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Timeline

Atlantics (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 104 min · Wolof
Echo score 84
JustWatch #17,568 12
Directed by
Mati Diop
Starring
Mbow, Abdou Balde, Aminata Kane, Babacar Sylla, Diankou Sembene, Ibrahima Mbaye
Budget
$2.2M

Ada faces an arranged marriage, haunted by the disappearance of her former lover, who vanished at sea while trying to migrate. Strange events begin to occur in their coastal town, and Ada is forced to confront her feelings as the mysterious circumstances surrounding his departure resurface, offering a glimmer of hope amidst uncertainty and the enduring power of love.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Atlantics
  6. 6 Categories
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Atlantics (2019)

Where can you watch Atlantics? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Atlantics Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Atlantics (2019) 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. Construction of the Tower

    In a suburb of Dakar, a futuristic-looking tower is nearing completion. This structure represents progress and hope for the community but comes at a cost to the workers, who remain unpaid for their hard labor.

    Where
    Dakar
  2. Desperate Escape

    Faced with financial despair, the construction workers, including Souleiman, decide to leave the country by sea. Their goal is to find better opportunities in Spain, seeking a brighter future away from their struggles.

    Where
    Dakar Coast
  3. Ada's Heartache

    While Souleiman embarks on his perilous journey, Ada, his lover, is left behind, troubled by uncertainty and longing. She is committed to another man, Omar, but her heart stays with Souleiman as she awaits news of his fate.

  4. Wedding Day Tensions

    On the day of Ada's wedding to Omar, strange and concerning events unfold. Omar's bed catches fire, suspected to be an act of arson, leading to chaos and raising suspicion about those around Ada.

    Where
    Ada's Wedding Venue
  5. Interrogation of Ada

    After the fire incident, Ada is subjected to intense interrogation and a humiliating virginity test. The scrutiny adds to her distress, as she grapples with the loss of Souleiman and the pressure from society.

    Where
    Police Station
  6. Mysterious Illness

    As the investigation unfolds, Ada's friend Fanta and the young detective both fall ill with a mysterious sickness. Their symptoms serve as a harbinger of the supernatural events about to unfold in Dakar.

  7. Return of the Spirits

    It becomes evident that the spirits of the construction workers who perished at sea have returned to the city. Each night, these spirits possess the bodies of the living, primarily targeting the tycoon responsible for their suffering.

    Where
    Dakar
  8. Demand for Justice

    The spirits, fueled by anger and a sense of injustice, confront the tycoon, demanding the payment that was unjustly withheld from them. They threaten to burn down the tower if their rightful dues are not paid, creating an atmosphere of fear.

  9. Graves for the Lost

    Upon receiving their payment, the spirits compel the tycoon to dig their graves as a final gesture, allowing them to find peace. This eerie event highlights the unresolved grievances of the lost workers and the heavy toll of their sacrifices.

  10. Possession and Connection

    Souleiman's spirit possesses the body of the young detective, leading to a complicated reunion with Ada. Despite an initial fear, Ada comes to understand the spirits and the need for closure, spending a final moment with the new Souleiman.

  11. Revelation of the Arson

    As the detective reviews footage from the wedding, he uncovers a shocking truth: while possessed by Souleiman's spirit, he was the one who set the fire that disrupted Ada's wedding. This revelation brings the investigation to a surreal conclusion.

    Where
    Police Station
  12. Closure of the Case

    With the understanding of his actions while possessed, the young detective closes the arson case. This decision not only resolves his inner turmoil but also allows the community to begin to heal from the events that transpired.

Last updated: December 13, 2024 at 06:47

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Timeline questions answered

Atlantics Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Atlantics (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did the construction workers decide to leave Dakar?

The construction workers left Dakar because they had not been paid for months despite building the futuristic tower. Desperate and facing financial ruin, they planned to escape to Spain by sea in search of better opportunities. Souleiman, Ada's lover, was among those who embarked on this dangerous journey.

Foreshadowing: The tower's grand unveiling looms over the narrative, highlighting the workers' contribution versus their exploitation.

  • construction workers
  • unpaid wages
  • migration
  • Spain
  • Dakar
  • Souleiman
Q2

What happened to Souleiman after he left?

Souleiman died at sea along with the other workers during their attempt to migrate to Spain. Their boat did not survive the Atlantic crossing, and their spirits returned to Dakar seeking the wages they were denied in life.

Foreshadowing: Ada's anxious waiting and worry about Souleiman's fate hints at the tragedy to come.

  • Souleiman
  • death at sea
  • migration
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • spirits
Q3

Who set fire to Omar's bed on the wedding day?

The young detective set the fire while possessed by Souleiman's spirit. Under the spirit's influence, he unknowingly committed the arson during Ada's wedding to Omar. The detective later discovered this truth when reviewing the wedding footage.

Foreshadowing: The strange symptoms and possession that affected the detective earlier foreshadow his involvement in the arson.

  • arson
  • fire
  • wedding
  • detective
  • Souleiman's spirit
  • possession
Q4

Why did the spirits target the tycoon?

The spirits targeted the wealthy tycoon because he was responsible for withholding their wages. He denied the construction workers their hard-earned pay, forcing them into the desperate decision to migrate. The spirits sought revenge and justice for this economic exploitation.

Foreshadowing: The workers' unpaid wages establish early on that someone in power betrayed them.

  • tycoon
  • spirits
  • revenge
  • unpaid wages
  • justice
  • construction workers
Q5

How did Souleiman's spirit end up in the detective?

Souleiman's spirit possessed the young detective as part of the spirits' return to Dakar. Each night, the spirits of the dead workers possessed different inhabitants of the city. Souleiman specifically targeted the detective, allowing him to be close to Ada and eventually reunite with her.

Foreshadowing: The mysterious illness affecting Fanta and the detective signals the beginning of their possession.

  • Souleiman
  • spirit
  • possession
  • detective
  • Ada
  • reunion
Q6

Why was Ada suspected and interrogated after the fire?

Ada was suspected because the fire occurred on her wedding day, making her a person of interest. She faced intense interrogation and a humiliating virginity test at the police station, though she had no involvement in the arson. Her connection to Souleiman and the circumstances of her marriage made her a target of suspicion.

Foreshadowing: The chaos and suspicion immediately following the fire sets the investigation in motion.

  • Ada
  • interrogation
  • police
  • suspicion
  • virginity test
  • wedding
Q7

What was the mysterious illness that affected Fanta and the detective?

The mysterious illness was actually the beginning of possession by the spirits of the dead workers. Fanta became a vessel for one of the spirits, while the detective was possessed by Souleiman himself. The symptoms signaled the spirits' return to the living world.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes the illness appearing before the full manifestation of the spirits.

  • illness
  • possession
  • Fanta
  • detective
  • spirits
  • symptoms
Q8

Why did the spirits demand their own graves?

The spirits demanded their own graves as a final act of acknowledgment and closure. After receiving their unpaid wages, they compelled the tycoon to dig graves for them, giving them a proper place in the earth and allowing their restless souls to find peace.

Foreshadowing: The spirits' demand for justice escalates from threatening the tower to requiring this symbolic act.

  • graves
  • spirits
  • peace
  • closure
  • tycoon
  • justice
Q9

What did the detective discover when reviewing the wedding footage?

When reviewing the wedding footage, the detective discovered that he himself had set the fire. Under Souleiman's possession, he had been the one to ignite Omar's bed, acting as an instrument of the spirit's revenge without his conscious awareness.

Foreshadowing: The detective's own strange behavior and symptoms during the investigation hinted at his involvement.

  • detective
  • footage
  • revelation
  • arson
  • wedding
  • truth
Q10

How did the spirits find peace at the end?

The spirits found peace after receiving their unpaid wages and having their graves dug by the tycoon. Souleiman also achieved closure by reuniting with Ada for one final night through the detective's body. With their grievances addressed, the spirits departed and rested.

Foreshadowing: The spirits' demands throughout the story build toward this moment of resolution.

  • spirits
  • peace
  • closure
  • Souleiman
  • Ada
  • resolution
  • ending

Movie threads

More Movies Like Atlantics, by Mood & Story

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

Magical Social Realism Movies like Atlantics

Grounded social issues are explored through a lens of ghostly or magical events. Discover films similar to Atlantics that weave supernatural mystery into powerful social commentary. If you liked the blend of ghostly vengeance and economic hardship in Atlantics, you'll find more movies here where real-world struggles are amplified by magical or paranormal events.

  • atmospheric
  • mysterious
  • melancholic
  • social commentary
  • dreamlike
  • haunting
  • Tone: melancholic, mysterious, socially conscious
  • Pacing: steady, atmospheric
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow characters grappling with tangible social problems – migration, class disparity, injustice – which are given a voice or catalyst through supernatural means. A ghost story becomes a story of economic protest; a magical event exposes hidden truths about a community, allowing for a resolution that is both symbolic and emotionally resonant.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a unique narrative approach: they use the supernatural not for pure horror, but as a powerful allegorical tool to deepen and dramatize real-world human struggles, resulting in a tone that is both melancholic and mysteriously hopeful.

Bittersweet Ghost Love Stories like Atlantics

Love transcends death in haunting, melancholic tales of loss and connection. Find movies like Atlantics that explore love from beyond the grave. If you were moved by the haunting reunion and enduring love in Atlantics, this list features similar atmospheric dramas and romances where spirits return to resolve unfinished business with the living.

  • haunting
  • yearning
  • bittersweet
  • romantic
  • grief-stricken
  • atmospheric
  • Tone: melancholic, romantic, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist mourning a lost lover, whose spirit returns—either visibly or through unexplained phenomena—to communicate, seek justice, or say a final goodbye. The journey is one of grief, mystery, and ultimately, a poignant acceptance, culminating in a reunion that is deeply moving but underscored by the permanence of loss.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their core exploration of love after death, sharing a specific emotional palette of yearning, melancholy, and bittersweet resolution. They prioritize mood and atmosphere over horror, creating a deeply romantic and haunting experience centered on the power of enduring connection.

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Movies Like Atlantics

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring Atlantics

Atlantics appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

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Every angle

Atlantics (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Atlantics 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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