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Promise Me This (2007) movie poster

Timeline

Promise Me This (2007) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2007 · 123 mins · Serbian
Directed by
Emir Kusturica
Starring
Miki Manojlović, Ljiljana Blagojević, Aleksandar Berček, Stribor Kusturica, Uroš Milovanović, Vladan Milojević

Zivojin, an elderly villager, urges his grandson Cane to travel to the city, sell the family cow and find a wife. In the city Cane learns his grandfather’s step‑brother is dead, but meets the step‑brother’s two good‑natured demolition‑expert grandsons. Cane bonds with them and falls for schoolgirl Jasna, planning to marry her to honor his grandfather. He rescues Jasna and her mother from a prostitution ring run by Bajo, and the group returns to the village in time for Zivojin’s double wedding, foiling the gangsters.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (12)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Promise Me This
  5. 5 Every angle

12 events in order · contains spoilers

Promise Me This Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Promise Me This (2007) 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. Grandfather’s plea and Tsane’s mission

    In a Zlatibor District village, Živojin Marković prays that his grandson Tsane will go to the city, sell the cow, and bring back a wife. He hopes the city will offer a path to a better life through marriage and fulfillment of an old man's wish. This parental wish kicks off Tsane's quest and sets the film's conflict in motion.

    When
    before Tsane leaves for Užice
    Where
    Zlatibor District village
  2. City arrival and a grim surprise

    Tsane arrives in Užice with plans to meet his grandfather's stepbrother, only to learn that the man is already dead. He then crosses paths with the two grandsons of the deceased, who are good-natured yet small-time criminals and demolition experts. The encounter immediately introduces the film's mix of warmth and danger.

    When
    upon arrival in Užice
    Where
    Užice
  3. An unlikely trio forms

    Tsane quickly clicks with the two brothers, and they form an unlikely but loyal alliance. They bring streetwise skills and a code of camaraderie to a city that is both friendly and threatening. This bond anchors Tsane in the city’s rough edges.

    When
    shortly after meeting
    Where
    Užice
  4. Love in the city

    Tsane meets Jasna, a schoolgirl, and immediately falls in love. He wants to marry her as part of his testament with Živojin, and the plan includes retrieving an icon and a keepsake, funded by selling the cow. The romance grows alongside the quest to fulfill his grandfather's conditions.

    When
    in the city
    Where
    Užice
  5. The testament’s odd terms

    Živojin’s testament binds Tsane’s marriage to Jasna with the task of bringing back an icon and a souvenir. Each item functions as a symbol of the old man’s life and the bond of family. Tsane’s mission now weaves together romance, duty, and a journey to collect what is owed.

    When
    before return to village
    Where
    Užice
  6. Rescue before ruin

    Tsane and the two brothers become involved in Jasna's family troubles, rescuing Jasna and her mother from prostitution and gangsters led by Bajo. The risk is real and the stakes are personal, forcing the group to confront violence head-on. This rescue shifts the story from romance to danger and action.

    When
    during their stay in the city
    Where
    city
  7. Showdown with the gang

    Bajo’s gang fights back to derail the budding future for Tsane and Jasna. Tense confrontations erupt as the criminals try to reclaim control over the situation. The group braces for a violent clash that could ruin the entire plan.

    When
    after the rescue
    Where
    city/outskirts
  8. Returning home with a resolve

    With Jasna and her mother safe, the group heads back to the village, carrying new gravity and purpose. The journey home marks a shift from city danger to rural reunion. The old man’s wedding plans begin to crystallize again in the familiar surroundings.

    When
    after leaving the city
    Where
    village
  9. Village wedding preparations

    Back in the village, preparations begin for Živojin’s wedding to his neighbor, and the whole community rallies around the anticipated celebration. The mood mixes relief with festivity as old ties are rehearsed and new ones formed. The stage is set for a double ceremony that tightens the clan's bonds.

    When
    before the wedding
    Where
    village
  10. A double wedding defies the odds

    Despite the gangsters’ attempts to derail the celebration, the wedding goes forward as a double ceremony. Tsane and Jasna are set to marry just as Živojin becomes a husband to his neighbor. The rural town rallies behind the couples, confirming their resilience.

    When
    on the wedding day
    Where
    village
  11. The testament fulfilled

    Tsane returns with Jasna and completes the testament by bringing back the icon and the souvenir, fulfilling his grandfather’s last wishes. The old man’s dream sees its culmination as the family bonds are sealed. The rite of passage becomes a symbol of renewal for both generations.

    When
    after the wedding
    Where
    village
  12. New beginnings and lasting ties

    With the city dangers behind them, the two grandsons’ alliance remains strong and Tsane begins his married life with Jasna. The village celebrates a future built on loyalty, love, and shared history. The story closes on a note of community restored and life moving forward.

    When
    epilogue
    Where
    village

Last updated: February 20, 2026 at 12:14

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Timeline questions answered

Promise Me This Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Promise Me This (2007): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Živojin send Tsane to sell the cow and find a wife?

Živojin, an elderly man living in a remote Zlatibor village, wanted his grandson to find a path to a better life. The old man prayed for Tsane to go to the city, sell the family cow, and bring back a wife. This was driven by Živojin's hope that marriage would bring fulfillment to both his grandson and himself, while also providing Tsane with a brighter future beyond the village.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening prayer establishes the central quest that drives the entire narrative.

  • živojin
  • tsane
  • city
  • marriage
  • grandfather
  • village
Q2

What were the conditions of Živojin's testament that Tsane had to fulfill?

Živojin's testament required Tsane to complete three tasks: bring back a wife, an icon, and a souvenir. The money from selling the cow was meant to fund the purchase of the icon and keepsake. Each item symbolized the old man's life and family bonds. Only by fulfilling all three conditions could Tsane earn the right to marry and complete his grandfather's final wishes.

Foreshadowing: The testament's three conditions are introduced early, creating anticipation for how each will be resolved.

  • testament
  • icon
  • souvenir
  • cow
  • money
  • marriage conditions
Q3

Who were the two brothers Tsane met in the city?

Tsane met the grandsons of his grandfather's deceased stepbrother. These two brothers were small-time criminals and experts in demolition, but they were also good-natured. Despite their criminal background, they quickly formed a loyal alliance with Tsane, bringing streetwise skills and camaraderie to help him navigate the city's dangers.

Foreshadowing: The introduction of these brothers early in the city sets up their crucial role in the rescue mission.

  • demolition experts
  • brothers
  • stepbrother
  • city
  • alliance
Q4

How did Tsane meet Jasna in the city?

While in Užice, Tsane met Jasna, a schoolgirl, and immediately fell in love with her. He wanted to marry her as part of fulfilling his grandfather's testament. Their romance developed alongside Tsane's quest to complete his mission, and he became determined to make her his wife and bring her back to the village.

Foreshadowing: The love story begins as a subplot but becomes central to the narrative's resolution.

  • jasna
  • tsane
  • love
  • schoolgirl
  • marriage
  • užice
Q5

Why did Tsane need to rescue Jasna and her mother?

Jasna and her mother were being forced into prostitution by a criminal gang led by a man named Bajo. Tsane and his new demolition-expert friends became involved in Jasna's family affairs and rescued both her and her mother from this dangerous situation. The rescue was personal and risky, shifting the story from romance to action.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes hint at Jasna's precarious situation before the full danger is revealed.

  • jasna
  • prostitution
  • bajo
  • rescue
  • gangsters
  • danger
Q6

Who was Bajo and what was his role in the story?

Bajo was the leader of the criminal gang that ran the prostitution ring in the city. He was a dangerous gangster who controlled Jasna and her mother against their will. After Tsane rescued the women, Bajo's gang fought back to derail their plans, leading to tense confrontations and a violent clash that threatened to ruin everything.

Foreshadowing: Bajo is introduced as the primary antagonist whose gang will attempt to stop the wedding.

  • bajo
  • gangster
  • prostitution ring
  • leader
  • villain
Q7

What happened when Bajo's gang tried to stop the wedding?

Despite the gangsters' best efforts to derail the celebration, the wedding went forward successfully. The village community rallied behind the couples, and the wedding proceeded as a double ceremony, Tsane and Jasna married while Živojin married his neighbor. The group defeated the gangsters' attempt to disrupt the celebration.

Foreshadowing: The tension builds as the group travels back to the village with the gangsters potentially pursuing them.

  • wedding
  • double wedding
  • bajo
  • gangsters
  • village
  • celebration
Q8

Why was there a double wedding at the end of the movie?

The double wedding occurred because both Tsane and Živojin were marrying at the same time. Tsane married Jasna after fulfilling the testament by bringing her back as his wife, while Živojin married his neighbor. The simultaneous celebration symbolized the renewal of family bonds across generations and marked the story's hopeful conclusion.

Foreshadowing: The earlier village wedding preparations set the stage for this dual celebration.

  • double wedding
  • tsane
  • jasna
  • živojin
  • village
  • marriage
Q9

How did Tsane fulfill his grandfather's final wish?

Tsane fulfilled his grandfather's wish by completing all three conditions of the testament: he brought back a wife (Jasna), an icon, and a souvenir purchased with the money from selling the cow. With the city dangers behind them and the gangsters defeated, Tsane returned to the village to complete the marriage and seal the family bonds his grandfather had hoped for.

Foreshadowing: The testament's fulfillment is the narrative goal established at the film's beginning.

  • testament fulfillment
  • icon
  • souvenir
  • marriage
  • grandfather
  • family bonds

Movie threads

More Movies Like Promise Me This, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about rural innocents in the city like Promise Me This

Charming tales of rural innocents finding their way in a complex urban world. If you enjoyed the clash of rural innocence and urban life in Promise Me This, this thread features other movies where good-hearted characters from small towns venture into the big city, facing challenges while staying true to themselves.

  • fish out of water
  • rustic
  • whimsical
  • hopeful
  • quirky
  • uprising
  • Tone: hopeful, whimsical
  • Pacing: steady, journey-focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow a clear 'fish out of water' arc. A protagonist leaves a sheltered, often idyllic rural setting and enters a complex, sometimes corrupt urban environment. The central conflict arises from this culture clash, testing the hero's values but ultimately affirming them through a successful resolution.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific mood: a whimsical, hopeful tone born from the protagonist's pure perspective. The pacing is steady, focused on the character's journey of discovery. The emotional weight is typically medium, blending lighthearted humor with a genuine sense of peril that is ultimately overcome.

Found family rescue movies similar to Promise Me This

Unlikely groups bonding together to save the day with heart and humor. Fans of the bonding and rescue mission in Promise Me This will enjoy these other films featuring quirky characters who form a found family to save someone in need, combining lighthearted comedy with a heartfelt sense of purpose.

  • found family
  • uplifting
  • lighthearted
  • rescue mission
  • quirky
  • bonding
  • Tone: hopeful, uplifting
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist encountering a group of unique individuals who become their unexpected allies. Driven by a shared goal—often rescuing someone from a threatening situation—this new 'family' uses their collective, often unconventional skills to succeed, culminating in a joyous, communal celebration of their victory and newfound bond.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their uplifting, lighthearted mood and central theme of community triumphing over adversity. They balance medium emotional weight with a steady, character-driven pace and a strong sense of hope, making the rescue mission feel both exciting and heartwarming.

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Movies Like Promise Me This

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

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Every angle

Promise Me This (2007) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Promise Me This 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.

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