He refocuses on his ambitions with Francesca, hoping to build a new life. The rift between them becomes a turning point in his plans.

    When
    after betrayal
    Where
    City

  6. Francesca and the hotel opportunity

    Fausto begins dating Francesca, a woman from a wealthy background. Through her father, he gains the chance to run an elegant hotel. The new relationship looks like a path to social ascent and lasting stability.

    When
    later
    Where
    City / Francesca's circle

  7. Sandro's downfall and suicide

    Sandro feels betrayed by Fausto and starts betting heavily, eventually losing all his money. In despair, he takes his own life. The tragedy echoes the fragile trust that underpins the whole venture.

    When
    after Alaska's establishment
    Where
    betting venue

  8. Fausto seeks reconciliation with Nadine

    Despite the rupture, Fausto tries to mend his relationship with Nadine. He still holds on to the plan to marry Francesca and expand the hotel network. The past continues to complicate his present.

    When
    after Sandro's death
    Where
    City

  9. Nadine's act and prison

    Nadine leaves in anger and later kills her boss during a quarrel at work. The act lands her in prison, cutting her off from the life she once imagined. The sentence marks a new, harsher turn in her story.

    When
    later
    Where
    workplace

  10. Weekly visits and Francesca's fate

    Fausto abandons any real plans with Francesca and instead visits Nadine every week. He waits by her side, hoping for the end of her sentence and a possible reunion. The relationship with Francesca is left behind as the primary bond becomes Nadine.

    When
    during Nadine's imprisonment
    Where
    Nadine's prison

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 14:16

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Timeline questions answered

Alaska Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Alaska (2015): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Fausto use Nadine's savings to open Alaska?

Fausto used Nadine's savings without her knowledge because he saw Alaska as his chance for a fresh start after being released from prison. He believed the disco could redefine his future and provide the financial stability he needed. However, he made the decision unilaterally, betraying Nadine's trust in the process.

  • fausto
  • nadine
  • savings
  • alaska
  • investment
  • betrayal
Q2

Why did Nadine sleep with her boss after discovering the betrayal?

Nadine slept with her boss as an act of revenge after discovering that Fausto had secretly used her savings to fund Alaska. The betrayal shattered her trust in Fausto, and her affair was a direct response to his deception, causing a permanent rift in their relationship.

  • nadine
  • betrayal
  • affair
  • revenge
  • trust
Q3

Why did Sandro commit suicide in Alaska?

Sandro felt betrayed by Fausto after learning how Fausto had handled the business finances. In his despair over this betrayal, Sandro began gambling heavily and lost all his money. The combination of financial ruin and feeling betrayed led him to take his own life.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Sandro was a key partner in building Alaska, making his eventual downfall more devastating.

  • sandro
  • suicide
  • betrayal
  • gambling
  • money
Q4

Why does Fausto choose Nadine over Francesca at the end?

Despite Francesca offering him a path to wealth and social status through her father's hotel, Fausto ultimately chooses to wait for Nadine in prison. This decision reflects his deep, albeit twisted, loyalty to Nadine. Though their relationship was destructive and marked by mutual betrayals, Fausto cannot let go of their connection, abandoning his ambitions with Francesca to stand by Nadine.

Foreshadowing: From the beginning, Fausto and Nadine's bond was intense and tumultuous, with both willing to risk everything for each other.

  • fausto
  • nadine
  • francesca
  • choice
  • loyalty
  • prison
Q5

How did Nadine end up in prison?

Nadine killed her boss during a quarrel at her workplace. After the betrayal by Fausto and the subsequent fallout, she was already in a volatile emotional state. During an argument with her new employer, she committed murder, resulting in a prison sentence.

Foreshadowing: Nadine's anger had been building since discovering Fausto's betrayal and her own act of infidelity.

  • nadine
  • prison
  • murder
  • boss
  • killing
Q6

What happened to Alaska after Sandro's death?

The timeline does not specify the exact fate of the Alaska disco after Sandro's suicide. However, the club had already been established and was successful prior to these events. The focus shifts to the subsequent tragedies and the unraveling of the characters' lives rather than the business's ongoing operations.

  • alaska
  • disco
  • sandro
  • business
Q7

Why does Fausto visit Nadine every week while she's in prison?

Fausto visits Nadine weekly because despite all the betrayals and destruction between them, their connection persists. He waits for the end of her sentence hoping to reconcile. This reflects the toxic but unbreakable bond they share, with Fausto choosing to sacrifice his other prospects rather than move on without her.

Foreshadowing: The intensity of their initial meeting at the luxurious hotel established the passionate, destructive nature of their relationship.

  • fausto
  • nadine
  • visits
  • prison
  • reconciliation
Q8

What is the significance of the title Alaska?

The title Alaska refers to the disco that Fausto opens after his prison release. It represents his hope for a new beginning and a fresh start in a cold, distant place, much like the literal coldness of Alaska. The name also symbolizes the characters' pursuit of an unattainable, distant happiness.

  • alaska
  • title
  • disco
  • meaning
  • symbolism
Q9

Why did Fausto start dating Francesca?

Fausto began dating Francesca, a woman from a wealthy family, after his relationship with Nadine collapsed. Through her father, he gained the opportunity to run an elegant hotel, offering him a path to social ascent and financial stability. It was a strategic move to rebuild his life through legitimate business prospects.

  • fausto
  • francesca
  • hotel
  • ambition
  • wealth
Q10

What triggered Nadine's decision to kill her boss?

Nadine's decision to kill her boss was triggered by accumulated anger and desperation following the fallout from her relationship with Fausto. After betraying Fausto and losing both her romantic and financial security, she was already in a fragile state. During a quarrel with her new employer, this emotional turmoil exploded into violence, resulting in murder and her imprisonment.

Foreshadowing: Her earlier betrayal of Fausto showed she was capable of destructive actions when emotionally wounded.

  • nadine
  • murder
  • boss
  • anger
  • desperation

Movie threads

More Movies Like Alaska, by Mood & Story

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

Volatile Romance Movies Like Alaska

Intense love stories that spiral into betrayal, ruin, and desperate choices. If you were captivated by the desperate passion and tragic spiral in Alaska, explore these movies featuring intense relationships that lead to betrayal, financial ruin, and devastating consequences. These films share a similar high-stakes emotional landscape.

  • desperate
  • passionate
  • tragic
  • melancholic
  • betrayal
  • volatile
  • Tone: melancholic, intense, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow a couple whose initial passion is overshadowed by external pressures, personal ambitions, or hidden desperation. The narrative often accelerates through a series of dramatic turning points—betrayal, criminal acts, financial collapse—culminating in a bittersweet or tragic resolution that highlights the destructive power of their love.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core pattern: romance that is both intensely passionate and fundamentally unstable. They feature characters whose love is desperate, often leading to morally ambiguous choices and life-altering consequences, all paced with a sense of impending doom.

Alaska movie poster

Alaska

2015
Romeo Is Bleeding movie poster

Romeo Is Bleeding

1994
My Fault movie poster

My Fault

2023
True Romance movie poster

True Romance

1993
Casanova movie poster

Casanova

2005
Cruel Intentions movie poster

Cruel Intentions

2016
Love Lies Bleeding movie poster

Love Lies Bleeding

2008
Romeo Must Die movie poster

Romeo Must Die

2000

Movies About Broken Dreams Like Alaska

Stories of fragile aspirations shattered by harsh realities and desperate acts. If you appreciated the melancholic exploration of shattered ambitions in Alaska, discover these films about characters whose pursuit of happiness leads to isolation, financial desperation, and tragic outcomes. Similar stories of dreams undone by reality.

  • melancholic
  • isolated
  • desperate
  • tragic
  • broken dreams
  • ambition
  • Tone: melancholic, bleak, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread follow protagonists who are isolated and yearning for a better life. Their pursuit of happiness—whether through love, career, or escape—is constantly undermined by their own vulnerabilities or external forces. The story arc often involves a rapid descent from hope into despair, marked by significant personal losses.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their focus on the fragility of human ambition. They depict characters who are vulnerable and isolated, whose dreams are ultimately broken by a combination of desperate choices and unforgiving circumstances, creating a heavy, melancholic viewing experience.

The Dream of the Red Chamber movie poster

The Dream of the Red Chamber

1977
Liebestraum movie poster

Liebestraum

1991
Wintersleepers movie poster

Wintersleepers

1997
A Dream of Passion movie poster

A Dream of Passion

1978
Train Dreams movie poster

Train Dreams

2025
Dreamland movie poster

Dreamland

2020
Dark Illness movie poster

Dark Illness

1990
Shanghai Dreams movie poster

Shanghai Dreams

2005

Every angle

Alaska (2015) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Alaska 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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