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Revanche (2009) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2009 · 121 min · German
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Directed by
Götz Spielmann

A former convict seeking a fresh start becomes entangled with a Ukrainian prostitute in Vienna, leading to a desperate and dangerous escape. Their lives intersect with a rural police officer and his wife, setting in motion a tense thriller that explores themes of vengeance, redemption, and the complexities of human nature. The film delves into the darker aspects of existence as the characters navigate a web of violence and unexpected beauty.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Revanche
  6. 6 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Revanche Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Revanche (2009) 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. Alex, ex-convict in Vienna, starts with Tamara

    Alex, an ex-convict living in Vienna, works as muscle at a local brothel. He begins a relationship with Tamara, a Ukrainian prostitute who works there. They hatch a plan to rob a nearby bank and disappear together to start a new life.

    Where
    Vienna, Austria
  2. Plotting a bank heist and an escape to Hausner's farm

    Alex and Tamara lay out a plan to rob a bank in a small village near Hausner's farm. He invites Tamara to join him, despite her anxiety, to share the risk. The plan is to flee to Hausner's farm after the heist and then leave for a new life.

    Where
    Small village near Hausner's farm
  3. Bank robbery and Tamara's death outside the bank

    They approach the bank and encounter a local policeman named Robert outside. During the escape, Tamara is shot and killed when Robert fires at their fleeing car. An anguished Alex escapes and retreats to Hausner's farmland as planned.

    Where
    Outside the village bank
  4. Alex hides at Hausner's farm as Tamara dies

    With Tamara dead, Alex goes into hiding at Hausner's farm as his plan dictates. Hausner's health begins to fail during this time, adding tension. Alex contemplates staying to look after the property and the old man.

    Where
    Hausner's farm
  5. Robert and Susanne's troubled marriage

    Robert's marriage to Susanne is strained by infertility and unresolved guilt over the shooting. Susanne remains close to Hausner's family as a neighbor and friend, and the pressure worsens their relationship. The emotional tension creeps through their circle.

    Where
    Hausner's neighborhood and nearby home
  6. Susanne visits the farm; Alex learns the shooter, begins stalking

    Susanne visits the farm, forming a fragile friendship with Hausner's household. Through conversations, Alex realizes Susanne's husband was the bank shooter, Robert. This realization drives Alex to begin stalking Robert with a loaded gun.

    Where
    Hausner's farm
  7. Susanne propositions; affair begins

    During a visit to the farm, Susanne propositions Alex and they begin an affair. The secret relationship flourishes amid guilt and fear. Robert remains unaware at first, heightening the tension in their lives.

    Where
    Hausner's farm
  8. Robert's panic attack and suspension

    Robert suffers a panic attack at work and is put on suspension. He opens up to Susanne about his guilt and self-loathing over the shooting. The affair between Alex and Susanne further complicates the situation.

    Where
    Robert's police work
  9. Confrontation in the woods; veiled questions

    Alex confronts Robert in the woods, asking about the shooting in veiled terms. Robert admits his regret but also chastises the robber for bringing Tamara along. After the exchange, Alex leaves, and the tension between them lingers.

    Where
    Woods near Hausner's farm
  10. Alex discards his gun in the pond

    After the confrontation, Alex quietly throws his gun into the pond, signaling a withdrawal from violence. He returns to life on the farm, reassessing his plans for the future. The disposal marks a turning point in their feud.

    Where
    Pond by the farm
  11. Hausner's health deteriorates; Alex stays to care for the farm

    Hausner's health deteriorates, and Alex resolves to stay at the farm and look after it in his stead. He shifts from a temporary helper to a caretaker of the property and the old man. The decision locks him into life on the countryside despite their past turmoil.

    Where
    Hausner's farm
  12. Susanne becomes pregnant by Alex

    Susanne becomes pregnant, claiming the child is Robert's. In truth the baby is fathered by Alex, even as the story implies Robert's paternity. The revelation underscores the tangled web of love, guilt, and deception around the farm.

    Where
    Hausner's farm
  13. Susanne discovers Tamara's photo; realizes Alex was robber

    Susanne visits Alex to end their affair and recognizes a photo of Tamara, realizing Alex was the bank robber. The realization reshapes her understanding of the past and her relationship with both men. The truth sets the stage for continued secrecy and quiet consequences.

    Where
    Hausner's farm
  14. Alex keeps secret and returns to farm life

    Alex agrees to keep their tryst a secret and vows not to harm Robert further. He returns to his work on the farm and stays, at least for now, in Hausner's care. The chapter closes with an uneasy, unresolved future.

    Where
    Hausner's farm

Last updated: October 10, 2025 at 16:05

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Timeline questions answered

Revanche Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Revanche (2009): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Alex involve Tamara in the bank robbery despite her anxiety?

Alex wanted Tamara to share in their new life together and believed the risk was worth the reward. He thought having her as a partner in the crime would create mutual involvement and commitment, making it harder for her to leave him once they had the money. However, this decision proved tragic when Tamara was killed during the escape.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the brothel, Tamara is described as anxious and clingy, which foreshadows her unsuitability for a dangerous heist.

  • tamara
  • alex
  • bank robbery
  • escape
  • vienna
  • ukrainian prostitute
Q2

Why did Robert shoot at the escaping car, resulting in Tamara's death?

Robert, a local policeman, fired at the fleeing vehicle as part of his duty to stop the bank robbers. While his intent was to halt the criminals, the shot accidentally struck Tamara in the chaos of the escape. This tragic outcome haunted Robert throughout the film, creating overwhelming guilt.

Foreshadowing: The brief confrontation at the bank sets the violent tone that will define Robert's guilt throughout the story.

  • robert
  • tamara
  • shooting
  • bank robbery
  • village policeman
  • death
Q3

Why did Alex choose not to kill Robert after learning he was the shooter?

After confronting Robert in the woods and hearing his genuine remorse, Alex realized that killing Robert would not bring Tamara back and would only perpetuate violence. He discarded his gun in the pond, symbolizing his choice to abandon revenge and pursue a different path. This decision represents his redemption arc.

Foreshadowing: Alex's initial stalking of Robert with a loaded gun shows his desire for vengeance, making his later choice to abandon violence more meaningful.

  • alex
  • robert
  • revenge
  • confrontation
  • woods
  • gun
  • redemption
Q4

Why did Susanne begin an affair with Alex at the farm?

Susanne's marriage to Robert was already strained by their infertility struggles and his emotional distance following the shooting. At the farm, she found emotional connection with Alex, who was also grieving and conflicted. Their affair represented a moment of mutual vulnerability and escape from their respective troubles.

Foreshadowing: Susanne's visits to Hausner's farm as a friendly neighbor establish her presence before the affair begins.

  • susanne
  • alex
  • affair
  • robert
  • marriage
  • infertility
  • guilt
Q5

Why did Susanne claim the baby was Robert's when it was actually Alex's?

Susanne needed to maintain her social standing and marriage by presenting the pregnancy as Robert's child. By claiming the baby belonged to Robert, she avoided scandal and preserved her relationship with her husband. This deception further complicates the web of secrets among the four characters.

Foreshadowing: The tension in Robert and Susanne's marriage over infertility sets up the irony of her seeking pregnancy elsewhere.

  • susanne
  • pregnancy
  • affair
  • deception
  • robert
  • alex
  • baby
Q6

Why did Alex remain at Hausner's farm instead of leaving Vienna?

After Tamara's death and his failed robbery, Alex retreated to the farm as originally planned. With Hausner's health declining, Alex found purpose in caring for the elderly man and the land. The farm became his place of redemption and a new identity, replacing his original plan to escape.

Foreshadowing: Alex's original plan involved using Hausner's farm as a hiding spot before leaving for a new life, but circumstances changed his trajectory.

  • alex
  • hausner
  • farm
  • caretaker
  • vienna
  • redemption
  • new life
Q7

How did Susanne discover Alex was the bank robber?

During a visit to end their affair, Susanne saw a photo of Tamara in Alex's room. Recognizing Tamara from the news about the bank robbery, she realized Alex was one of the robbers. This revelation changed her perception of him entirely.

Foreshadowing: Susanne's earlier curiosity about Alex's background sets up her discovery of the photo.

  • susanne
  • alex
  • tamara
  • photo
  • discovery
  • bank robber
  • exposure
Q8

What did Alex throwing his gun into the pond signify?

By discarding his gun, Alex symbolically rejected his desire for revenge and violent retribution. The act marked a turning point where he chose to move forward with his life rather than seek vengeance for Tamara's death. It represents his moral transformation.

Foreshadowing: Alex's earlier stalking of Robert with the loaded gun builds toward this moment of releasing his violent intentions.

  • alex
  • gun
  • pond
  • revenge
  • violence
  • abandonment
  • transformation
Q9

Why did Robert have a panic attack at work after the shooting?

Robert's panic attack stemmed from the overwhelming guilt and psychological trauma of accidentally killing Tamara. The weight of taking a life, combined with the strain on his marriage, became unbearable. His suspension from work allowed him to confront his actions directly.

Foreshadowing: Robert's growing guilt throughout the film culminates in this breakdown.

  • robert
  • panic attack
  • guilt
  • police work
  • trauma
  • suspension
Q10

Why did Alex work as muscle at the brothel in Vienna?

After being released from prison, Alex needed employment and found work as a bouncer or muscle at the brothel where Tamara worked. This job provided him income while he plotted his next move and created the opportunity to meet and form a relationship with Tamara.

Foreshadowing: Alex's criminal background establishes why he gravitated toward underworld employment.

  • alex
  • brothel
  • vienna
  • muscle
  • ex-convict
  • employment
Q11

What role does Hausner's farm play in the story?

Hausner's farm serves as the central location where the fates of all characters intersect. It provides Alex with a refuge after the robbery, becomes the site of Alex and Susanne's affair, and gives Alex a purpose through caring for the aging Hausner. The farm represents redemption and a new beginning.

Foreshadowing: Alex's plan to flee to his grandfather's farm after the robbery establishes its importance from the beginning.

  • hausner
  • farm
  • rural
  • vienna
  • refuge
  • intersection
  • new life
Q12

Why did Alex confront Robert in the woods instead of shooting him?

Alex's confrontation was a way to face his enemy directly and test Robert's conscience. Rather than acting impulsively, he wanted Robert to acknowledge his crime and show remorse. The veiled conversation allowed Alex to gauge whether Robert deserved vengeance.

Foreshadowing: Alex's earlier stalking behavior builds toward this direct confrontation.

  • alex
  • robert
  • confrontation
  • woods
  • remorse
  • veiled conversation
  • revenge

Movie threads

More Movies Like Revanche, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about moral crossroads after tragedy like Revanche

Characters face heavy consequences and ethical dilemmas in a bleak, unforgiving world. If you liked the complex ethical dilemmas and heavy consequences in Revanche, explore these other films. This collection features morally gray thrillers and dramas where characters face life-altering choices after a devastating event, blending suspense with deep thematic exploration.

  • gritty
  • morally ambiguous
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • desperate
  • reflective
  • Tone: dark, morally complex
  • Pacing: variable, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives typically begin with or are triggered by a single, often violent, tragedy that shatters the characters' lives. The plot then focuses on the fallout, as protagonists grapple with guilt, a desire for revenge, and the possibility of redemption. The journey is less about external action and more about an internal moral struggle, often leading to a bittersweet or ambiguous resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the ethical and emotional fallout of a single event. They share a dark, gritty tone, high emotional weight, and a narrative structure that prioritizes character psychology and moral complexity over clear-cut heroes and villains.

Slow burn rural thrillers with tense atmospheres like Revanche

Quiet, atmospheric thrillers where isolation and simmering dread lead to explosive confrontations. Fans of the quiet, simmering tension and rural setting of Revanche will appreciate these selections. This list features atmospheric thrillers and dramas where a slow pace and isolated locations build a palpable sense of dread, leading to morally complex and emotionally charged conclusions.

  • slow burn
  • tense
  • atmospheric
  • oppressive
  • quiet
  • suspenseful
  • Tone: tense, melancholic, bleak
  • Pacing: slow burn, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories unfold at a deliberate pace, using the isolation and quiet of a rural environment to amplify internal conflicts and simmering resentments. The tension builds gradually through quiet moments and lingering shots, rather than fast-paced action, often culminating in a violent or emotionally devastating climax that feels both shocking and inevitable.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their distinctive pacing and atmosphere. They share a slow-burn approach to suspense, a heavy, often melancholic mood, and a setting that becomes a character in itself, reflecting the internal turmoil of the protagonists.

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Movies Like Revanche

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Every angle

Revanche (2009) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Revanche 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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