Causeway

Causeway

Year: 2022

Runtime: 92 min

Language: English

Director: Lila Neugebauer

Echo Score: 73
Drama

Following a tour of duty, a soldier struggles to readjust to civilian life in 1950s New York City. Haunted by her experiences and grappling with inner turmoil, she finds an unexpected connection with a local car mechanic. As she attempts to find her place in a changed world, she must confront painful memories and the challenges of rebuilding her life.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Causeway yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Causeway (2022)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Causeway (2022). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Afghanistan War era

Set during the Afghanistan War and its aftermath in contemporary times. The story follows a veteran's rehabilitation from traumatic brain injury and her reintegration into civilian life. The timeframe underscores modern military conflict and its lasting impact on individuals and families.

Location

Afghanistan, New Orleans

The story shifts between a combat zone in Afghanistan and Lynsey's childhood home in New Orleans. These locations illuminate her struggle with physical rehab, family tensions, and the longing for belonging.

🏞️ War zones 🏙️ New Orleans 🗺️ Afghanistan

Last Updated: January 06, 2026 at 10:49

Main Characters – Causeway (2022)

Meet the key characters of Causeway (2022), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lynsey (Jennifer Lawrence)

An Army Corps of Engineers soldier who has recently sustained a traumatic brain injury from an IED in Afghanistan. She undergoes physical therapy with a kind caretaker and is determined to redeploy despite medical and emotional hurdles. Her life in New Orleans is shaped by an unreliable mother and difficult family history, complicating her reintegration. She is openly lesbian, and her relationships—especially with James—reveal her longing for connection and a sense of home.

❇️ Trauma 🪖 Veteran 🌊 Recovery 🏳️‍🌈 Lesbian

James (Brian Tyree Henry)

An auto mechanic who helps Lynsey after her discharge, offering practical support and companionship. He carries his own pain from a car crash that killed his nephew, which strains his relationship with his sister. Though cautious and at times reckless, he shows generosity by fixing her truck for free and inviting her into his life. Their evolving friendship becomes a shelter from their shared traumas, even as pride and past hurts threaten to pull them apart.

🔧 Mechanic 🗝️ Survivor 💔 Loss 🤝 Connection

Sharon (Jayne Houdyshell)

Sharon is a compassionate physical therapy provider who guides Lynsey through rehab. She is a stabilizing influence who recognizes the fragility of recovery and the need for continued care. Her patient, steady presence helps Lynsey regain motor skills and navigate the emotional fallout.

💆 Caregiver 🫶 Support 🧭 Guidance

Gloria (Linda Emond)

Lynsey's mother, Gloria, is a complicated figure in her life—present but unreliable. Her caregiving style and volatile relationship contribute to Lynsey's emotional strain after returning home. Despite challenges, Gloria remains a persistent link to Lynsey's childhood and a reminder of what home costs.

🏚️ Family 🤔 Unreliable 💗 Love

Justin (Russell Harvard)

Justin is Lynsey's brother who struggles with drug problems and a troubled past. His issues strain family bonds and lead to tough choices for Lynsey. Seeing him in prison highlights the broader theme of family loyalty under pressure.

🧩 Family 💊 Addiction 🪪 Prison

Bro (Will Pullen)

Bro is James's brother, a minor but supportive character that anchors James's background. He adds context to the family dynamic and offers a sense of groundedness amid trauma.

👤 Family 🤝 Support 🛠️ Bond

Neuropsychologist (Neal Huff)

A neuropsychologist who evaluates Lynsey's cognitive and emotional status, highlighting the medical perspective on her recovery. He emphasizes the mental health risks following trauma and the need for ongoing evaluation.

🧠 Doctor 📊 Evaluation ⚖️ Balance

Physiotherapist (Han Soto)

A kind and skilled physiotherapist who leads Lynsey through physical rehabilitation. His care helps regain motor control and confidence, anchoring the clinical side of recovery.

💆 Caregiver 🫶 Support 🧭 Guidance

Last Updated: January 06, 2026 at 10:49

Major Themes – Causeway (2022)

Explore the central themes of Causeway (2022), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Trauma Recovery

Lynsey's brain injury and the medical rehab she endures highlight the physical and mental toll of war. Her recovery is gradual and fragile, with doctors warning about the risk of depression and PTSD. The film uses intimate scenes of therapy to explore resilience, vulnerability, and the long path to stability.

🤝 Friendship

Lynsey and James form a powerful bond that crosses barriers of injury and fear. Their interactions reveal how trust can emerge from shared trauma and kindness. The relationship becomes a mirror for healing, with moments of warmth, miscommunication, and reconciliation.

🏠 Homecoming

Returning to New Orleans forces Lynsey to face family dynamics, financial limits, and a sense of limbo between duty and civilian life. Her decision to reconnect with James and to revisit her mother's pool shows a reweaving of belonging. The home becomes both sanctuary and source of strain as she negotiates what home means after war.

Last Updated: January 06, 2026 at 10:49

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about trauma recovery like Causeway

Stories of wounded individuals slowly rebuilding their lives through connection.If you were moved by the quiet, introspective journey of healing in Causeway, explore these similar dramas. This list features movies that tackle PTSD, personal loss, and the difficult path to rebuilding a life, all with a focus on emotional realism and character depth.

contemplativemelancholichopefulintrospectiveresilientstrainedemotionalquiet

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a slow-burn, character-focused arc. The plot is less about external events and more about the protagonist's internal battle with trauma, grief, or injury. The central conflict is psychological, with breakthroughs often occurring through quiet moments of vulnerability and connection with a supporting character.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here due to their shared focus on the heavy, emotional weight of trauma recovery, their slow, contemplative pacing that allows for introspection, and their bittersweet tone that balances suffering with glimmers of hope and human connection.

Bittersweet character studies like Causeway

Intimate portraits of flawed individuals finding tentative hope.Fans of Causeway's nuanced portrayal of Lynsey and James will enjoy these similar movies. This selection highlights films featuring deeply flawed, relatable characters grappling with mental health, family issues, and the search for connection, all told with a mix of melancholy and hope.

introspectivemelancholichopefulstrainedquietresilientemotionalcontemplative

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a deep dive into one or two central characters, exploring their psychological wounds and dysfunctional relationships. The plot is secondary to character development, often eschewing major events for small, significant moments that reveal inner change. The stories typically end on a note of hard-won, realistic hope rather than a perfectly happy resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their moderate complexity in character exploration, their heavy emotional weight stemming from themes like mental health and family strife, and their consistent bittersweet tone that acknowledges pain while allowing for the possibility of growth.

Unlock the Full Story of Causeway

Don't stop at just watching — explore Causeway in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Causeway is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Causeway Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Causeway, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Causeway Summary

Causeway Timeline

Track the full timeline of Causeway with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Causeway Timeline

Causeway Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Causeway? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Causeway Ending Explained

Causeway Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Causeway that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Causeway Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Causeway

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Causeway: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Causeway

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Discover movies like Causeway that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.