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Timeline

I Am Woman (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 116 mins · English
Echo score 70
JustWatch #10,643 8
Directed by
Unjoo Moon
Starring
Matthew Cardarople, Danielle Macdonald, Chris Parnell, Evan Peters, Dusty Sorg, David Lyons

In 1966, Helen Reddy arrived in New York with her young daughter, facing hardship and poverty. Rising from those circumstances, she quickly became a superstar and an influential figure in the 1970s feminist movement. Her iconic song galvanized a generation of women, becoming a powerful anthem for change and solidifying her place in music history.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (16)
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like I Am Woman
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch I Am Woman (2019)

Where can you watch I Am Woman? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix, Netflix Standard and Fawesome: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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16 events in order · contains spoilers

I Am Woman Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of I Am Woman (2019) 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. Arrival in New York City

    In 1966, Helen Reddy arrives in New York City with hopes of recording her first album, thanks to winning a contest back in Australia. However, she faces an immediate setback when the record label reneges on their deal, leaving her feeling abandoned and alone with her three-year-old daughter, Traci.

    When
    1966
    Where
    New York City
  2. Struggles in the Nightclubs

    With little money and nowhere to turn, Reddy begins singing at small nightclubs across the city. It is during these challenging times that she reconnects with her old friend, rock journalist Lilian Roxon, seeking both emotional and professional support.

    Where
    New York City
  3. Meeting Jeff Wald

    At a party hosted by Lilian Roxon, Reddy encounters talent agent Jeff Wald. Their connection sparks a romantic relationship, and Wald becomes not just her partner but also takes her on as his client, providing her with much-needed guidance in the music industry.

  4. Marriage and Move to Los Angeles

    Reddy and Wald marry and decide to relocate to Los Angeles in search of greater opportunities for their careers. This decision reflects their ambition and hope to dive into the flourishing entertainment industry of the West Coast.

    Where
    Los Angeles
  5. Initial Struggles in the Recording Industry

    Despite their new surroundings, Wald struggles to promote Reddy as record companies predominantly favor male artists. Undeterred, they persist, and after numerous calls to Capitol Records, Reddy lands a chance to record a single that begins to change her fortunes.

    Where
    Los Angeles
  6. Breakthrough Single

    With determination, Wald asks family and friends to request Reddy's demo on radio stations. This grassroots effort pays off when the B side, a cover of 'I Don't Know How to Love Him', turns into Reddy's first significant hit, marking the start of her success.

  7. Hollywood Lifestyle

    After her success, Reddy and Wald purchase a much larger home and begin enjoying the lavish Hollywood lifestyle. However, the newfound fame comes with risks, including Wald developing a cocaine habit, placing strain on their marriage.

  8. Inspiration for 'I Am Woman'

    As Reddy becomes involved in the rising feminist movement, she is inspired to write the anthem 'I Am Woman.' Although the executives deem the song as 'angry' and 'man-hating', Wald pushes her to include it in her performances, leading to its eventual acclaim.

  9. Feminist Anthem's Success

    The release of 'I Am Woman' marks a turning point in Reddy’s career, becoming her biggest hit and a powerful feminist anthem. This success cements her place in the music industry and showcases her role as a voice for women's empowerment.

  10. Television Show and Las Vegas Residency

    Within a few years, Reddy achieves further milestones, including eight number one adult contemporary singles and her own television show. Additionally, she secures a residency in Las Vegas, showcasing her versatility and appeal as a performer.

    Where
    Las Vegas
  11. Personal Crisis

    Despite her professional success, the pressures of the entertainment industry begin to take a toll on her marriage to Wald. Seeking solace, Reddy turns to Roxon for support, only to discover that her friend’s health is deteriorating.

  12. Tragic Loss of Lilian Roxon

    Reddy is devastated by Roxon's death, caused by asthma complications. This loss prompts Reddy to consider canceling her upcoming concerts, yet Wald insists she fulfill her commitments, showcasing the complexities in their relationship.

  13. Emergency Room Collapse

    After a successful concert, Reddy is confronted with the shocking behavior of her husband, who is under the influence and involved in an altercation backstage. Overwhelmed by the stress of the situation and her personal life, Reddy collapses and wakes up in the emergency room.

    Where
    Emergency Room
  14. Defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment

    In a moment that deeply impacts her, Reddy learns that the Equal Rights Amendment, a cornerstone of the feminist movement, has been defeated. This news adds to her emotional distress, complicating her thoughts about her own struggles and societal issues.

  15. Retirement from Show Business

    Facing mounting debt and personal crises, Reddy and Wald divorce and sell their home, marking the end of an era. Reddy ultimately retires from show business in the early 1980s, stepping away from the spotlight to find peace.

    When
    Early 1980s
  16. Return to the Stage

    In 1989, Reddy's daughter Traci approaches her with a request to perform at a feminist rally in Washington, D.C. Initially hesitant, Reddy ultimately decides to reclaim her voice and performs 'I Am Woman' in front of a crowd of fellow activists.

    When
    1989
    Where
    Washington, D.C.

Last updated: September 18, 2026 at 08:59

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Movie threads

More Movies Like I Am Woman, by Mood & Story

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

Trailblazing women and feminist icons like in I Am Woman

True stories of women who shattered glass ceilings and reshaped culture. Discover movies like I Am Woman that profile real women who rose through male-dominated industries to become cultural icons. These empowering biographical dramas blend feminist history, music, and personal struggle into hopeful, triumphant stories of resilience, legacy, and the fight for equal recognition.

  • empowering
  • earnest
  • determined
  • nostalgic
  • resilient
  • uplifting
  • Tone: hopeful, earnest, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, character driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These films typically follow a chronological rise-and-fall-and-rise arc, tracing the subject's early poverty or obscurity, their breakthrough moment in a hostile professional landscape, intimate personal crises (addiction, marriage, betrayal), and a culminating redemptive scene that cements their cultural significance. The narrative is linear, the obstacles systemic rather than incidental, and the emotional payoff explicitly tied to legacy and impact rather than private happiness.

Why they belong together: Grouped by their shared focus on real female figures who challenged entrenched power structures, these movies combine earnest, hopeful tones with medium emotional weight and moderate narrative complexity. They tend to include music or performance as a vehicle for empowerment, balance triumphant endings with bittersweet personal costs, and foreground themes of female friendship, gender discrimination, and the long arc of social change.

Bittersweet hopeful triumphs like in I Am Woman

Stories where setbacks hurt, but the ending still lifts you up. If you liked I Am Woman, explore movies with the same hopeful but bittersweet emotional mix. These dramas blend genuine hardship, loss, and systemic obstacles with earnest, uplifting resolutions. Perfect for viewers seeking moving character stories that hurt a little and heal a lot, ending on a note of determined optimism.

  • bittersweet
  • uplifting
  • determined
  • resilient
  • earnest
  • hopeful
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful, earnest
  • Pacing: steady and measured
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Films in this thread unfold as steady, chronological character studies that layer personal setbacks against professional or political breakthroughs. Death, addiction, divorce, and discrimination appear as real costs, but the structural arc bends toward affirmation: a final performance, a reunion, a victory speech, or a quiet moment of legacy. The ending is unambiguously happy even when it is not uncomplicated, rewarding the audience's emotional investment with catharsis rather than ambiguity.

Why they belong together: These stories share a distinctive emotional fingerprint: medium intensity tension, modest romance, meaningful sadness, and a hopeful, triumphant landing. They tend to be biographically rooted or closely observe a real pursuit, and they trade irony for sincerity. The pacing never feels rushed, the complexity stays moderate, and the overall experience is one of earned uplift rather than easy comfort.

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Every angle

I Am Woman (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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