Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Action Comedy Drama Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Romance Mystery Animation Crime
As Time Goes By (1997) movie poster

Characters & Themes

As Time Goes By (1997) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1997 · 58 mins · Cantonese
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Vincent Chui
Starring
Ann Hui

A 1997 documentary that forms part of the Taiwan‑produced series “Personal Memoir of Hong Kong”. It serves as both a self‑portrait of its creator and a broader depiction of Hong Kong’s society, culture and political atmosphere during the four decades leading up to the 1997 handover of the territory from the United Kingdom to China.

Documentary Cast, crew & box office
On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (11)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (4)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like As Time Goes By
  8. 8 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

11 main characters · contains spoilers

As Time Goes By Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of As Time Goes By (1997), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Yitzik 'Rick' Baline

    A small-time NYC criminal whose charm helps him rise to power. He falls for Lois, navigates gang warfare, and eventually flees to Europe, where he assumes the name Richard Blaine to start anew. Rick combines street-smart pragmatism with a romantic streak that complicates his decisions and bonds.

    • 💼 Gangster
    • ❤️ Romantic
    • 🧭 Identity

  • Lois Horowitz

    Daughter of Solly Horowitz, she is steered toward a better life by her family yet entangled with Rick. Her marriage to a would-be politician contrasts with her lingering emotions and loyalty to Rick. Lois embodies the tension between personal desire and social expectations.

    • 💖 Love
    • 👔 Ambition
    • 🧭 Loyalty

  • Solly Horowitz

    A powerful gangster who aims to secure his family's future and control through Solly's enterprises. His authority triggers rivalries and violence, and his downfall marks a turning point for the power structure in the underworld. He embodies old-school gangster leadership and the costs of unchecked ambition.

    • 💼 Power
    • 💣 Violence
    • 🕯️ Legacy

  • Tick-Tock

    Solly's principal assistant and a rival to Rick for Solly's favor and the succession of leadership. His scheming and desire to be the heir fuels internal conflict and brutal adjustments within the crime world. He is calculating, relentless, and dangerous.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Rivalry
    • ⚖️ Ambition
    • 💢 Threat

  • Robert Meredith

    A lawyer and would-be politician Lois marries, whose public image hides corrupt practices. His exposure underscores the moral tension between public service and private wrongdoing in a world of power and influence.

    • 💼 Corruption
    • 🗳️ Politics
    • 🧩 Deception

  • Victor

    A resistance-minded ally who seeks to resume his part in Czech operations. His actions lead to key assassinations and betrayals, ultimately paying with his own life in pursuit of a larger cause. Victor embodies the activist spirit within the resistance movement.

    • 🧭 Resistance
    • 🗡️ Risk
    • 🕊️ Sacrifice

  • Ilsa

    A strategist who speaks perfect Russian and serves as an intelligence asset with a cover as a White Russian. Her involvement in the Prague operation and her relationship with Rick add emotional depth to the wartime plot. Ilsa's choices intertwine love, duty, and espionage.

    • 🧠 Intelligence
    • ❤️ Love
    • 🗺️ Alliance

  • Reinhard Heydrich

    The 'Butcher of Prague' and central target of the assassination plot. His confidence and ruthlessness make him a formidable foe, driving the tension of the mission and the stakes of the operation Anthropoid.

    • 🗡️ Target
    • 🛡️ Conflict
    • 🧭 Danger

  • Louis

    A companion to Rick and Sam who travels with documents and aid. His fate is sealed when Victor aims to eliminate him under suspicions of betrayal, underscoring the perilous nature of wartime loyalty.

    • 🧭 Loyalty
    • ⚔️ Betrayal
    • 🗺️ Travel

  • Sam

    Rick's loyal ally who accompanies him through the journey, providing support and companionship. Sam embodies steadfast friendship amid shifting loyalties and dangerous missions.

    • 🤝 Friendship
    • 🗺️ Travel
    • 🛡️ Support

  • Carl

    Owner of Rick's Café Americain in Casablanca, representing a business anchor and a new chapter for Rick’s legacy in the final act. Carl stands as a link to Rick's past and the continued operation of their enterprise.

    • 🏨 Business
    • 🌀 Continuity
    • 🗺️ Location

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:24

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does As Time Goes By Take Place?

The setting of As Time Goes By (1997): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1931-1935, 1941-1942

Two distinct eras structure the film: the 1931-1935 surge of organized crime in New York and the rise of a speakeasy empire, followed by the 1941-1942 wartime period in Europe as resistance networks form. The shift from Prohibition to global conflict drives constant change in fortunes and loyalties. It captures how crime, love, and espionage intersect under pressure.

Location

New York, Boston, Le Havre, Lisbon, London, Prague, Casablanca, North Africa

Set across multiple major cities, starting in Prohibition-era New York and moving to Boston. The characters travel through Le Havre, Lisbon and London before reaching Prague and Casablanca. The narrative also spans North Africa as the war heats up.

  • 🏙️ City life
  • 🌍 International locales
  • ⏳ 1930s-1940s

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:24

Was this helpful?

4 major themes

As Time Goes By Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is As Time Goes By (1997) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Power & Crime

    In the shadow of Prohibition and gang rivalries, Rick navigates loyalty and ambition as he rises from a small-time hustler to a powerful boss. The feud among Solly's and Tick-Tock's factions escalates into deadly warfare that reshapes loyalties. Wealth becomes leverage, funding both escape and ambition while eroding trust. The theme shows how crime promises security while exacting a heavy personal cost.

  • Love & Betrayal

    Romantic attachments clash with family expectations and political calculations. Lois chooses a path that defies love, marrying a politician while remaining entangled with Rick's feelings. Rick's romantic life is tempered by strategy, risk, and the need to survive. Their relationships drive crucial decisions and sow betrayals across shifting loyalties.

  • Identity & Escape

    Rick rebaptizes himself to flee his past and forge a new destiny. Names and loyalties blur as he travels from America to Europe, adopting Richard Blaine to hide from former crimes. The story uses changing identities to explore how people reinvent themselves under pressure. The journey itself becomes a map of self-preservation and reinvention.

  • Resistance & War

    WWII provides a backdrop of espionage and resistance, with plans to assassinate Heydrich and the Czech resistance. The characters navigate danger, moral complexity, and the costs of clandestine operations. Victory and sacrifice intertwine as allied forces gain momentum in North Africa and across Europe. The theme highlights how survival intersects with collective resistance.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:24

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

As Time Goes By Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about As Time Goes By (1997): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does the story take place?

The narrative spans multiple major cities across decades, beginning in Prohibition-era New York and Boston, then moving through European hubs like Le Havre, Lisbon, London, and Prague, before reaching Casablanca and North Africa as WWII escalates.

  • locations
  • cities
  • new york
  • boston
  • casablanca
  • prague
  • travel
Q2

What time period does the movie cover?

The film is structured around two distinct eras: 1931-1935 during Prohibition when organized crime surged in New York, and 1941-1942 during WWII as resistance networks form across Europe. The story tracks how the shift from Prohibition to global conflict drives changing fortunes and loyalties.

  • time period
  • 1930s
  • 1940s
  • prohibition
  • world war 2
  • historical
Q3

What are the main themes explored in the movie?

The movie explores four major themes: Power & Crime showing how crime promises security while exacting personal costs; Love & Betrayal depicting romantic attachments clashing with family expectations and political calculations; Identity & Escape showing characters reinventing themselves under pressure; and Resistance & War highlighting how survival intersects with collective resistance during WWII.

  • themes
  • crime
  • love
  • betrayal
  • identity
  • resistance
  • war
Q4

Who is Rick Baline and what is his role?

Rick Baline is a small-time NYC criminal whose charm helps him rise to power within the organized crime world. He falls for Lois Horowitz, navigates gang warfare between rival factions, and eventually flees to Europe where he assumes the name Richard Blaine to start anew. He combines street-smart pragmatism with a romantic streak that complicates his decisions.

  • rick
  • character
  • protagonist
  • crime boss
Q5

Who is Lois Horowitz and what is her significance?

Lois Horowitz is the daughter of powerful gangster Solly Horowitz. Her family steers her toward a better life, leading her to marry Robert Meredith, a would-be politician. However, she remains entangled with Rick, embodying the tension between personal desire and social expectations as her emotions linger despite her marriage.

  • lois
  • character
  • love interest
  • family
Q6

Who is Solly Horowitz and what role does he play?

Solly Horowitz is a powerful gangster who aims to secure his family's future and maintain control through his criminal enterprises. His authority triggers rivalries and violent conflict, particularly between his factions and Tick-Tock's group. His downfall marks a turning point in the power structure of the underworld.

  • solly
  • gangster
  • crime family
  • antagonist
Q7

What is Operation Anthropoid and why is it important?

Operation Anthropoid refers to the Czech resistance plot to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, the 'Butcher of Prague.' This WWII espionage mission drives significant tension in the film as characters navigate danger, moral complexity, and the costs of clandestine operations during the Nazi occupation.

  • operation anthropoid
  • hey
  • hey
  • assassination
  • resistance
  • wwii
Q8

How do characters reinvent themselves in the story?

The theme of Identity & Escape shows characters rebaptizing themselves to flee their pasts. Rick specifically adopts the name Richard Blaine to hide from former crimes and forge a new destiny as he travels from America to Europe. The story uses these changing identities to explore how people reinvent themselves under pressure, with the journey itself becoming a map of self-preservation.

  • identity
  • reinvention
  • alias
  • name change
  • escape
Q9

Who is Ilsa and what role does she play?

Ilsa is a strategic intelligence asset who speaks perfect Russian and operates under a cover as a White Russian. Her involvement in the Prague operation adds emotional depth to the wartime plot, and her relationship with Rick intertwines love, duty, and espionage during the Nazi occupation.

  • ilsa
  • character
  • espionage
  • intelligence
  • romance
Q10

How does the movie portray the connection between crime and politics?

The film shows crime and politics intertwining through characters like Robert Meredith, a lawyer and would-be politician whom Lois marries. His public image hides corrupt practices, and his exposure underscores the moral tension between public service and private wrongdoing in a world of power and influence.

  • politics
  • corruption
  • crime
  • power
  • lawyer
Q11

How does the setting change throughout the narrative?

The setting evolves dramatically across two time periods. It begins in Prohibition-era New York and Boston (1931-1935), shifts to European cities including Le Havre, Lisbon, London, and Prague (1941-1942), reaches Casablanca, and spans North Africa as WWII intensifies. This geographic progression mirrors the characters' transformations and the shifting political landscape.

  • travel
  • locations
  • setting change
  • geography
Q12

What does the Resistance & War theme represent?

The Resistance & War theme depicts WWII as a backdrop of espionage and resistance, with characters navigating danger, moral complexity, and the costs of clandestine operations. Victory and sacrifice intertwine as allied forces gain momentum in North Africa and across Europe, highlighting how individual survival intersects with collective resistance.

  • resistance
  • wwii
  • sacrifice
  • espionage
  • nazi occupation

Movie threads

More Movies Like As Time Goes By, by Mood & Story

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

Historical political epics like As Time Goes By

Sweeping narratives that track the tumultuous political fates of nations across generations. Explore more movies like As Time Goes By that capture the essence of a society through major historical events. If you enjoyed this documentary's deep dive into Hong Kong's political transition, you'll find similar sweeping narratives and complex historical analysis in these films.

  • reflective
  • anxious
  • melancholic
  • tense
  • gritty
  • fatalistic
  • Tone: dark, reflective, melancholic
  • Pacing: fast, densely packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically unfold over long periods, using a non-linear or multi-decade timeline to connect past events with their present-day consequences. They focus on the interplay between large-scale political forces and the intimate lives of individuals, often culminating in a reflective or bittersweet perspective on history.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together for their shared commitment to exploring political history with epic scope and complex storytelling. They offer a similar experience of being immersed in a specific time and place, understanding the societal shifts through a detailed, often anxious and reflective lens.

Amsterdam movie poster

Amsterdam

2022
As Time Goes By movie poster

As Time Goes By

1997
Bitter Lake movie poster

Bitter Lake

2015
Vice movie poster

Vice

2018
In the Shadow of the Moon movie poster

In the Shadow of the Moon

2007
Burn movie poster

Burn

2012
The Colonel movie poster

The Colonel

2006
A Man Vanishes (1967) movie poster

A Man Vanishes (1967)

2012

Gritty fatalistic stories similar to As Time Goes By

Character-driven stories set against a backdrop of inescapable societal chaos and violence. Discover movies with a similar vibe to As Time Goes By, focusing on characters navigating dangerous and turbulent environments. If you liked the film's tense mix of personal memoir and gritty societal depiction, you'll appreciate these stories of survival and moral complexity.

  • gritty
  • fatalistic
  • tense
  • anxious
  • melancholic
  • romantic
  • Tone: dark, tense, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast, high-stakes
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a character—or a collective—as they try to maintain their identity or find love and connection within a system defined by violence, betrayal, and power struggles. The plot is often fast-paced with high stakes, leading to a conclusion that is bittersweet, acknowledging small personal victories against a backdrop of ongoing darkness.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a specific mood cocktail: they are anxious, tense, and melancholic, yet often contain a thread of romance or personal reinvention. They are grouped by their high intensity, dark tone, and the feeling that characters are fighting against forces larger than themselves.

Fatal Beauty movie poster

Fatal Beauty

1987
In the Lost Lands movie poster

In the Lost Lands

2025
Gone with the Bullets movie poster

Gone with the Bullets

2014
Future World movie poster

Future World

2018
Wanted movie poster

Wanted

2011
No Tears for the Dead movie poster

No Tears for the Dead

2014
She movie poster

She

1984
Dead in Tombstone movie poster

Dead in Tombstone

2013

If you liked this

Movies Like As Time Goes By

Similar movies to As Time Goes By: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries
Still Love You After All These movie poster

Still Love You After All These

1997
The Other Half of the Sky: A China Memoir movie poster

The Other Half of the Sky: A China Memoir

1975
Hong Kong: ‘The Hub of the Orient’ movie poster

Hong Kong: ‘The Hub of the Orient’

1937
Blue Island movie poster

Blue Island

2022
Revolution of Our Times movie poster

Revolution of Our Times

2021
The Time to Live and the Time to Die movie poster

The Time to Live and the Time to Die

1985
This Is China movie poster

This Is China

1946
Category III: The Untold Story of Hong Kong Exploitation Cinema movie poster

Category III: The Untold Story of Hong Kong Exploitation Cinema

2018
Chung Kuo: China movie poster

Chung Kuo: China

1972
Denise Ho: Becoming the Song movie poster

Denise Ho: Becoming the Song

2020
Keep Rolling movie poster

Keep Rolling

2020
About Time movie poster

About Time

1985

Every angle

As Time Goes By (1997) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about As Time Goes By 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app