Journeyman

Journeyman

Year: 2017

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Drama

Some fights you cannot fight alone A boxer suffers a serious head injury during a fight, and must deal with the consequences.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Journeyman (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Journeyman (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

Set in contemporary Britain, the story reflects modern athletic culture and medical care. It follows a current-day boxer through a high-stakes title fight, rehabilitation, and family life under the shadow of a health crisis. The timeline aligns with recent media attention, healthcare practices, and rehabilitative efforts.

Location

Boxing gym, family home, hospital

The film unfolds across gritty urban spaces, switching between a tough boxing gym, a domestic home, and a hospital ward. The gym is Matty's arena and livelihood, while the home centers on his family and the emotional costs of his career. The hospital scenes heighten the contrast between physical dominance in the ring and vulnerability in recovery.

🏙️ Urban 🥊 Boxing culture 🏥 Medical setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:55

Main Characters – Journeyman (2017)

Meet the key characters of Journeyman (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Matty Burton (Paddy Considine)

An aging world-champion middleweight whose peak has passed; after a brutal title defense, he suffers severe headaches and dementia. His pride competes with tenderness as violence and vulnerability collide, driving a journey through rehabilitation toward renewed purpose for his wife and daughter.

🥊 Boxing 💔 Family 🧠 Health

Emma Burton (Jodie Whittaker)

Matty's wife, devoted and resilient, who bears the burden of care as his condition worsens. She ultimately leaves to protect herself and Mia, illustrating the limits of caregiving under extreme strain while fighting to preserve hope for the family.

💔 Family 🧠 Health 🧭 Resilience

Andre Bryte (Anthony Welsh)

A controversial and brash challenger who provokes Matty in the press and during the title bout, catalyzing the brutal fight. His arc includes remorse and a later attempt at making amends, adding depth to the conflict.

🥊 Boxing ⚖️ Controversy 🎯 Rivalry

Richie (Tony Pitts)

Matty's friend who steps in to help during his recovery, revealing loyalty that grows through guilt about not visiting during surgery. He becomes a supportive presence in the rehabilitation journey.

👬 Friends 🤝 Support 🏥 Care

Jackie (Paul Popplewell)

Another close friend who joins in the care drive after the crisis, sharing in the effort to rebuild Matty's life and stand by him through rehabilitation and renewed purpose.

🤝 Friends 🏥 Care 🎯 Loyalty

Mia Burton

Matty and Emma's daughter, whose presence and welfare motivate Matty to recover and live for his family. Her safety and happiness become central to the healing process.

👧 Family ❤️ Child

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:55

Major Themes – Journeyman (2017)

Explore the central themes of Journeyman (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family

The movie centers on Matty's relationship with Emma and Mia, testing love and loyalty as health crisis and violence strain the family. Emma's choices and Matty's condition reveal the fragility and resilience of family bonds. The arc tracks reconciliation, renewed commitment, and the importance of chosen family in hard times.

🧠 Memory

Matty's brain injury brings memory loss and identity questions, reshaping how he sees himself beyond the boxing title. Dementia blurs routines, heightens dependency, and challenges masculine pride. The film uses memory as a lens for vulnerability and the struggle to stay connected to loved ones.

🤝 Redemption

Bryte's remorse and the forgiveness arc push the story toward redemption, showing growth beyond rivalry. The path to reconciliation underscores the healing power of accountability and community support. It suggests second chances are possible when humility and empathy prevail.

🥊 Violence

The brutal sport serves as a catalyst for physical and psychological damage, affecting Matty's life long after the bell. The narrative exposes the real consequences of boxing for families, careers, and identities. It contrasts the glory of the ring with the costs borne at home.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:55

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Emotional Recovery Stories Like Journeyman

Stories of starting over after a life-altering injury or trauma.If you were moved by the difficult but hopeful journey in Journeyman, explore other movies about rebuilding a life after trauma. These dramas feature characters overcoming physical disability, brain injury, or deep personal loss, focusing on resilience, support systems, and the bittersweet nature of recovery.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically begin with a life-shattering event, such as an accident or illness. The central conflict becomes the protagonist's struggle to adapt, often involving physical therapy, cognitive challenges, and strained relationships with loved ones. The emotional journey moves from despair and denial towards gradual acceptance and the redefinition of personal purpose.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a core theme of resilience in the face of overwhelming physical and psychological adversity. They balance heartbreaking realism with a persistent, undercurrent of hope, creating a powerful and emotionally heavy viewing experience centered on human endurance.

Intense Marriage Dramas Like Journeyman

Intimate stories of relationships tested by extreme circumstances.For viewers who appreciated the powerful portrayal of a marriage in crisis in Journeyman, this collection features similar stories. Discover movies where a couple's love and commitment are severely tested by illness, trauma, or tragedy, leading to a complex and emotionally charged narrative.

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Narrative Summary

These stories introduce a stable relationship that is suddenly destabilized by a traumatic event. The plot follows the couple as they grapple with anger, resentment, and grief, often exposing old wounds. The central arc is not just about the individual's struggle, but the parallel journey of the relationship itself, which may fracture and then slowly mend in a new, more fragile form.

Why These Movies?

These movies are connected by their intense focus on the dynamics of a primary relationship facing immense strain. They share a high emotional weight, a steady pacing that allows for deep character exploration, and a tone that balances the pain of loss with the fragile hope of rebuilding connection.

Unlock the Full Story of Journeyman

Don't stop at just watching — explore Journeyman in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Journeyman is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Journeyman Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Journeyman, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Journeyman Summary

Journeyman Timeline

Track the full timeline of Journeyman with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Journeyman Timeline

Journeyman Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Journeyman that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Journeyman Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Journeyman

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Journeyman: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Journeyman