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I Am the Keeper (2014) movie poster

Timeline

I Am the Keeper (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 88 mins · German
Directed by
Sabine Boss
Starring
Pascal Ulli, Michael Neuenschwander, Andreas Matti, Rebecca Indermaur, Sonja Riesen, Marcus Signer

Having just been released from prison after a year for protecting his best friend Ueli, Goalie returns to his small hometown of Schummertal, hoping for a fresh start and a life free from drugs. However, Ueli has spiraled deeper into substance abuse and struggles to understand Goalie’s desire for a more conventional path. Their lifelong friendship is tested as Goalie confronts his past and attempts to build a new life, while Ueli resists change.

Drama Romance Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (15)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Categories
  5. 5 Every angle

15 events in order · contains spoilers

I Am the Keeper Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of I Am the Keeper (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. Job loss and drug mule proposal

    In the 1980s Swiss village of Schummertal, Goalie loses his job after smoking pot. Ueli asks him to become a drug mule, delivering a package from France in exchange for five thousand francs. He agrees, setting off a chain of events that tests his loyalty to his best friend.

    When
    1980s
    Where
    Schummertal, Switzerland

  2. Trip to France to fetch the drugs

    Goalie drives to France, retrieves the drug pack, and returns late at night. The car is spotted by the police, and he is arrested. In interrogation, he refuses to name who sent him, choosing to take the blame himself.

    When
    night of the run
    Where
    France

  3. Jail instead of betraying a friend

    At the police station, Goalie is pressured to reveal his contact, but he stays silent. He decides that serving a year in jail is worth protecting his friend from worse trouble.

    When
    immediately after arrest
    Where
    Police station, Switzerland

  4. Return home and a tentative new start

    A year after the arrest, Goalie returns to his hometown and stops by his restaurant for a drink. Regula offers support, while Pesche remains openly hostile. The encounter marks the beginning of his long struggle to restart his life.

    When
    one year after jail sentence
    Where
    Goalie's hometown / restaurant

  5. Five thousand francs and a rent demand

    Ueli visits with five thousand francs, showing he still cares. The landlord arrives demanding a year's rent, wiping out almost all of Goalie's money. The sudden financial squeeze pushes him into reconsidering his plan for a clean start.

    When
    the same day as return
    Where
    Goalie's home/restaurant

  6. A fresh start and a growing attraction

    Goalie finds a low-wage job and begins to rebuild his life. He tries to stay in touch with Regula, and their initial attraction grows deeper. The new life is fragile, strained by past loyalties and temptations.

    When
    shortly after release
    Where
    Hometown

  7. Ueli's downfall and Regula's concern

    Ueli sinks deeper into drugs and alcohol and ends up in hospital. Regula's partner, Budi, grows nervous about Goalie's attention toward Regula. The tensions foreshadow betrayals and fractured loyalties in the town.

    When
    days after Ueli's breakdown
    Where
    Hospital; restaurant

  8. Rugs found; arrest and ban

    Pesche discovers rugs in the restaurant toilets and reports them to the police. Goalie is taken in and receives a restaurant ban, a sign that he is being framed. The town's undercurrents of manipulation become clearer.

    When
    the following day
    Where
    Restaurant / police station

  9. Late-night ring and a secret date

    Late one night, after too much drinking, Goalie rings Regula’s doorbell and is drenched by water tossed from Budi on the balcony. Regula secretly calls Goalie later and arranges a date.

    When
    late night
    Where
    Goalie's place and Regula's house

  10. Rink meeting and the jail backstory

    Goalie and Regula meet at the rink, and he explains why he never told about the jail. He was the scapegoat, and he did not want to harm others by revealing the truth.

    When
    after the late-night call
    Where
    Ice rink

  11. Spain holiday promised by Stofer

    Stofer offers a villa in Spain for a short holiday, and Goalie agrees to go with Regula despite his recent job loss. The trip becomes a test of their relationship.

    When
    shortly after rink meeting
    Where
    Spain (villa)

  12. In Spain, the trip reveals trouble

    In Spain, Goalie regresses into drinking and struggles to connect with Regula. He discovers the villa isn’t inherited and that Stofer has bought it, signaling deeper manipulation behind their wealth.

    When
    during Spain trip
    Where
    Spain

  13. Seeking the truth with Balsiger

    Back home, Goalie visits Balsiger to learn about the villa’s ownership and the sources of his friends’ sudden wealth. Balsiger explains the origin of Goalie’s nickname and the town’s long history of clever manipulations.

    When
    after Spain trip
    Where
    Balsiger's place

  14. Confrontation with Pesche, Stofer and Ueli

    Goalie confronts Pesche, Stofer and Ueli with what he has learned. Ueli admits they framed him to avoid responsibility. Pesche offers a reparation, but Goalie refuses with a sense of pride and sadness, deciding to move on.

    When
    after confrontation
    Where
    Restaurant

  15. A new life in Bern with Regula

    Goalie tells Regula that he will start anew in Bern and asks her to join him once he finds a job. The promise marks his resolve to leave the small town behind with their relationship intact.

    When
    final decision
    Where
    Bern, Switzerland

Last updated: January 08, 2026 at 08:32

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Timeline questions answered

I Am the Keeper Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why does Goalie agree to transport drugs for Ueli?

Goalie agrees because Ueli asks him as a favor, offering five thousand francs, roughly two months' wages, for a single drug-smuggling run to France. Their lifelong friendship and trust make it difficult for Goalie to refuse, despite knowing the risk involved.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Goalie's nickname is revealed to come from childhood games where he never actually wore goalkeeper gloves, hinting at his tendency to take blame for others.

  • goalie
  • ueli
  • drug run
  • france
  • friendship
  • favor
Q2

Why doesn't Goalie name Ueli during the police interrogation?

Goalie refuses to betray his friend even under pressure, choosing to serve a year in jail rather than reveal who sent him. He believes that snitching would have caused more harm to more people than keeping silent.

Foreshadowing: The film's title 'I Am the Keeper' foreshadows Goalie's role as someone who keeps secrets and protects others, even at great personal cost.

  • police
  • interrogation
  • loyalty
  • jail
  • betrayal
  • ueli
Q3

What are the rugs in the restaurant toilet about?

The rugs are planted by Pesche, who discovers them in the restaurant toilets and reports Goalie to the police. This leads to Goalie being briefly arrested and receiving a restaurant ban, a deliberate frame job to keep him marginalized in town.

Foreshadowing: Pesche's open hostility toward Goalie from his return establishes him as an antagonist willing to manipulate situations.

  • pesche
  • rugs
  • arrest
  • frame
  • restaurant ban
Q4

Who framed Goalie for the drugs?

Goalie's own friends, Pesche, Stofer, and Ueli, framed him. When Goalie confronts them, Ueli admits they framed him to prevent the blame from falling on their own heads. They had been cashing in on large drug deals while letting Goalie take the fall.

Foreshadowing: The sudden wealth of Goalie's friends (the villa in Spain, the five thousand francs) hints at illegal income long before the truth is revealed.

  • frame
  • pesche
  • stofer
  • ueli
  • drug deals
  • betrayal
Q5

Why does Goalie refuse Pesche's offer of reparations?

Goalie rejects the money because he insists that pride still matters. Despite being broke and struggling, he refuses to accept blood money from friends who betrayed him. He would rather walk away with his dignity intact than accept compensation for their betrayal.

Foreshadowing: Goalie's earlier decision to stay silent in prison rather than betray Ueli establishes his strong moral code around loyalty and pride.

  • pesche
  • reparations
  • pride
  • money
  • dignity
  • betrayal
Q6

Why does Goalie decide to leave Schummertal for Bern?

After discovering his friends' betrayal and realizing the town is ruled by manipulation and drug money, Goalie decides to start fresh in Bern. He wants to leave behind the toxic environment of his hometown and build a new, honest life.

Foreshadowing: Goalie's consistent efforts throughout the film to find honest work and stay away from drugs show his genuine desire for a different life.

  • bern
  • new start
  • leave town
  • fresh beginning
Q7

What does Goalie discover about the villa in Spain?

Goalie discovers the villa isn't an inheritance as Stofer claimed. Instead, Stofer bought the villa with drug money, revealing the true source of his friends' sudden wealth. This revelation exposes the depth of their criminal activities.

Foreshadowing: Stofer's generous offer of a villa holiday early in their interaction hints at wealth that doesn't match their humble town status.

  • spain
  • villa
  • stofer
  • drug money
  • wealth
  • revelation
Q8

What happens between Goalie and Regula at the end?

Goalie asks Regula to join him in Bern once he secures a steady job. This represents hope for their relationship, a chance to start fresh together away from the toxic environment of Schummertal.

Foreshadowing: Their connection deepens throughout the film, from early conversations at the rink to the Spain trip, building toward this hopeful conclusion.

  • regula
  • bern
  • relationship
  • new start
  • together
Q9

Why does Ueli end up in the hospital?

Ueli sinks deeper into drugs and alcohol, leading to a breakdown that lands him in the hospital. His addiction has worsened since Goalie's imprisonment, and he struggles to understand or support Goalie's desire for a cleaner life.

Foreshadowing: Ueli's initial request that Goalie risk prison for him hints at his selfish tendencies and inability to prioritize his friend's wellbeing.

  • ueli
  • hospital
  • drugs
  • alcohol
  • addiction
Q10

Why does Budi throw water on Goalie from the balcony?

Budi, who is Regula's partner, throws water on Goalie late at night when Goalie rings the doorbell while drunk. This act of hostility reveals Budi's jealousy and protectiveness over Regula, as well as the complicated romantic tensions in town.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Budi's nervousness about Goalie's attention toward Regula, foreshadowing this confrontational moment.

  • budi
  • water
  • regula
  • jealousy
  • balcony

Movie threads

More Movies Like I Am the Keeper, by Mood & Story

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

Redemption in a Small Town like I Am the Keeper

Characters rebuilding their lives in the suffocating embrace of a small town. For viewers who liked I Am the Keeper, this list features movies about characters seeking a fresh start in a claustrophobic small-town setting. If you enjoy stories of overcoming addiction, mending broken bonds, and escaping a suffocating past, you'll find similar films here.

  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • gritty
  • claustrophobic
  • reflective
  • atmospheric
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a character's return to their hometown or a small community after a period of absence or turmoil. Their goal is redemption and a new beginning, but they are confronted by the ghosts of their past—old friends, unresolved conflicts, and a social environment resistant to change. The narrative arc involves wrestling with temptation, making difficult choices, and ultimately finding the strength to either integrate on new terms or break free.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific setting (the small town) as a central antagonist, a core theme of personal redemption, and a tone that balances the weight of past mistakes with the hope for a better future. The pacing is steady, focusing on character development amid a constrained social landscape.

I Am the Keeper movie poster

I Am the Keeper

2014
Hope Floats movie poster

Hope Floats

1998
Little City movie poster

Little City

1997
Reckless movie poster

Reckless

1984
The Toilers and the Wayfarers movie poster

The Toilers and the Wayfarers

1997
Suburban Girl movie poster

Suburban Girl

2007
As It Is in Heaven movie poster

As It Is in Heaven

2004
A Simple Twist of Fate movie poster

A Simple Twist of Fate

1994

Friendships Tested by Addiction like in I Am the Keeper

A deep bond fractures as one person seeks recovery while the other spirals. If you liked the central conflict in I Am the Keeper between Goalie and Ueli, this list is for you. Discover movies that delve into the heartbreaking strain addiction puts on lifelong friendships, exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the painful journey of self-preservation.

  • tense
  • gritty
  • melancholic
  • emotional
  • realistic
  • painful
  • Tone: bittersweet, tense, gritty
  • Pacing: steady, dramatic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a pair of friends, often from a disadvantaged or gritty background, whose bond is their anchor. When addiction enters the picture, their paths diverge. One character fights for a cleaner life, while the other is pulled deeper into substance abuse. The story is driven by the tension of this divergence, culminating in a moment of crisis that forces a redefinition—or dissolution—of the friendship.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their intense focus on a central, deteriorating friendship as the primary source of drama. They share themes of addiction, codependency, and betrayal, balanced with a realistic, often melancholic tone. The emotional weight is medium to heavy, deriving from the realistic portrayal of a relationship falling apart.

Friendship! movie poster

Friendship!

2010
Best Friends movie poster

Best Friends

1982
Friends with Money movie poster

Friends with Money

2006
Postcards from the Edge movie poster

Postcards from the Edge

1990
Dinner with Friends movie poster

Dinner with Friends

2001
A Woman as a Friend movie poster

A Woman as a Friend

2014
Peter’s Friends movie poster

Peter’s Friends

1992
Crush movie poster

Crush

2002

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring I Am the Keeper

I Am the Keeper appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories
Obsessive Hobbyist Dramas movies

Obsessive Hobbyist Dramas

Movies about obsessive hobbyists

Every angle

I Am the Keeper (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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