Frieda

Frieda

Year: 1947

Runtime: 98 mins

Language: English

Director: Basil Dearden

DramaWar

An RAF pilot shot down over Germany during World II manages to escape with the aid of a local German woman. Years later he returns to his English village and brings her back as his bride, forcing the community to confront the uneasy question of whether they can accept the woman who once helped a enemy pilot survive.

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Timeline – Frieda (1947)

Trace every key event in Frieda (1947) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Frieda helps Robert escape from the POW camp

Frieda, a German woman, helps English airman Robert escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp as the war nears its end. The escape is dangerous and fraught with risk, but Frieda's courage allows them to slip away. Robert remains grateful, setting the stage for a complicated bond that grows beyond mere gratitude.

late WWII German prisoner-of-war camp
2

The marriage in a church to secure a British passport

In a church skirting the front lines between Russia and Germany, Frieda and Robert marry so she can obtain a British passport. The ceremony is practical, binding them together beyond the immediate danger of the war. They embark on a future as husband and wife, despite the shadows of recent events.

late WWII Church between the Russian-German lines
3

Arrival in Oxfordshire and meeting the family

The couple arrives at Robert's Oxfordshire home and is introduced to his family, including his mother, his small stepbrother Tony, Judy, and Aunt Eleanor. The locals greet Frieda with hostility as memories of war linger. Robert begins adjusting his life to a quieter, domestic rhythm.

early postwar Robert's Oxfordshire home
4

Hostility from the townspeople and Robert's job loss

Initially, the townspeople treat Frieda with bitter suspicion and Robert is forced to give up his job as a schoolteacher. The couple faces discrimination from neighbors who still judge people by their wartime origins. Over time, patient effort and small acts of openness begin to change minds.

early postwar Oxfordshire town
5

Judy's friendship and hidden love

Judy befriends Frieda, unknowingly complicating matters because she is secretly in love with Robert. Frieda values the friendship while navigating a growing emotional tension around Robert. The love triangle adds tension but also depth to their new life.

early postwar Robert's Oxfordshire home
6

Life on the farm and growing closeness

As Robert settles into farm work with Frieda, the heaviness of his POW years begins to lift. He begins to see Frieda in a new, fuller light and their partnership deepens beyond dependency. The couple builds a routine that slowly steadies them against lingering prejudices.

early postwar Farm near Oxfordshire
7

Bergen-Belsen film and tested loyalty

They watch a film dealing with the horror of Bergen-Belsen, and Frieda fears the revelation could ruin their marriage. Robert struggles to reconcile the film's truths with his feelings for Frieda. The experience tests their trust, but they cling to what they have built.

late postwar cinema
8

Richard returns and reveals loyalty to Nazism

Frieda's brother Richard, long presumed dead, reappears as an ex-German soldier who has joined the Polish Army. He gives Frieda a swastika on a chain as a wedding present, signaling that his loyalty to Nazism remains unbroken. In a local town pub, he is denounced as a concentration camp guard.

late war / immediate postwar local town pub
9

Private confrontation and hardened beliefs

In private, Richard admits the truth of his actions and claims Frieda had known and approved. Robert's moral revolt against everything German grows; he begins to distance himself from Frieda's world. The couple's trust is strained as accusations fly.

after Richard's confession private setting
10

Frieda's suicide attempt and Robert's rescue

Frieda, fearing she has lost Robert, attempts suicide. Robert arrives just in time, and the shock restores his faith in her. The crisis forces both to confront what they truly mean to each other.

immediate aftermath of confrontation home
11

Robert's renewed commitment

Robert's near-tragedy leads him to reaffirm his faith in Frieda and their relationship. He chooses to stand by her despite the prejudice that nearly overwhelmed them. The couple renews their commitment and moves forward with new understanding.

after the rescue Oxfordshire home
12

Aunt Eleanor's transformation

Aunt Eleanor, once vehemently anti-German, acknowledges that you cannot treat people as less than human without becoming less than human yourself. Her transformation signals a broader shift in the community's attitudes.

after acceptance Eleanor's home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:12

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