Year: 1986
Runtime: 98 mins
Language: English
Director: Anne Wheeler
Lily moves with her three children to join husband David, a doctor in Alberta. Their son arrives later from boarding school. David hides a secret that forced them to leave England. They befriend neighbor Rosanne, who throws out her abusive boyfriend. Lily hires half‑Native Rosanne as housekeeper; friendship is tested when David's secret resurfaces.
Get a spoiler-free look at Loyalties (1986) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
Lily Sutton, an upper‑class Englishwoman accustomed to a life of quiet order, uproots herself and three young children to the remote town of Lac La Biche, Alberta, where her husband David works as a physician. The stark, open landscape of the Canadian frontier offers both a fresh start and a sudden distance from the familiar comforts of England, a move compelled by a past the family prefers not to revisit. Their eldest son, Nicholas, is expected to join them later from boarding school, leaving Lily to navigate the complexities of a new home while holding onto the echoes of her own upbringing.
David greets the settlement with a practiced charm, yet an undercurrent of secrecy shadows his interactions, hinting at a history that prompted their departure. The Suttons quickly become part of a tight‑knit community where neighbors watch each other closely, and the rhythm of small‑town life is punctuated by barbecues, long stretches of prairie sky, and the quiet concerns of belonging. In the midst of this, Lily meets Rosanne Ladouceur, a young bar waitress of mixed heritage who carries her own stories of resilience.
Rosanne steps into the Sutton household as a housekeeper, forging a bond with Lily that bridges class, culture, and motherhood. Their friendship blossoms amid shared domestic moments and the daily challenges of raising children far from home, while Rosanne’s partner, Eddy, adds another layer of intrigue to the household dynamics. The juxtaposition of their worlds creates a warm, yet subtly fragile, connection that feels both inevitable and delicate.
Beneath the surface, David’s hidden past exerts a quiet pressure on the family’s new life, and the closeness between Lily and Rosanne is poised to be tested as concealed truths begin to emerge. The film lingers on themes of loyalty, identity, and the uneasy balance between belonging and guardedness, inviting the audience to wonder how these intertwined lives will navigate the unspoken tensions of their shared frontier.
Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:49
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.
Stories where secrets fester beneath a seemingly normal family life.If you liked the building dread and family secrets in Loyalties, explore these movies that use a steady, methodical pace to create intense psychological tension within a domestic setting. These films often feature heavy emotional weight and disturbing themes.
Narratives in this thread typically center on a family or household where a hidden secret or trauma creates a fissure. The pacing is steady, focusing on daily life while subtly escalating unease. The climax is often a devastating revelation or confrontation that shatters the fragile domestic peace.
These movies are grouped by their shared approach to tension—a slow, atmospheric build of psychological dread within a family or home setting. They share a heavy emotional weight, a tense tone, and a focus on the destructive power of secrets.
Survival stories where the victory is surviving, not winning.Find movies like Loyalties that explore the heavy journey of surviving trauma and betrayal. These dramas focus on female solidarity and resilience, culminating in a bittersweet ending where safety is achieved at a great personal cost.
The narrative follows a protagonist, often a woman, through a traumatic event that dismantles their life. The journey is about piecing together a new existence, frequently reliant on an unexpected ally. The resolution is bittersweet, acknowledging the pain endured while finding a fragile, earned hope in survival and connection.
These films share a core theme of enduring and overcoming devastating life events. They are united by a heavy emotional weight, a focus on character resilience, and a concluding tone that is neither purely tragic nor happily-ever-after, but realistically bittersweet.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Loyalties 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 Loyalties is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Loyalties, 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.
Track the full timeline of Loyalties with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Loyalties. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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Discover movies like Loyalties that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Loyalties (1986) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
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