Resurrection

Resurrection

Year: 1980

Runtime: 103 mins

Language: English

Director: Daniel Petrie

DramaFantasyFaith and religionEmotional and touching family dramasReligious faith sin and forgiveness

After surviving a car crash that kills her husband, a woman discovers she can mysteriously heal others. Her newfound ability turns her into an unexpected public figure, offering hope to the desperate while provoking intense debate between believers and skeptics.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Resurrection (1980)

Trace every key event in Resurrection (1980) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Car accident and out-of-body awakening

Edna survives a devastating car crash that kills her husband and nearly costs her life. In a brief out-of-body experience, she glimpses a power she does not yet understand: the ability to heal others. She returns to the world paralyzed from the waist down and must begin a long, painful recovery with her family.

immediately after the crash on the road
2

Return to Kansas and first stop at Last Chance Gas

Edna and her father head back to their small Kansas town to recuperate. On the way, they stop at Last Chance Gas, run by the friendly Esco Brown, who welcomes them with warmth. The stop introduces the supportive community that will surround Edna during her recovery.

during the return trip Last Chance Gas
3

Homecoming and quiet recuperation

Back in Kansas, Edna is cared for by her family as she slowly heals from her injuries. She confronts physical limitations while a sense of hopeful possibility begins to replace despair. The town begins to see her in a new, almost legendary light.

shortly after returning home Kansas hometown
4

Healing a child at a party

At a local party, Edna unknowingly heals a little girl who suffers from chronic nosebleeds. The miraculous moment astonishes onlookers and fuels rumors about her gift. Edna remains unsure about what she can truly do and how to interpret it.

early after returning home Hometown party
5

Grandmother's tale of a near-death healer

Edna's grandmother shares a story of a woman who briefly died and came back with a similar healing gift. The tale gives context for Edna's visions and foreshadows the personal and communal shifts to come. The family begins to connect Edna's experiences to a lineage of healers.

soon after the party Grandmother's home
6

Healing herself and regaining mobility

Edna gradually heals herself, discovering that her gift strengthens as she accepts it. She slowly begins to walk again, a turning point that redefines her sense of purpose. The community watches with a mix of hope and awe as she regains mobility.

Home
7

Becoming a local celebrity and symbol of hope

Word of Edna’s healing abilities spreads, and she becomes a beacon for those in desperate need and a target for skeptics alike. The town debates faith, science, and the rules of power around her gift. Edna remains humble, unsettled by the attention yet drawn to helping others.

Kansas hometown
8

Cal Carpenter's injury and romance begins

Edna heals Cal Carpenter from a stab wound suffered in a fight, and the two begin a romantic relationship. Cal treats her as a sign of divine will, expecting miracles as proof of God’s plan. Edna’s perspective centers on love and understanding rather than a grand destiny.

Local farm or town
9

Professional interest and testing of Edna's powers

Two psychologists witness one of Edna’s healings and propose formal tests of her abilities. Edna and Cal travel with them to California to explore the phenomenon in a clinical setting. The move signals a shift from intimate town legends to professional scrutiny.

From Kansas to California
10

Healing a woman with dystonia in California

In California, Edna heals a woman suffering from dystonia during the testing phase. The success intensifies the public debate about her powers and deepens Cal’s discomfort with the mystery surrounding her gift. He confronts Edna about the limits of her truth.

California
11

Cal's demand and Edna's refusal

Cal confronts Edna and demands she proclaim herself as Christ resurrected. She refuses, choosing a personal, non-dogmatic understanding of her gift. The tense moment strains their relationship and foreshadows the further consequences of her powers.

Healing gathering in California
12

Assassination attempt and fallout

During a healing gathering, Cal shoots at Edna, grazing her shoulder but missing the fatal blow. The incident leads to Cal's incarceration and a town-wide reckoning with danger and power. Edna's safety is shaken, and she resolves to leave her hometown.

Healing gathering
13

Edna leaves Kansas

With Cal imprisoned, Edna decides to depart from her hometown and seek a new path elsewhere. She refuses to let fame or fear define her future, choosing distance and self-discovery. The town reflects on her departure as a turning point in the story.

Kansas
14

Years later: Edna runs Esco's Last Chance Gas

Years pass and an older Edna runs Esco’s Last Chance Gas, the very place that welcomed her recovery. She remains a quiet source of inspiration for travelers and townsfolk who still recall her story. The station becomes a symbol of perseverance in the community.

Several years later Last Chance Gas
15

Healing the dying son at the gas station

A young couple with an adolescent son who is dying of cancer stops for fuel. Edna speaks softly with the boy, and he is healed before they continue on their way. She invites them to look at her desert flower collection while they talk, and the moment reinforces the enduring belief in her gift and the family's faith in her compassion.

Several years later Last Chance Gas

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:59

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Resurrection Summary

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Resurrection Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Resurrection

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