Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

My Summer with the Shark (2023) movie poster

Timeline

My Summer with the Shark (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 104 mins · Italian
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Davide Gentile
Starring
Edoardo Pesce, Alberto Testone, Claudio Santamaria, Virginia Raffaele, Roberto Fazioli, Matteo Scattaretico

School’s out and 13‑year‑old Walter, still grieving his father’s death, wanders the Roman coast. He discovers an abandoned villa with a massive, murky swimming pool that captures his attention. Yet the villa is not as deserted as it appears, suggesting hidden secrets lie within.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like My Summer with the Shark
  6. 6 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

13 events in order · contains spoilers

My Summer with the Shark Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of My Summer with the Shark (2023) 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. Walter explores the Roman coast

    13-year-old Walter, still mourning his father's death, wanders the Roman coast during his summer break. He comes across an abandoned villa with a grand swimming pool, which sparks his curiosity and sense of adventure.

    When
    summer
    Where
    Roman coast
  2. Walter encounters the shark

    Walter finds the villa's swimming pool and dives in, narrowly escaping a great white shark. The encounter leaves him scared but also intrigued, leading him to revisit the villa to observe the shark.

    When
    summer
    Where
    abandoned villa swimming pool
  3. Meeting Carlo the caretaker

    Walter meets Carlo, an older boy who claims to be the caretaker of the villa. Carlo explains that the villa belongs to Corsaro, a gangster who keeps the shark as a symbol of his power after it devoured a rival.

    When
    summer
    Where
    villa
  4. Walter begins to feed the shark

    Carlo allows Walter to visit the villa regularly in exchange for bringing food to feed the shark. Walter starts stealing money and selling possessions to fund these visits, causing concern for his mother Rita.

    When
    summer
    Where
    villa
  5. Walter and Carlo's friendship develops

    Throughout the summer, Walter and Carlo bond as friends. Carlo shares insights about the gangster's operations, and they spend time together at the villa watching the shark.

    When
    summer
    Where
    villa
  6. The plan to rob the butcher's shop

    Carlo suggests robbing a butcher's shop to get more money, but the plan goes wrong. Walter intervenes by threatening the butcher at gunpoint, then feeding carcasses to the shark to impress Carlo.

    When
    summer
    Where
    butcher's shop
  7. Walter joins Carlo's gang

    Carlo introduces Walter to his gang and, after a test dealing drugs, the gang accepts him. Walter begins participating in gang activities, further distancing himself from his mother.

    When
    summer
    Where
    gang hideout
  8. Walter runs away from home

    After his mother Rita discovers his involvement in the gang, Walter leaves home and moves to the villa, seeking freedom and a place to belong.

    When
    summer
    Where
    Walter's home
  9. The sharks begins suffering from captivity

    Walter and Carlo realize that the shark is distressed due to captivity. They dream about setting it free, but their plans are complicated by stolen money intended for the gang.

    When
    summer
    Where
    villa
  10. Gang violence and rejection

    When Walter takes the blame for stolen money, Tecno beats Carlo and kicks both boys out of the gang. Carlo leaves upset with Walter after a falling-out with Tecno.

    When
    summer
    Where
    gang hideout
  11. Corsaro's intervention

    Carlo brings the gang to the villa to confront the shark, but they begin mistreating it. Tecno attacks Walter, nearly killing him, until Corsaro arrives and intervenes, defending Walter and throwing everyone out.

    When
    summer
    Where
    villa
  12. Walter's redemption

    Corsaro praises Walter for his bravery, and Carlo, feeling remorseful, helps Walter realize they must free the shark. They work together to release the giant predator back into the sea.

    When
    summer
    Where
    villa and sea
  13. Shark is set free

    Walter and Carlo succeed in freeing the shark into the ocean, ending its captivity. This act signifies Walter's growth and his desire to do what is right.

    When
    end of summer
    Where
    sea

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:14

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

My Summer with the Shark Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of My Summer with the Shark (2023): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Walter keep returning to the villa after the shark attack?

Walter is drawn back to the villa because the near-death experience激发了他对危险的好奇心,同时他在失去父亲后感到孤独和迷茫。遇到Carlo和鲨鱼让他找到了某种刺激和陪伴,这他在家中无法获得的。

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Walter is described as wandering aimlessly along the coast, already seeking something to fill the void left by his father's death.

  • walter
  • villa
  • shark
  • curiosity
  • trauma
Q2

Why does Walter start stealing money and selling his father's belongings?

Carlo allows Walter to visit the villa only if he brings food for the shark. To maintain his access to this exciting world and his new friendship with Carlo, Walter resorts to petty theft, selling his father's possessions, and taking money from home, showing how desperate he is to belong somewhere.

Foreshadowing: Carlo introduces himself as the caretaker and sets up the condition of bringing food, establishing the transaction that drives Walter's criminal behavior.

  • walter
  • carlo
  • stealing
  • shark
  • feeding
Q3

Why does Walter threaten the butcher with a gun during the robbery?

When the butcher shop robbery goes wrong, Walter steps in to save Carlo. By threatening the butcher with a gun and securing two carcasses, Walter proves his loyalty and bravery to Carlo, impressing him enough to be accepted into the gang.

Foreshadowing: Carlo and Walter had discussed robbing the butcher's shop specifically to get money for feeding the shark, showing this moment was planned.

  • walter
  • butcher
  • robbery
  • carlo
  • gang
Q4

Why does Walter join Carlo's gang?

Walter joins the gang because he craves belonging and a sense of family after losing his father. Carlo offers him friendship and a place where he feels valued. After proving himself during the butcher shop incident, Tecno puts him to work dealing drugs, pulling him deeper into criminal life.

Foreshadowing: Walter's initial attraction to Carlo stems from his loneliness and need for connection after his father's death.

  • walter
  • carlo
  • gang
  • drugs
  • belonging
Q5

Why does Walter run away from home and move into the villa?

Walter runs away after his mother Rita discovers his involvement with the gang and disapproves of his behavior. Rather than giving up his new identity and friends, Walter chooses the gang as his family, seeing the villa as a place of freedom away from his mother's rules and grief.

Foreshadowing: Rita's disapproval of Walter's theft and strange behavior sets up the conflict that leads to his departure.

  • walter
  • rita
  • run away
  • home
  • villa
Q6

Why does Corsaro intervene and save Walter from Tecno?

Corsaro, the gangster who owns the villa, arrives unexpectedly and saves Walter because he respects bravery. When he sees Walter standing up to the gang despite being beaten, Corsaro is impressed by his courage. He knocks Tecno down, defends Walter, and orders everyone off his property.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Corsaro is described as keeping the shark as a symbol of his power and dominance, he values strength.

  • corsaro
  • tecno
  • walter
  • intervention
  • bravery
Q7

Why does Walter free the shark at the end of the movie?

After experiencing violence, betrayal, and his own moral crisis, Walter decides to free the shark as an act of redemption and growth. Seeing the shark suffer in captivity mirrors his own feeling of being trapped by grief and bad choices. With Carlo's help, he releases the predator into the sea, symbolizing his choice to break free from negativity and do what is right.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Walter and Carlo dream about freeing the shark when they realize it's suffering from captivity.

  • walter
  • shark
  • freedom
  • redemption
  • growth
Q8

Why does Corsaro keep a great white shark in his villa pool?

Corsaro keeps the shark as a symbol of his power and dominance. He boasts that the shark once devoured one of his rivals, using the creature to intimidate others and establish his criminal reputation. For Walter, the shark represents danger and excitement; for Corsaro, it's a tool of control.

Foreshadowing: When Carlo first explains the villa's owner, he mentions Corsaro uses the shark to show his power over opponents.

  • corsaro
  • shark
  • power
  • symbol
  • intimidation
Q9

Why does Walter take the blame for stealing money from Tecno?

Walter takes the blame for the stolen money to protect Carlo, demonstrating misplaced loyalty. However, this sacrifice doesn't earn him gratitude, Tecno beats Carlo anyway and expels both boys from the gang. The moment shows Walter's naive loyalty to Carlo and how the gang rewards devotion.

Foreshadowing: Walter and Carlo had stolen money together to fund their plan to free the shark, making Walter's blame logical even though he's not solely responsible.

  • walter
  • tecno
  • money
  • blame
  • loyalty
Q10

What does the shark represent in the movie?

The shark functions as a multi-layered symbol throughout the film. It represents Corsaro's power and violence, the dangerous world Walter is entering, and ultimately freedom versus captivity. By the end, freeing the shark becomes a metaphor for Walter breaking free from his grief, bad decisions, and the cycle of violence, his path to healing.

Foreshadowing: The shark's suffering in captivity mirrors Walter's own emotional confinement after losing his father.

  • shark
  • symbolism
  • freedom
  • captivity
  • healing
Q11

Why does Carlo bring the gang back to the villa to torment the shark?

Carlo brings the gang back to the villa in an attempt to regain his place in the group after being expelled. By showing them the impressive shark, he hopes to prove his value. Instead, the gang, particularly Tecno, takes out their frustration on the creature, attacking it cruelly, which leads to the violent confrontation with Walter.

Foreshadowing: After being kicked out of the gang, Carlo is desperate to restore his reputation and position.

  • carlo
  • gang
  • shark
  • villa
  • tecn0

Movie threads

More Movies Like My Summer with the Shark, by Mood & Story

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

Bittersweet Healing Journeys for the Young like in My Summer with the Shark

Young protagonists navigate grief and danger to find a fragile sense of peace. Discover movies like My Summer with the Shark, where young protagonists face grief and danger on a path to healing. If you enjoyed the blend of somber reflection and courageous acts in a coming-of-age story, this collection features similar emotionally resonant dramas with bittersweet conclusions.

  • grieving
  • contemplative
  • courageous
  • somber
  • healing
  • reckless
  • Tone: bittersweet, contemplative
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a young person, often isolated by grief, who is drawn into a dangerous or unusual situation that mirrors their internal struggle. Through a series of contemplative and reckless acts, they confront their pain, leading to a climactic moment of release or rebellion that symbolizes the beginning of their emotional healing, though not without scars.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a young person's emotional journey from loss toward a complex, hopeful-but-sad resolution. They balance a somber, contemplative mood with moments of danger, creating a specific bittersweet tone that resonates with the process of growing up under difficult circumstances.

Somber Criminal Entanglements like in My Summer with the Shark

Ordinary individuals are drawn into dangerous criminal circles, changing them forever. Find movies similar to My Summer with the Shark, where a lonely character stumbles into a criminal underworld. If you liked the tension between a contemplative mood and the threat of violence, these stories explore the dangerous friendships and moral compromises of crossing into a forbidden world.

  • dangerous
  • somber
  • tense
  • betrayal
  • forbidden
  • clandestine
  • Tone: somber, tense
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative begins with a discovery that leads an ordinary person into a secretive, criminal world. The protagonist forms a dangerous friendship or alliance, becoming increasingly complicit. The story builds steadily toward a confrontation that forces a choice, resulting in a conclusion that severs the connection but leaves the protagonist marked by the experience.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific vibe: a steady-paced, character-focused exploration of the allure and peril of crime. They combine a contemplative, often lonely mood with the tension of criminal activity, creating a unique blend of internal drama and external threat that defines the viewing experience.

If you liked this

Movies Like My Summer with the Shark

Similar movies to My Summer with the Shark: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

My Summer with the Shark (2023) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about My Summer with the Shark 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