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Timeline

Chlorine (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 93 min · English
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Directed by
Jay Alaimo

Driven by a desire to repair his strained relationship, a man embarks on a risky investment that spirals into a complex and ethically challenging situation. He finds himself increasingly conflicted as he pursues success, ultimately forced to re-evaluate his priorities and the importance of his family amidst the consequences of his choices.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Chlorine
  6. 6 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Chlorine Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Chlorine (2014) 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. Cynthia's First Period

    During a swim meet at Copper Canyon Country Club, Cynthia experiences her first period. This unexpected event leads to her disqualification from the competition, marking a significant moment in her life as she navigates the challenges of adolescence.

    Where
    Copper Canyon Country Club
  2. Georgie Arrives Late

    Cynthia's mother, Georgie, arrives at the swim meet on her motorcycle, but she unfortunately misses the crucial moment of her daughter's disqualification. This sets the tone for Georgie's character as an active and somewhat carefree mother.

    Where
    Copper Canyon Country Club
  3. Henry's Work Issues

    Cynthia's brother, Henry, faces pressure at his construction job when his boss, Ernie, instructs him to ignore safety codes. This signifies the ongoing struggle within the family as they try to maintain their financial stability amidst unethical work demands.

  4. Roger's Career Struggles

    Roger Lent, Cynthia's father, is denied a long-awaited promotion at the bank after dedicating over 20 years of his life to the job. His boss, Ted, informs him that he is not generating enough profit, illustrating the financial strain on the family.

  5. Georgie's Aspirations

    Georgie expresses her dissatisfaction with their ordinary life, feeling the pressure to compete with friends living in luxury. She encourages Roger to strive harder in his career, demonstrating her strong desire for a better lifestyle.

  6. Friendship and Advice

    Suzi, Cynthia's beautiful friend on the swim team, beams with excitement for Cynthia's new experiences and offers unsolicited advice on relationships and sex. This dynamic showcases teenage friendships and the often overwhelming exchange of perspectives during adolescence.

  7. Romantic Interests

    Josh, a boy from the swim team, starts showing interest in Cynthia, hinting at the beginning of a teenage romance. Meanwhile, Pat, the tennis pro, exhibits inappropriate behavior towards Suzi, adding tension and complexity to the social interactions at the club.

    Where
    Copper Canyon Country Club
  8. Doug's Party

    Doug, the housing developer for Copper Canyon Estates, hosts a lavish party with his attractive wife, Katherine. Georgie urges Roger to attend, hinting at the social and professional networking opportunities that could come from mingling with wealthy individuals.

  9. Warning from Elise

    Elise, a former Wall Street professional turned golf pro at the club, warns Roger about the ethical issues surrounding the housing development. She reveals that the project is a Ponzi scheme built on sacred Native American land, forcing Roger to confront his moral dilemmas.

    Where
    Copper Canyon Country Club
  10. Roger's Dilemma

    Faced with a choice between advancing his career and risking legal troubles, Roger must decide whether to participate in the unethical dealings of the housing project. This moment encapsulates the crossroads of ambition and morality in the film.

  11. Family Tensions

    The family dynamics become increasingly strained as they grapple with their financial difficulties and aspirations. Each member must decide what they truly want from life and what compromises they are willing to make.

  12. Cynthia and Josh's Relationship

    As Cynthia and Josh navigate their budding relationship, they face the challenges of young love in a complex environment. Their interactions reflect the innocence and confusion that often accompany first crushes and romantic experiences.

  13. Suzi's Desires

    Suzi's quest for material possessions and social status emphasizes the teenage preoccupation with wealth and image. Her actions underline the pressures young individuals face in pursuit of societal acceptance.

  14. Themes of Ambition and Morality

    Throughout the film, each character embodies themes of ambition, ethical dilemmas, and the pursuit of a better life. Their journeys highlight the complexities of navigating adult choices while remaining in the realm of adolescence.

Last updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04

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Timeline questions answered

Chlorine Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Chlorine (2014): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Cynthia disqualified from the swim meet?

Cynthia was disqualified because she experienced her first period right before diving into the pool. The unexpected event startled her, and her heartfelt reaction caused her to be removed from the competition.

  • cynthia
  • swim meet
  • disqualified
  • first period
  • copper canyon country club
Q2

Why was Roger denied a promotion at the bank?

Roger was denied promotion because his boss Ted said the bank wasn't generating enough profit to warrant raises or promotions, despite Roger having dedicated over 20 years to the institution.

  • roger
  • promotion
  • bank
  • ted
  • denied
Q3

Why does Elise warn Roger about the housing development?

Elise, a former Wall Street professional turned golf pro, warns Roger because she knows the development is a Ponzi scheme built on land sacred to Native Americans. She wants to protect him from participating in illegal activity.

  • elise
  • roger
  • housing development
  • ponzi scheme
  • warning
Q4

Why is Henry's construction job problematic?

Henry's boss Ernie instructs him to space studs 36 inches apart instead of the required 18 inches and to use quarter-inch materials instead of three-quarter-inch, which violates safety codes and could lead to structural problems.

  • henry
  • construction
  • ernie
  • safety codes
  • studs
Q5

Why does Georgie push Roger so hard to succeed?

Georgie feels dissatisfied with their ordinary lifestyle and envious of friends living in luxury. She believes Roger should work harder to improve their circumstances so they can maintain their country club membership and afford a better life.

  • georgie
  • roger
  • ambition
  • country club
  • lifestyle
Q6

What is Doug's Copper Canyon Estates development?

Doug is developing Copper Canyon Estates, a housing project that Elise reveals is actually a Ponzi scheme built on land sacred to Native Americans. Roger faces pressure to network there despite knowing it's fraudulent.

  • doug
  • copper canyon estates
  • housing development
  • ponzi scheme
Q7

Does Josh like Cynthia?

Yes, Josh, a fellow swimmer on Cynthia's team, shows romantic interest in her. Their budding relationship represents the teenage romance subplot as they navigate their feelings for each other.

  • josh
  • cynthia
  • relationship
  • swim team
  • romance
Q8

What is Pat's connection to Doug's operation?

Pat is the tennis pro at the country club but also serves as Doug's cocaine supplier. Additionally, Pat shows inappropriate interest in Suzi, wanting a more intimate connection with her.

  • pat
  • tennis pro
  • cocaine
  • doug
  • suzi
Q9

What does Suzi want from the jewelry store?

Suzi, Cynthia's enthusiastic friend, expresses desires for various luxuries including an extravagant item from a jewelry store that she doesn't actually need, reflecting teenage materialistic aspirations.

  • suzi
  • jewelry
  • materialistic
  • desires
  • luxury
Q10

What ethical dilemma does Roger face at the party?

Roger must choose between pursuing career advancement through networking with Doug's wealthy circle (knowing about the Ponzi scheme) or refusing to participate and risk legal consequences while maintaining his integrity.

Foreshadowing: Elise's earlier warning about the development being illegal sets up this decision moment.

  • roger
  • ethical dilemma
  • ponzi scheme
  • integrity
  • decision
Q11

Why does the family struggle to maintain their country club membership?

The Lent family faces financial strain despite Roger's two decades at the bank. They struggle to afford the country club membership while surrounded by wealthier friends living in mansions, creating tension and pressure to improve their circumstances.

  • family
  • country club
  • financial struggle
  • membership
  • lifestyle

Movie threads

More Movies Like Chlorine, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about domestic moral conflict like Chlorine

Stories where financial ambition clashes with family obligations, creating deep moral conflicts. If you liked the ethical struggles in Chlorine, explore movies about families grappling with ambition and compromise. These dramas focus on the tense intersection of financial pressure and personal values, offering similar stories of moral conflict in middle-class settings.

  • anxious
  • conflicted
  • dissatisfied
  • ambitious
  • melancholic
  • tense
  • Tone: tense, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a protagonist who, driven by financial need or a desire for a better life, enters into a risky venture. The story unfolds as the initial gamble spirals, creating a web of lies and ethical compromises that strain familial bonds and force a reckoning with personal integrity.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a focus on relatable, domestic-scale ethical crises. They are united by a tense, moderate-intensity tone, a steady pace that builds anxiety, and a thematic core exploring the cost of ambition on family and self.

Family crisis dramas with bittersweet endings like Chlorine

Character-driven dramas exploring family dysfunction amidst personal and financial crises. Fans of Chlorine's portrayal of a strained family will appreciate these character-driven dramas. These movies feature multiple subplots, a moderate complexity, and an ambiguous ending feel, focusing on the emotional fallout of personal crises within a family unit.

  • melancholic
  • yearning
  • dissatisfied
  • conflicted
  • family drama
  • anxious
  • Tone: melancholic, tense
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often employ parallel subplots to show how each family member copes with a central crisis, such as financial ruin or parental midlife struggles. The narrative builds steadily towards a point of confrontation or realization, leaving characters changed but their futures uncertain, reflecting the messy reality of family life.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared mood of melancholy and dissatisfaction, their moderate complexity from intertwining character arcs, and their focus on the emotional weight of family dysfunction. They offer a grounded, anxious, yet deeply human viewing experience.

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Every angle

Chlorine (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Chlorine 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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