Dating Amber (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Eddie and Amber pretend to be a straight couple because they both face intense homophobic harassment in their conservative rural community in The Curragh, Ireland. By presenting as a couple, they create a protective façade that shields them from further abuse while allowing them to explore their true identities in secret. Eddie is gay but fears rejection from his army-focused father, while Amber is a lesbian dreaming of escaping to London's punk scene.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes show them enduring verbal harassment from peers, establishing why they feel compelled to hide their true selves.

• fake relationship
• pretend couple
• homophobic harassment
• protection
• safety plan

Eddie attacks people at the gay bar because he panics when someone from their hometown witnesses him kissing another man. In that moment of fear, his internalized shame and years of repressing his identity erupt into violence. He attacks both the man he was kissing and bystanders who saw the intimate moment, desperately trying to destroy the evidence of what he'd been hiding.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Eddie's internal struggle with his identity and his reluctance to be seen publicly with other gay people in Dublin.

• gay bar attack
• panic
• shame
• outburst
• violence

The priest reveals Amber's secret because of the confessional seal's loophole, he believes he's preventing a greater sin by warning the community about what he learned. However, his betrayal exposes Amber to the tight-knit conservative community, triggering severe consequences for her safety and her relationship with her mother.

Foreshadowing: Amber's mother earlier shows some willingness to listen when Amber comes out, suggesting the priest's action directly contradicts what could have been a supportive family response.

• confession
• priest betrayal
• outing
• church secrets

Eddie insults Amber because he's overwhelmed by his own fear and confusion about being exposed. Rather than supporting her during the crisis, he lashes out defensively, he attempts to distance himself from her by pursuing a conventional relationship with classmate Tracey and insults her publicly, trying to reinforce his false straight identity before leaving for army training.

Foreshadowing: This reaction contrasts with their earlier friendship, showing how fear of the same exposure drives them to harmful coping mechanisms.

• frustration
• denial
• self-preservation
• army training

The photo booth strip shows half of Eddie and Amber's faces together, a memento from their earlier days of pretending to be a couple. When Eddie opens the box containing Amber's savings, he finds this reminder of their shared experience. The strip symbolizes their genuine friendship and the complicated history they've navigated together, representing both the mask they wore and the authentic bond that formed beneath it.

Foreshadowing: The photo booth strip was likely taken early in their fake relationship, serving as a reminder of how their partnership evolved from pure pretense to genuine connection.

• photo strip
• symbolism
• memories
• friendship
• memento

Amber offers her hard-earned savings to Eddie because she recognizes he's trapped in the same false life she wants to escape. She understands he needs money to break free from the army path his father imposed on him. Her offer represents both practical help and her belief that he deserves the same chance at self-discovery she's pursuing in London.

Foreshadowing: Amber has been secretly renting caravans throughout the movie to fund her own escape, showing she's been preparing for this kind of freedom all along.

• savings
• escape money
• support
• freedom
• train ticket

After being outed by the priest, Amber faces immediate backlash from her conservative community. Her mother's relationship with her becomes strained despite earlier signs of acceptance when Amber came out to her directly. The betrayal forces Amber's situation to escalate quickly, leaving her vulnerable and more determined than ever to leave for London.

Foreshadowing: This crisis directly accelerates the final act, where Amber confronts Eddie about escaping their old lives.

• community reaction
• ostracism
• family tension
• escape

Eddie chooses to leave for Dublin because he finally accepts his true identity rather than conforming to his father's expectations. After years of pressure to join the Irish Army and repress his sexuality, the combination of witnessing Amber's bravery and finding her support gives him the courage to pursue self-acceptance instead of continuing his false façade.

Foreshadowing: His hesitation when opening the box containing the photo strip shows his internal struggle between his old life and his new path.

• self-acceptance
• army
• father pressure
• escape
• freedom

Amber is desperate to escape to London because she wants to break free from the painful legacy of her father's suicide and live openly as a lesbian in a more accepting environment. She envisions a vibrant punk lifestyle in London where she can be herself without fear. Her entire money-making scheme of renting caravans is built around funding this escape.

Foreshadowing: Her father's tragic suicide is mentioned early, establishing why she views her current life as suffocating and believes leaving is her only option.

• london escape
• father suicide
• punk lifestyle
• freedom
• acceptance

Eddie feels pressured to join the Irish Army because it's the expected path in his family, his father served before him and represents the only male role model Eddie has. Despite his father's inattentiveness, Eddie internalizes the societal expectation that he should follow in his footsteps. This pressure to conform to traditional masculine norms directly conflicts with his true identity as gay.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes establish his father's military background and the weight of expectation Eddie carries despite his father's emotional distance.

• army
• father pressure
• masculinity
• family expectations
• tradition