Our Kind of Traitor (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Dima chose Perry and Gail because he had observed them during his vacation in Morocco and recognized them as a trustworthy British couple. Dima, having an exceptional eidetic memory, needed someone who could safely deliver the evidence to MI6 without raising suspicion. He specifically selected them because they were ordinary tourists with no obvious connections to intelligence services, making them ideal messengers to slip the information past the Russian mafia's surveillance.

Foreshadowing: Dima's careful observation of the couple during their tennis games and social interactions hinted at his deliberate selection process.

• dima
• perry
• gail
• usb drive
• trust
• mi6
• morocco

Hector believed that Longrigg was responsible for tipping off the police about his son's drug activities, which led to his son's arrest. This personal betrayal made Hector emotionally compromised when investigating Longrigg's corruption, causing his superior Billy to hesitate authorizing the investigation. Hector's desire to bring down Longrigg was fueled by revenge rather than pure professional duty.

Foreshadowing: Early in the investigation, Hector's intense personal interest in Longrigg's activities signaled his emotional involvement.

• hector
• aubrey longrigg
• vendetta
• mi6
• corruption

Aubrey Longrigg, the corrupt politician on Dima's list, used his influence to sway the Home Office into denying Dima's family asylum. As the newly appointed Minister for Trade and Industry, Longrigg had enough political power to block the family's safe passage to London, directly threatening Dima's leverage in the negotiations.

Foreshadowing: The revelation that Longrigg received a £20 million payout, significantly more than other oligarchs, highlighted his deep involvement and motivation to protect himself.

• dima family
• asylum denial
• home office
• aubrey longrigg
• political corruption

The helicopter was deliberately destroyed, likely by the Prince's forces, to prevent Dima from reaching London and testifying against the Russian mafia's operation. The explosion killed Dima and one of Hector's agents while they were in flight over the Alps, ensuring Dima's damaging knowledge about the bank accounts and corrupt politicians would never be revealed in court.

Foreshadowing: The mounting pressure from the Prince's organization to eliminate Dima before he could testify foreshadowed the fatal attack.

• helicopter explosion
• dima death
• alps
• assassination
• prince

Dima asked Perry to stay behind because he knew the extraction was extremely dangerous and likely a trap. Having survived multiple assassination attempts, Dima understood the Prince's reach. He likely wanted to protect Perry from the obvious danger ahead while also ensuring that if the mission failed, someone trustworthy would remain to help his family and continue the fight against the corrupt system.

Foreshadowing: Dima's growing caution throughout the film, especially after the attack in the Alps, reflected his awareness of the escalating danger.

• dima
• perry
• helicopter
• sacrifice
• final scene

The blue-eyed assassin was sent by the Prince, the leader of the Russian mafia, to eliminate anyone who threatened to expose the money laundering operation. He was responsible for the initial brutal murder of the oligarch who resisted the Prince's scheme, and later pursued Dima and his family throughout Europe to ensure the evidence never reached authorities.

Foreshadowing: The cold, methodical nature of the assassinations established early in the film set the tone for the Prince's ruthless operations.

• blue-eyed assassin
• prince
• russian mafia
• oligarch murder

Hidden inside the pistol's chamber was a list containing the names and account numbers of the corrupt British politicians and businessmen who had been money laundering through the Prince's bank. Dima had memorized this information due to his eidetic memory and encoded it as a failsafe, giving Perry the evidence needed to expose the corruption even after Dima's death.

Foreshadowing: Dima's exceptional memory was established early, making this hidden cache a logical narrative payoff.

• pistol
• hidden message
• dima
• evidence
• corrupt politicians
• account numbers

Perry's intervention to save a woman from Niki's attack demonstrated his courage and moral character, rekindling Gail's respect and love for him. The life-threatening circumstances forced them to rely on each other, repairing the bond that had been strained by Perry's previous infidelity. Working together to help Dima's family gave them a shared purpose that strengthened their marriage.

Foreshadowing: Early tension between Perry and Gail was evident, setting up their reconciliation through his heroic action.

• perry
• gail
• relationship
• infidelity
• reconciliation
• niki

Despite Dima's evidence and Hector's efforts, the Prince's bank launched successfully in London because the corruption ran too deep. Longrigg became the Minister for Trade and Industry, effectively protecting the operation. The system was too entrenched to collapse quickly, leaving the Prince's money laundering scheme intact even as some details became public.

Foreshadowing: The film established early on how deeply connected the Russian mafia was to British political and financial institutions.

• prince bank
• money laundering
• london
• corruption
• longrigg

Despite being exposed as a corrupt politician receiving a £20 million payout from the Prince's bank, Aubrey Longrigg suffered no consequences. He was appointed Minister for Trade and Industry in London, effectively being rewarded for his involvement in the money laundering scheme. The corrupt system remained intact, and Longrigg escaped accountability.

Foreshadowing: Longrigg's ability to manipulate the Home Office to deny Dima's family asylum demonstrated his continued political power.

• aubrey longrigg
• minister
• corruption
• political career
• consequences

Hector withdrew after learning that Longrigg had successfully influenced the Home Office to deny Dima's family asylum. With his superior Billy pulling support and the political deck stacked against them, Hector felt the operation was compromised. However, he later worked behind the scenes to ensure Dima's family received asylum as restitution for Dima's death.

Foreshadowing: Billy's earlier hesitation to authorize the investigation foreshadowed the institutional obstacles they would face.

• hector
• withdrawal
• mission
• billy
• mi6
• longrigg

Dima's exceptional eidetic memory was crucial because it allowed him to memorize all the account numbers and client names involved in the Prince's money laundering scheme. Rather than carrying physical evidence that could be intercepted, he became the living database. This knowledge made him invaluable to both MI6 and the Prince, ultimately driving the assassins to pursue him relentlessly.

Foreshadowing: Dima's memory was mentioned early when introducing his character, establishing its narrative importance.

• dima
• eidetic memory
• account numbers
• evidence
• memorization