Being 17 (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Damien bullying Thomas stems from his feeling of being an outsider and his jealousy when Thomas moves in. Damien resents the attention his mother Marianne gives Thomas, especially after she invites him to live with them to help with his mother's illness and the long commute. This jealousy manifests as bullying behavior at school, though the dynamic gradually shifts as they get to know each other.

• bullying
• Damien
• Thomas
• jealousy
• school

Marianne invites Thomas to stay with them after visiting his mother Christine, who has a pulmonary infection and is pregnant with high-risk complications. Thomas was spending 90 minutes daily commuting to school, which was affecting his studies. By offering him a room, Marianne allows Thomas to visit his mother at the hospital more easily and focus on his schoolwork without the exhausting journey.

• Marianne
• Thomas
• Christine
• hospital
• living arrangement

Thomas breaks his wrist during a physical confrontation with Damien after Damien confesses his feelings and reveals he needs to know if he's into guys or just Thomas. The confession catches Thomas off guard, and a heated argument escalates into a scuffle at the riverbank, resulting in Thomas falling and breaking his wrist.

• Thomas
• Damien
• confession
• riverbank
• wrist injury

Thomas gets expelled after Damien kisses him in school for the first time. Thomas initially responds positively to the kiss but then pushes Damien away and hits him when Damien follows. This violent incident in the school hallway leads to Thomas's expulsion, creating further tension between the boys.

• Thomas
• Damien
• kiss
• expulsion
• school

Nathan, Damien's father and a military pilot, dies during a mission abroad. His death devastates both Marianne and Damien, adding profound grief to their lives. During the funeral, Thomas offers comfort to Damien through a heartfelt embrace, which marks a turning point in their relationship as Thomas moves back in to support them through their grief.

Foreshadowing: Earlier references to Nathan's military service and absences foreshadow this tragic event.

• Nathan
• Damien
• Marianne
• death
• funeral
• military

After their first intimate moment together, Thomas leaves before Damien wakes, indicating his internal conflict about their relationship. Thomas struggles with accepting his feelings for Damien, likely due to his complicated family situation and fear of being open about his sexuality, especially in the context of his conservative adoptive family and farm environment.

• Thomas
• Damien
• intimacy
• leaving
• farm

Thomas repeatedly says 'not here' because he's afraid of being discovered by his adoptive parents, who represent a traditional, possibly non-accepting environment. The farm represents his constrained world where he feels he cannot express his true feelings openly. His hesitation reflects his fear of rejection from his family and community, contrasting with the more accepting environment at Damien's home.

• Thomas
• Damien
• farm
• not here
• hidden relationship

Marianne decides to accept a job offer in Lyon, which represents a fresh start for their family after Nathan's death. This move allows her to resume her career and provides an opportunity for Thomas to visit Damien more easily since Lyon is closer to the farm than their mountain town. She encourages Damien to have more faith in himself and embrace life, ultimately leading to the hopeful reunion between Damien and Thomas.

• Marianne
• Lyon
• job
• move
• new beginning

The mountain lake scene marks a pivotal moment in Damien and Thomas's relationship. During a confrontation, rain forces them to take shelter together. In a moment of vulnerability, Thomas strips naked and swims in the lake, leaving Damien in awe. This event breaks down their hostility and creates an unexpected connection, revealing Thomas's willingness to be vulnerable and sparking Damien's romantic feelings.

• mountain lake
• Thomas
• Damien
• swim
• vulnerability
• turning point

Thomas becomes panicked that he might bring bad luck to his foster mother Christine during her labor, reflecting his deep-seated anxiety about losing another parent. Christine's complicated pregnancy, multiple miscarriages, and serious illness have already caused Thomas significant emotional distress. His fear stems from feeling responsible for the wellbeing of those he loves and his past experiences with loss and instability.

• Thomas
• Christine
• labor
• fear
• misfortune
• pregnancy

Damien begins taking self-defense classes from Paulo, an ex-military family friend, as a response to being bullied by Thomas at school. Feeling vulnerable and targeted, Damien seeks to empower himself and gain confidence. This decision reflects his initial approach to dealing with his problems, through physical defense rather than emotional confrontation.

• Damien
• Paulo
• self-defense
• bullying
• classes

After being expelled and returning to school, Thomas arrives late to Spanish class and for the first time exchanges a smile with Damien. This small gesture signifies a thaw in their hostile relationship and opens the possibility for reconciliation. Encouraged by this connection, Damien finally kisses Thomas, marking the beginning of their romantic relationship despite the subsequent complications.

• Thomas
• Damien
• Spanish class
• smile
• reconciliation