Palm Trees in the Snow (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

In 1968, as Equatorial Guinea moved toward independence and Spanish colonists began fleeing, Kilian faced a brutal ritual in the forest where laborers forced him to dig his own grave. Simón convinced the workers to spare Kilian only if he left Bioko and took Bisila with him after her mourning period ended. However, when they attempted to escape, the situation turned chaotic - Julia and Manuel escaped by ship, but Bisila and others faced a crowd that came under fire from guards, resulting in Nelson's death. Kilian and Bisila managed to marry in a vigil by the Keeper of the Isle, but ultimately Kilian was forced to leave Bioko alone while Bisila remained behind.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Kilian had intervened when Mosi attacked Jacobo, saving his cousin's life - a conflict that contributed to the growing tensions on the estate.

• kilian
• bioko
• independence
• escape
• 1968

After Kilian dies in Spain, Bisila learns of his death and walks into the sea at the shore of Bioko, letting the tides carry away her memory. This act represents her final goodbye to both Kilian and the painful memories of their love that spanned decades but was never allowed to be fully realized together.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, the ocean and tides serve as recurring symbols of separation and memory, connecting the characters across distance.

• bisila
• death
• ocean
• ending
• memory

Bisila was assaulted by a car full of inebriated men, which included Jacobo (Clarence's father), Dick, and Pao. Simón found her, tended to her injuries, and begged her to keep the incident secret. When Kilian learned of the attack, he confronted Jacobo and revealed that Dick and Pao had been killed, warning that Mosi (who had been seeking revenge) might strike again.

Foreshadowing: Jacobo's earlier behavior was exposed at Julia's dinner party where he flirtated with other women, and Julia rebuked him, noting they were not a couple.

• bisila
• assault
• jacobo
• estate

Laha is Kilian's son. When Bisila arrives with Iniko and Laha in 1968 to escape the chaos, she reveals that Kilian is Laha's father. This is why Kilian promises to wait for Bisila after her year of mourning - he knows they have a child together.

Foreshadowing: Kilian and Bisila's relationship had been growing secretly since 1957, with their bond becoming a source of trouble as Jacobo and others became wary of the affair.

• laha
• kilian
• father
• son
• bisila

After Anton (Kilian and Jacobo's father) died, Jacobo fled into the forest in grief. Kilian, overwhelmed by the family tragedy and the emotional turmoil on the estate, left Bioko and returned to Pasolobino in Spain for three years. He returned in 1957 to reconnect with the local communities and continue his life on the island.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Kilian returning to Bioko in 1954 after being away, establishing the pattern of departures and returns that defines his character.

• kilian
• spain
• return
• antón death

When Clarence attends her father Jacobo's funeral, she discovers a half-torn picture and a torn note mentioning money sent to an unidentified woman. The half-torn picture matches the one Kilian left Bisila as a memento when he departed in 1968. The note relates to the money Jacobo had been sending, likely connected to his relationship with Bisila after the assault.

Foreshadowing: Kilian had left Bisila a half-torn picture and his hat as mementos when he departed, which Clarence later returns to the aging Kilian.

• picture
• note
• money
• clarence
• jacobo

In 1968, as the colonial order collapsed and Spanish colonists fled, the estate overseers (including the abusive Gregorio) vanished. The laborers on the plantation turned against Kilian and subjected him to a brutal ritual in the forest, forcing him to dig his own grave. This was likely a response to the tensions that had built over years of colonial exploitation and the recent chaos of independence, with Kilian being seen as part of the old regime despite his relationships with the local community.

Foreshadowing: Kilian had faced intimidation from Gregorio early on, and his growing relationships with the local Bubi people and bisila created tensions with other colonists.

• ritual
• forest
• laborers
• independence
• grave

After Kilian confronted Jacobo about the assault and revealed the deaths of Dick and Pao (warning of Mosi's revenge), Kilian sent Jacobo back to Spain. Jacobo had already caused problems on the estate with his behavior and pursuit of Julia, and the assault incident made his position untenable. He returned to Spain where he eventually married and had a daughter, Clarence, but remained estranged from his family.

Foreshadowing: Jacobo had previously fled into the forest after Anton's death, showing his tendency to run from problems.

• jacobo
• spain
• assault
• exile

After attending her estranged father Jacobo's funeral in Pasolobino, Clarence discovered a journal, a half-torn picture, and a torn note about money sent to a woman. She asked family friend Julia about the note, then traveled to Bioko (Equatorial Guinea) to uncover more about her father's life. There she found Simón, Kilian's former houseboy, who helped her piece together the story of her uncle Kilian and the woman named Bisila.

Foreshadowing: Clarence's cousin Daniela had mentioned the possibility of selling the family land, prompting discussions about the family history.

• clarence
• investigation
• bioko
• family story

Julia was an old family friend who had known the family since the 1950s when she hosted dinner parties on Bioko. She had a complicated history with Jacobo (who made advances toward her) and had been close to Kilian. After her husband Manuel died, Julia wanted to help Clarence understand her family's past, directing her to Simón who could provide the connection to Kilian and Bisila.

Foreshadowing: Julia had scolded Jacobo at her dinner party for his flirtations, showing her moral character and involvement in the family's life.

• julia
• clarence
• help
• family friend

Simón was Kilian's houseboy and friend throughout his time on Bioko. He found Bisila after her assault and tended to her injuries. During the 1968 chaos, Simón convinced the laborers to spare Kilian if he left Bioko with Bisila, showing his loyalty to both. He helped facilitate the escape attempt, though ultimately Kilian was forced to leave alone. Simón appears to have survived the independence turmoil.

Foreshadowing: Simón had been a loyal presence throughout Kilian's years on the island, often serving as a bridge between the Spanish colonists and local community.

• simón
• bioko
• loyalty
• escape

After Kilian was forced to leave Bioko alone in 1968, he and Bisila were separated by the political upheaval of Equatorial Guinea's independence. Kilian returned to Spain, where he eventually died. Despite their marriage in 1968, circumstances prevented them from ever reuniting - Bisila remained on Bioko with their son Laha, and Kilian could never return. Their tragic separation became a central tragedy of the film.

Foreshadowing: Bisila had asked Kilian to wait for her after her year of mourning, and they had planned to leave together, but the chaos of independence prevented this.

• kilian
• bisila
• separation
• reunion
• tragedy