Separation City

Separation City

Year: 2009

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

Director: Paul Middleditch

ComedyRomance

A tale of falling out of love for the first time. A comedy-drama which follows the collapse of two marriages.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Separation City (2009)

Trace every key event in Separation City (2009) 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

Simon's quiet life under strain

Simon is a decent husband with two kids, living comfortably in Wellington, New Zealand. He is growing tired of the lack of sex in his marriage with Pam, which leaves him longing for intimacy. An attraction begins to form toward Katrien, a cellist friend of Pam.

Wellington, New Zealand
2

Katrien's marriage collapses

Katrien travels to New Zealand to salvage her marriage with Klaus. She discovers Klaus in bed with a young arts student, and their marriage collapses. With Klaus out of the picture, Katrien is suddenly available and lonely, making her more susceptible to Simon's interest.

New Zealand
3

Two couples' growing attraction

Katrien and Simon become intrigued by each other, yet neither wants to jeopardize their families. Katrien values Simon's upright, reliable image, while Simon is drawn to her loneliness and beauty. Their initial interest remains cautious, with no real affair yet.

Wellington, New Zealand
4

First near-misses and failed meetings

They attempt to meet several times, but distractions intervene. Simon arrives late or the children interrupt, and at one point he even experiences premature ejaculation, spoiling the moment. These near-misses reinforce the fragility of their attraction.

Wellington and other locations
5

The Germany plan and Berlin hotel room

They discover they will be in Germany in the same week, prompting a potential encounter. Simon books a hotel room in Berlin where he and his boss attend a convention. Katrien travels there too, setting the stage for a high-stakes moment.

During a convention week Berlin, Germany
6

The hotel room confrontation and wall eavesdropping

Before any intimacy can occur, Pam arrives unannounced in Simon's hotel room. Katrien escapes to an adjacent room, and Simon and Pam end up making violent love. Katrien overhears their activity through the wall, fueling her anger and heartbreak.

Berlin, Germany
7

Pam's discovery back home

Pam spots Simon slipping into the hallway during a speech and hears Katrien's voice on his phone, confirming the affair. She returns to Wellington in a fury and immediately asks for a separation. The revelation shatters Simon's sense of security.

Wellington, New Zealand
8

Simon's confession and Katrien's response

Following the Berlin incident, Simon professes his love to Katrien. She says she doesn't love him in return, leading him to rethink his life and choices. He decides to return to Wellington to stay close to his wife and children.

After Berlin incident Berlin and then Wellington, New Zealand
9

A fragile return to family life

Back in Wellington, Simon re-enters his family life and attempts reconciliation. His wife seems open to forgiveness, but the situation remains tense, especially with Katrien's ongoing presence nearby. The sense of a settled future remains uncertain.

Wellington, New Zealand
10

Katrien's career and proximity to Klaus

Katrien accepts a job with an orchestra and remains close to Klaus, now dealing with a complicated living arrangement. Her move ensures she remains within reach of both her career and her past, while the extended family continues to navigate boundaries.

End of film Wellington, New Zealand
11

The idea of an encounter group

Early in the film, five or six wives propose that the men form an 'encounter group' to explore their infidelities. One wife even insists that her husband be allowed back in the house as a condition. The banter is light, but beneath it lies growing tension.

Early in the film Wellington, New Zealand
12

The encounter group's collapse

The proposed encounter group ends abruptly after a fist fight during a session. The fighting turns the gathering into a fiasco, and the group disbands as a result. The failure foreshadows the difficulty of attempting to resolve matters through such groups.

Wellington, New Zealand

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:27

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Separation City Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Separation City

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Separation City

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Separation City Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Separation City

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