Lucky (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Lucky says this after experiencing a dizzy spell that left him feeling vulnerable and reliant on his friends' help. The moment represents a turning point where he confronts his fear of becoming a burden as he ages. This emotional outburst reveals his deep-seated anxiety about mortality and losing his independence, which he usually masks with humor and stoicism.

• Lucky
• diner scene
• burden
• mortality
• vulnerability

The tortoise serves as a symbol of life continuity and the cyclical nature of existence. Earlier in the film, Howard, a bar regular, mourns his lost tortoise that has outlived two wives. By having Lucky encounter a tortoise at the end, the film suggests that life persists despite loss and aging. The tortoise represents endurance, slow but steady progress through life's journey, and the connection between all living things.

Foreshadowing: Howard's story about his tortoise earlier in the film sets up this symbolic ending.

• tortoise
• symbolism
• ending
• cycle of life
• Howard

Lucky reveals to a friend over the phone that he has a childhood regret about a mockingbird, though the specific details remain somewhat abstract. This memory represents the weight of unfulfilled promises and missed opportunities that Lucky carries throughout his life. It illustrates how past decisions continue to resonate in old age, adding depth to his character as someone reflecting on a lifetime of choices.

• mockingbird
• childhood
• regret
• memory
• past

Lucky visits a pet store seeking companionship but chooses crickets rather than a cat, dog, or bird. This decision reflects his complex relationship with connection, he craves life and presence around him but is hesitant to take on the responsibility of caring for another living creature. The crickets represent a minimal commitment to life without the emotional weight of a traditional pet, showing Lucky's unique way of engaging with the world while maintaining his independence.

• crickets
• pet store
• companionship
• loneliness
• independence

Lucky encounters a significant cactus during his morning walk, which symbolizes endurance and survival in harsh conditions. The cactus, like Lucky himself, thrives in the challenging desert environment despite its harshness. It represents the ability to adapt and persist through life's difficulties while maintaining one's core identity. This moment occurs as Lucky begins cleaning his house, signaling his renewed engagement with life.

• cactus
• desert
• endurance
• symbolism
• walk scene

Lucky experiences a sudden dizzy spell that prompts him to visit Dr. Christian Kneedler. The doctor examines him and declares him remarkably healthy, referring to Lucky as a 'wonder of medical science' despite his age and smoking habit. This visit serves as a reminder that Lucky is mortal and his body is eventually failing him, even though he appears resilient. The doctor also shares that his own father has died, adding a layer of mortality to their conversation.

• doctor
• lightheaded
• health
• Dr. Kneedler
• medical

Lucky decides to clean his house one morning, an activity he hasn't done in months. This act represents a significant shift in his attitude toward life and his environment. Rather than simply existing in his space, he actively engages with it, suggesting a renewed purpose and willingness to participate in life. This change occurs after his moment of existential crisis and symbolizes his acceptance and readiness to embrace whatever time remains.

• cleaning
• house
• routine
• renewal
• engagement

Howard, a regular at the bar played by David Lynch, shares with Lucky that his tortoise has been lost. Remarkably, the tortoise has outlived two wives, making it a symbol of extreme longevity and perhaps a reflection of Howard's own fears about being left behind. This story becomes a recurring theme that culminates in Lucky's own encounter with a tortoise at the film's end, connecting the characters through shared experiences of loss and the passage of time.

• Howard
• tortoise
• bar scene
• loss
• longevity

The character's name 'Lucky' carries ironic meaning given the film's themes of aging and mortality. Despite living to 90 and outliving most of his friends, Lucky grapples with existential questions about meaning and acceptance. His name may refer to his good fortune in living a long life, or it could be a bitter irony, he feels anything but lucky as he confronts loneliness and the inevitability of death. The name invites viewers to consider what it truly means to be lucky in life.

• name
• Lucky
• irony
• mortality
• meaning

Paulie recounts his marriage story to Lucky at the diner, prompting Lucky to reflect on his own life void of lasting relationships or marriage. This conversation highlights Lucky's solitude and the choices he has made throughout his life. Listening to Paulie's experience makes Lucky contemplate what he has missed and whether his independent lifestyle has been fulfilling or lacking. It contributes to his broader meditation on connection and loneliness.

• Paulie
• marriage
• reflection
• loneliness
• diner conversation

Lucky meets Fred, another veteran, at a diner where they discuss their military service. Fred shares a haunting World War II experience involving a Buddhist girl smiling amid chaos, a moment of unexpected beauty and joy in the midst of war. This conversation connects the two men through shared military history and provides Lucky with perspective on finding moments of grace even in difficult circumstances.

• Fred
• veteran
• World War II
• military
• conversation

Elaine, a bar regular, consistently expresses disapproval of Lucky's smoking habit. Her concerns reflect genuine care for his health and wellbeing. Throughout the film, Lucky brushes off these warnings with his characteristic humor, insisting that if smoking were going to kill him, it would have done so long ago. This dynamic illustrates the small ways people in Lucky's life try to look out for him, even as he maintains his stubborn independence.

• Elaine
• smoking
• health
• care
• bar scene