Close (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Zoe was targeted because she inherited a massive stake in Hassine Mining from her father Eric. Her inheritance threatened Rima Hassine's control over the company. Rima was being blackmailed by Sikong, Hassine's rival company, which orchestrated the attacks to force Rima into giving up Zoe and the mining deal.

Foreshadowing: The inheritance revelation early in the film establishes Zoe as a valuable target worth eliminating.

• Zoe Tanner attack
• Rima Hassine
• Sikong mining deal
• corporate conspiracy

The attackers were corrupt police officers and mercenaries working for Sikong, the rival mining company. They used Rima's login credentials for the security system (obtained through blackmailing Rima) to breach the kasbah and eliminate Zoe, thereby forcing Rima to hand over control of the company.

Foreshadowing: Rima's login details being found on the dead attacker's wallet later confirms her compromised position.

• kasbah attack
• Sikong mercenaries
• corrupt police
• security breach

Rima hired Sam to ensure Zoe's safety during the Morocco trip while finalizing the mining deal. However, Rima was already being blackmailed by Sikong, so her real intent was to keep Zoe close and controlled rather than truly protecting her. Sam's professional reputation made her the perfect cover for Rima's scheme.

Foreshadowing: Sam's skill as a protection officer established in the South Sudan opening makes her an obvious choice for high-stakes security.

• Rima Sam hiring
• protection assignment
• bodyguard motive

The Casablanca police were corrupt and working with Sikong. When Sam and Zoe sought help, the officers attempted to hand them over to the attackers. Zoe discovered this when she overheard officers discussing private addresses and money, leading her to fire a warning shot and escape.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows corruption escalating from the kasbah attack through the hotel ambush.

• Casablanca police corruption
• police betrayal
• Zoe shooting officer

Conall was killed because he was part of the conspiracy or at least a target of it. As Sam's former lover and the overseer of Zoe's protection, eliminating him served multiple purposes: removing someone who could coordinate a proper rescue, silencing potential evidence of the plot, and putting maximum pressure on Sam and Zoe.

Foreshadowing: Conall's introduction as Sam's former lover creates emotional stakes that make his death impactful.

• Conall Sinclair death
• hotel ambush
• former lover killed

Two key moments exposed Rima's situation: first, Sam and Zoe witnessed Rima meeting with the attacker in the car park, confirming a connection. Second, during the deal negotiations, a Sikong member directly threatened Rima, forcing her to admit she was being blackmailed and causing her to flee without signing the agreement.

Foreshadowing: The car park sighting directly links Rima to her attackers before the full truth emerges.

• Rima blackmail
• Sikong threat
• mining deal negotiations

Sam was wounded in her wrist while defending Zoe and Rima during the final siege at the safehouse. Corrupt police and mercenaries surrounded the house, and in the chaotic close-quarters combat, Sam took a bullet to the wrist while fighting off multiple attackers.

Foreshadowing: The earlier attacks have progressively escalated in intensity, leading to this climactic confrontation.

• Sam wrist injury
• final siege
• safehouse battle

Sam gave up her daughter for adoption when she was 16, a past trauma that shaped her protective instincts and emotional distance. This revelation at the abandoned safehouse deepens Zoe's understanding of Sam and explains why Sam is so fiercely committed to protecting others, it's tied to her own loss and inability to keep her child.

Foreshadowing: Sam's initial reluctance to take the job hints at personal boundaries she's set around emotional connections.

• Sam daughter adoption
• Sam past trauma
• protective instincts

After the kasbah attack, Sam and Zoe fled to Casablanca where they initially trusted corrupt police. When Zoe realized the officers were compromised, she fired a warning shot and they escaped on foot. They later regrouped with Conall, attempted to reach Tangier for a ferry to Spain, but this route was blocked by the hotel ambush.

Foreshadowing: Each escape route they attempt gets compromised, showing the depth of the conspiracy.

• Casablanca escape
• flee on foot
• Tangier ferry route

Alik was killed during the initial kasbah siege. When intruders breached the security system and overwhelmed the guard detail, Alik was shot while defending the property. His death left Sam and Zoe to improvise their own escape through the winding corridors of the fortification.

Foreshadowing: Alik's death removes the experienced security team, forcing Sam to take full control.

• Alik death
• kasbah siege
• head of security killed

Zoe inherited all of her father Eric Tanner's shares because he died, leaving her as his sole heir. This inheritance suddenly made her a major shareholder and threat to Rima Hassine's control over the company, triggering the corporate power struggle that drives much of the conflict.

Foreshadowing: The inheritance revelation creates the central family conflict between Zoe and Rima.

• Eric Tanner death
• Zoe inheritance
• Hassine Mining shares

Sikong, Hassine Mining's rival company, wanted to take control of the billion-dollar Zambia mining deal. By blackmailing Rima and attacking Zoe, Sikong hoped to destabilize the company and force Rima to surrender control of the deal, allowing Sikong to seize the opportunity for themselves.

Foreshadowing: The corporate rivalry is established early through Rima's secured deal in Zambia.

• Sikong rival company
• Zambia mining deal
• corporate takeover