Our Brand Is Crisis (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Jane agrees to take the campaign primarily to defeat her long-time rival Pat Candy, who is working for rival candidate Rivera. After years in self-imposed exile due to a scandal, Jane sees this as an opportunity to rebuild her career and prove she still has what it takes to win.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Nell mentions that Rivera has enlisted Jane's former adversary Pat Candy, triggering Jane's competitive instincts.

• jane bodine
• pat candy
• rivera
• castillo campaign
• political strategist

The strategy involves embracing crisis and negativity as a campaign tool. Rather than running a traditionally positive campaign, Jane implements aggressive tactics including controversial attack ads against Rivera. The approach is to create chaos, generate media attention, and ultimately shift voter perception through bold, sometimes ruthless messaging.

Foreshadowing: Jane is introduced as 'Calamity Jane,' known for taking on any campaign regardless of moral considerations, setting up her willingness to use hardball tactics.

• crisis strategy
• attack ads
• negative campaigning
• media frenzy

Jane struggles significantly with La Paz's high altitude, which exacerbates her existing health issues. This causes her to miss initial meetings with the campaign team and limits her participation in early commercials and focus groups. Her reduced presence creates tension with the team who expects her full engagement.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that Jane is 'unwell' before she even arrives in Bolivia.

• jane health
• altitude sickness
• la paz
• bolivia campaign

Castillo starts at 8% in the polls because he is relatively unknown compared to Rivera, who already has strong name recognition and a 36% lead. The campaign is considered a long shot, and many view it as unwinnable, which is why top political consultants like Jane are hesitant to take it on.

Foreshadowing: Ben and Nell's mission to persuade Jane emphasizes the dire political stakes and urgency of the situation.

• polls
• 8 percent
• castillo behind
• rivera lead
• underdog campaign

During a public campaign event, someone smashes eggs at Castillo, creating a chaotic and memorable moment. This unexpected incident exemplifies Jane's unconventional approach to campaigning, which embraces controversy and authenticity over polished, traditional political theater.

Foreshadowing: Jane's insistence on authentic representation rather than manufactured photo opportunities sets up these unpredictable campaign moments.

• egg incident
• public event
• chaos
• castillo campaign

Jane pushes Castillo to embrace his true self rather than conforming to typical political expectations. She challenges the team's focus on appearances and advises him to be genuine with voters. This strategy generates media attention and helps differentiate Castillo from his polished rival Rivera, ultimately contributing to his unexpected rise in the polls.

Foreshadowing: Jane's early advice to 'be authentic' foreshadows the campaign's distinctive approach and the contrast with Rivera's conventional messaging.

• authenticity
• genuine
• castillo character
• voter connection
• honesty

Jane launches negative ads against Rivera because Castillo is far behind in the polls and cannot win with traditional positive campaigning. The aggressive attack ads are designed to undermine Rivera's credibility, create doubt among his supporters, and generate media coverage that puts Castillo's name in the conversation. This high-risk strategy becomes a key turning point in the race.

Foreshadowing: Jane's history as 'Calamity Jane' and her willingness to do 'whatever it takes' establishes her comfort with negative campaigning.

• negative ads
• rivera attack
• attack ads
• political tactics
• smear campaign

Eddie is a young campaign worker who develops a friendship with Jane throughout the election. Their relationship reveals Jane's personal side and her growing connection to the campaign beyond just professional strategy. Through Eddie, Jane confronts her fears about both personal and political futures as the election intensifies.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes Jane's 'burgeoning friendship with a young campaign worker, Eddie' as the stakes rise.

• eddie
• young campaign worker
• friendship
• jane relationship

Castillo wins a narrow victory through a combination of factors: Jane's aggressive negative campaigning against Rivera, the media attention generated by their unconventional strategy, Castillo's authentic message resonating with voters, and high voter turnout. The record voter participation montage suggests the campaign successfully mobilized people who typically don't vote, tipping the election in Castillo's favor.

Foreshadowing: The shift in campaign dynamics and series of revelations leading up to election day build toward this unexpected outcome.

• castillo victory
• election win
• narrow victory
• voter turnout
• record turnout

Jane chooses to step away from political campaigning after Castillo's victory because she has realized the personal toll of her ruthless tactics. The ending is bittersweet: while Castillo wins professionally, Jane recognizes the compromises and harsh realities of political life. The presence of protests in Bolivia highlights that victory doesn't equal satisfaction, and her choice to pursue a new path represents her rejection of the political chaos she helped create.

Foreshadowing: Jane's reflection on the personal toll throughout the film and her desire for a new path foreshadow her decision to leave.

• jane leaves
• ending
• bittersweet
• protests
• castillo win
• new path
• pursue pottery

The protests appearing after Castillo's victory represent the unresolved tensions and dissatisfaction in Bolivian politics. Even though Castillo won, the protests suggest his election doesn't satisfy all citizens and that political challenges continue. This element gives the film its bittersweet tone, showing that winning an election doesn't necessarily solve underlying societal issues.

Foreshadowing: The 'changing tides in Bolivia' mentioned throughout foreshadows ongoing political instability.

• protests
• bolivia
• political unrest
• ending
• tides change