Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Action Comedy Drama Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Romance Mystery Animation Crime
Memoir of War (2018) movie poster

Timeline

Memoir of War (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 127 min · French
Echo score 63
JustWatch #12,462 4
Directed by
Emmanuel Finkiel
Starring
Anne-Lise Heimburger, Benoît Magimel, Mélanie Thierry, Benjamin Biolay, Caroline Ducey, Emmanuel Bourdieu

During the German occupation of France in 1944, Marguerite's life is shattered when her husband, a leader in the Resistance, is taken away by the Gestapo. Determined to learn what happened to him, she reluctantly joins forces with a French man who is working with the Nazis. As she investigates, she must navigate a dangerous web of deceit and risk everything to discover the truth about her husband's disappearance and the harsh realities of war.

Drama History Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (11)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Memoir of War (2018)

Where can you watch Memoir of War? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Chai Flicks, fuboTV and OVID: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

11 events in order · contains spoilers

Memoir of War Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Memoir of War (2018) 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. Robert's Arrest

    In the summer of 1944, as Allied armies advance towards Paris, Robert Antelme is arrested by the German occupying forces. This event shatters his wife Marguerite's life, leaving her distressed and desperate for answers about her husband's whereabouts.

    When
    Summer 1944
    Where
    Paris

  2. Marguerite's Encounter

    In her turmoil, Marguerite meets a French collaborator working for the Gestapo. He slyly offers a potential link to Robert's fate in exchange for information about a prominent resister, François Morland, revealing his own interest in Marguerite.

    Where
    Paris

  3. Consulting Dionys

    Faced with the collaborator's proposition, Marguerite seeks counsel from Dionys Mascolo, the leader of the resistance network and her lover. Together they weigh the risks, and Marguerite ultimately decides to engage with the collaborator despite her reservations.

    Where
    Paris

  4. Routine Encounters

    Marguerite begins a series of routine encounters with the collaborator, who brings her scarce provisions and fine wine. Throughout these meetings, she maintains her resolve by refusing to divulge any information or partake in any illicit activities.

    Where
    Paris

  5. News of Robert's Fate

    During one of their discussions, the collaborator reveals that Robert has been sent to a concentration camp in Germany. This disclosure deepens Marguerite's anguish, adding to the heavy weight of uncertainty about her husband's safety.

    Where
    Paris

  6. Liberation of Paris

    With the liberation of Paris and the dissolution of the Gestapo, the resistance's focus shifts to uncovering the fates of their arrested colleagues. Marguerite joins the efforts to assist the families of the imprisoned, all while holding onto hope.

    When
    1944
    Where
    Paris

  7. Allied Forces Liberate Camps

    In the spring of 1945, Allied forces begin liberating the concentration camps. As information surfaces about who has survived, the atmosphere is thick with anticipation and dread as Marguerite awaits news of Robert.

    When
    Spring 1945
    Where
    Concentration Camps

  8. Learning of Robert's Condition

    After an exhausting wait filled with emotional turmoil, Marguerite learns that Robert is gravely ill in Dachau. The uncertainty is overwhelming, as she grapples with the realization that his life hangs by a thread.

    Where
    Dachau

  9. Arranging Robert's Retrieval

    With help from Dionys and François Morland, Marguerite makes arrangements to retrieve Robert from the concentration camp. Their collaborative effort highlights the bond of resistance and the lengths they will go to save each other.

    Where
    Dachau

  10. Holiday in Italy

    Once Robert regains enough strength, Marguerite decides to take him on a holiday to Italy. It's a well-deserved respite that allows them to reconnect, but the shadow of their experiences looms over their time together.

    Where
    Italy

  11. The Heart-Wrenching Decision

    Upon returning to Paris, Marguerite makes the heart-wrenching decision to divorce Robert. This choice signifies the profound changes they have both undergone as a result of their experiences during the war.

    Where
    Paris

Last updated: November 15, 2024 at 20:34

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Memoir of War Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Memoir of War (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Marguerite agree to meet with the French collaborator working for the Gestapo?

Marguerite agrees to meet the collaborator because she is desperate to learn what happened to her husband Robert, who was arrested by the Germans. While initially reluctant, she consults with Dionys Mascolo, the leader of their resistance network and her lover, who helps her weigh the risks. Despite knowing the danger, her love for Robert and need for information about his fate drive her to engage with the collaborator.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Marguerite's distress over Robert's arrest is established, showing her vulnerability to any potential lead.

  • marguerite duras
  • robert antelme
  • gestapo
  • resistance
  • collaborator
Q2

What does the collaborator want in exchange for information about Robert?

The collaborator offers information about Robert in exchange for details about François Morland, a prominent resister. Additionally, he reveals a personal interest in Marguerite herself, suggesting he wants more than just intelligence, he is drawn to her personally.

Foreshadowing: The collaborator's interest in Marguerite foreshadows why he continues to meet with her despite getting little useful information in return.

  • francois morland
  • collaborator
  • exchange
  • information
  • gestapo
Q3

How does Marguerite manage to bring Robert back from Dachau concentration camp?

Marguerite does not rescue Robert alone, she relies on help from Dionys Mascolo and François Morland, both key figures in the resistance network. Together, they make the arrangements to retrieve Robert from Dachau as the Allied forces advance and the camps are liberated. Their combined influence and connections within the resistance enable his release and transport back to Paris.

Foreshadowing: The earlier exchanges where the collaborator seeks information about François Morland highlight Morland's importance as a connected figure who later helps facilitate Robert's rescue.

  • dachau
  • robert antelme
  • rescue
  • concentration camp
  • dionys mascolo
  • francois morland
Q4

Why does Marguerite decide to divorce Robert after they return from Italy?

The movie suggests that the trauma both Marguerite and Robert experienced during the war fundamentally changed their relationship. After enduring the stress of his arrest, the dangerous dealings with collaborators, the agonizing wait for news, and his serious illness, they both underwent profound personal transformations. The divorce represents the lasting psychological damage caused by their wartime experiences, while Robert survived, the marriage itself could not survive the toll.

Foreshadowing: The movie's melancholic tone and the heavy emphasis on emotional trauma throughout hint that their relationship would be permanently affected by the war's hardships.

  • divorce
  • marguerite duras
  • robert antelme
  • trauma
  • war
  • italy
Q5

What is the significance of François Morland to the Gestapo collaborator?

François Morland is described as a prominent resister, making him a high-value target for the Gestapo. The collaborator's desire to obtain information about Morland indicates that Morland held an important position within the resistance network. The collaborator uses Morland's name as leverage in his negotiations with Marguerite, suggesting Morland's capture would be a significant victory for the occupying forces.

  • francois morland
  • resistance
  • gestapo
  • prominent resister
Q6

What happens to the French collaborator after Paris is liberated?

The summary does not explicitly state what happens to the collaborator after the liberation of Paris and the dissolution of the Gestapo. Once Paris is liberated, the resistance shifts focus to finding information about their arrested colleagues and helping their families. The collaborator's fate becomes irrelevant to the story as Marguerite's attention turns to Robert's survival and their relationship.

  • paris liberation
  • collaborator
  • gestapo dissolved
  • fate
Q7

Why does Marguerite seek out Dionys Mascolo before meeting the collaborator?

Marguerite consults Dionys Mascolo because he is the leader of their resistance network and also her lover. Faced with the dangerous proposition from the collaborator, she needs counsel from someone she trusts and who understands the stakes. Dionys helps her weigh the risks and ultimately supports her decision to engage with the collaborator, showing the close bond between them and his role as her protector within the resistance.

  • dionys mascolo
  • resistance leader
  • lover
  • marguerite
  • counsel
Q8

How does the resistance network help Marguerite rescue Robert from Dachau?

The resistance network, specifically through the combined efforts of Dionys Mascolo and François Morland, uses their connections and influence to arrange Robert's retrieval from Dachau. As Allied forces begin liberating the concentration camps in spring 1945, their coordinated action allows Robert to be brought back to Paris. Their collaboration demonstrates the solidarity among resisters and their commitment to saving one another.

  • resistance network
  • rescue
  • dachau
  • dionys mascolo
  • francois morland
  • allies

Movie threads

More Movies Like Memoir of War, by Mood & Story

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

Wartime psychological survival movies like Memoir of War

Intimate stories of civilians navigating the moral quagmire of occupation. If you were captivated by the tense, personal struggle in Memoir of War, this collection features similar movies about civilians surviving military occupation. These films share a focus on moral compromise, psychological danger, and the heavy emotional weight of war on the home front.

  • tense
  • oppressive
  • somber
  • anxious
  • grieving
  • desperate
  • Tone: tense, melancholic, oppressive
  • Pacing: slow, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a civilian protagonist thrust into a dangerous, politically charged environment. Their journey is internal as much as external, centering on difficult moral choices, fractured loyalties, and the psychological strain of living under constant threat and surveillance.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared, intense focus on the civilian experience of war, characterized by a tense, melancholic tone, heavy emotional weight, and a setting defined by oppression and moral ambiguity.

Memoir of War movie poster

Memoir of War

2018
The Endless Trench movie poster

The Endless Trench

2020
The Endless Trench movie poster

The Endless Trench

2019
The Prisoner movie poster

The Prisoner

1955
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy movie poster

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

2011
First Winter movie poster

First Winter

2012
Women Talking movie poster

Women Talking

2022
The Fourth Direction movie poster

The Fourth Direction

2015

Slow burn grief and search dramas similar to Memoir of War

A protagonist's agonizing, solitary quest for a missing loved one against overwhelming odds. For viewers who appreciated the desperate, grief-stricken search at the heart of Memoir of War, this thread gathers movies with similar emotional journeys. These films feature protagonists on a slow, painful quest for answers, often leading to bittersweet revelations and profound personal change.

  • grieving
  • desperate
  • melancholic
  • somber
  • anxious suspense
  • lonely quest
  • Tone: melancholic, tense, desperate
  • Pacing: slow burn
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a single, determined protagonist whose life is defined by their search. The story unfolds at a methodical pace, building tension through uncertainty and emotional setbacks rather than action. The resolution is often bittersweet, revealing hard truths that change the seeker forever.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific emotional arc: a slow-burning narrative driven by grief and a desperate need for closure. They are united by their heavy emotional weight, melancholic atmosphere, and a focus on the psychological devastation of loss and the relentless pursuit of truth.

Moonlight Mile movie poster

Moonlight Mile

2002
Longing movie poster

Longing

2017
Character movie poster

Character

1997
Things We Lost in the Fire movie poster

Things We Lost in the Fire

2007
Rabbit Hole movie poster

Rabbit Hole

2010
Strange Weather movie poster

Strange Weather

2017
Drive My Car movie poster

Drive My Car

2021
Closing the Ring movie poster

Closing the Ring

2007

Every angle

Memoir of War (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Memoir of War in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app