Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Action Comedy Drama Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Romance Mystery Animation Crime
Summer of 85 (2021) movie poster

Timeline

Summer of 85 (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 100 min · French
Echo score 76
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
François Ozon
Starring
Melvil Poupaud, Yoann Zimmer, Isabelle Nanty, Bruno Lochet, Aurore Broutin, Benjamin Voisin
Budget
$6.1M

Alexis, a teenager living on the French coast, finds his life disrupted when David enters his world. David introduces Alexis to a summer of freedom, art, and a passionate romance. Their whirlwind romance unfolds against the backdrop of the Normandy coast, but their idyllic summer is challenged by societal expectations, unreturned affections, and the vulnerability of young love. The intensity of their connection forces them to confront difficult truths and navigate the complexities of growing up.

Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Summer of 85
  7. 7 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

14 events in order · contains spoilers

Summer of 85 Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Summer of 85 (2021) 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. Summer of 1985

    The story unfolds in the summer of 1985 in Normandy. A reflective backdrop sets the stage for Alexis's tumultuous journey, highlighting his fascination with death.

    When
    Summer 1985
    Where
    Normandy

  2. Boat Capsizing Incident

    While at sea, Alexis's boat is caught in a sudden thunderstorm and capsizes. This harrowing experience leads to his rescue by David, an eighteen-year-old who becomes a pivotal figure in his life.

    Where
    Sea near Normandy

  3. Bonding with David

    Following the rescue, Alexis and David develop a strong bond, sharing their thoughts and feelings freely. These intimate moments lay the foundation for their complex relationship.

    Where
    David's family shop

  4. Secret Relationship

    As their friendship deepens, Alexis and David begin a secret romantic relationship. Their connection brings both joy and challenges, as they navigate their feelings away from prying eyes.

  5. David's Affair

    Complicating their relationship, David expresses boredom and starts an affair with Alexis's friend, Kate. This betrayal shatters Alexis's trust and leads to significant emotional turmoil.

  6. Confrontation and Fight

    In a fit of anger, Alexis confronts David about the affair, leading to a heated argument. The confrontation escalates into a physical fight, showcasing the emotional intensity of their relationship.

  7. Destruction at the Shop

    In a moment of rage, Alexis throws a rock at David, narrowly missing him. The incident results in Alexis wreaking havoc in David's family shop, a dramatic physical expression of his emotional pain.

    Where
    David's family shop

  8. Tragic Motorcycle Crash

    After the confrontation, David chases after Alexis but tragically dies in a motorcycle accident. This shocking turn of events leaves Alexis grappling with guilt and despair over their unresolved conflict.

  9. Pact to Dance on a Grave

    Devastated by David's death, Alexis recalls a pact they made to dance on the grave of the one who dies first. He feels compelled to honor this promise, despite the sorrow it brings.

    Where
    Grave

  10. Arrest for Grave Incident

    While attempting to carry out the pact, Alexis is arrested at the grave site. The act symbolizes his conflicted feelings and the lengths he's willing to go to honor David's memory.

  11. Trial and Sentencing

    During his trial, the judge shows understanding of Alexis's grief and emotional turmoil. As a result, he only receives community service and a recommendation for psychiatric evaluation, providing a glimmer of hope.

    Where
    Courtroom

  12. Writing for Healing

    Following the trial, Alexis begins writing about his experiences as a means of healing. His literature teacher encourages this process, allowing Alexis to confront his grief and guilt creatively.

  13. Reflections on Their Relationship

    As he writes, Alexis revisits the moments he shared with David, analyzing their friendship and love. This reflective journey serves as a cathartic release and a means for Alexis to understand his feelings.

  14. Final Acceptance

    Ultimately, Alexis comes to terms with David's death through his writing and the experience of his trial. This acceptance marks a poignant turning point in his life, paving the way for future healing.

Last updated: December 13, 2024 at 06:47

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Summer of 85 Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Summer of 85 (2021): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does David start an affair with Kate?

David claims he is bored, which reflects his immature approach to handling the intensity of their relationship. Rather than communicate his feelings with Alexis, he seeks excitement elsewhere, devastating Alex who had invested completely in their secret romance.

  • david affair kate
  • why david cheated
  • teen relationship betrayal
Q2

Why does Alex throw a rock at David during their confrontation?

Alexis throws the rock in a moment of intense rage and betrayal after discovering David's affair with Kate. The physical act represents how deeply hurt he is emotionally, his trust has been completely shattered by someone he loved.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the boys' relationship is described as intense and all-consuming, hinting at how devastating any betrayal would be.

  • alex throws rock
  • fight scene explanation
  • betrayal consequences
Q3

Why does David chase after Alex on his motorcycle?

After their confrontation and physical altercation at the shop, David chases after Alexis in an attempt to reconcile or apologize. However, the pursuit ends tragically when David crashes his motorcycle, unable to catch up to Alex who is cycling away.

  • david motorcycle crash
  • why david died
  • chase scene explanation
Q4

What is the pact Alex and David made about dancing on a grave?

Before David's death, the two boys made a pact that whoever died first, the other would dance on their grave. This dark promise, made during their youthful fascination with death, becomes a source of profound guilt for Alex after the tragedy.

Foreshadowing: Alexis is introduced as a teenager captivated by the concept of death and its mysteries, explaining why such a pact would appeal to them.

  • dance on grave pact
  • promise between alex and david
  • death pact meaning
Q5

Why is Alexis arrested at David's grave?

Alexis is arrested while attempting to carry out their pact, dancing on David's grave. His actions are interpreted as disturbing behavior at a cemetery, leading to legal consequences despite his intent to honor their promise.

  • alex arrested grave
  • why alex was arrested
  • grave scene explained
Q6

Why does Alexis keep his relationship with David secret?

Their relationship is kept secret because same-sex relationships in 1985 France faced significant societal stigma. The boys must navigate their feelings privately, adding another layer of complexity to their already intense young love.

  • secret relationship
  • why hidden romance
  • 1980s france homosexuality
Q7

Why does the judge give Alexis a lenient sentence?

The judge shows mercy because Alexis demonstrates genuine grief and emotional turmoil. Rather than harsh punishment, the judge sentences him to 140 hours of community service and recommends psychiatric evaluation, recognizing his psychological state.

  • alex sentence
  • court outcome
  • judge mercy explanation
Q8

Why does Alexis start writing about his experiences?

Alexis begins writing as a therapeutic outlet suggested by his literature teacher. Writing becomes his way to process the guilt, grief, and complex emotions surrounding David's death, ultimately serving as his path toward healing.

  • alex writing healing
  • why write about david
  • therapy through writing
Q9

How does the thunderstorm lead to Alexis meeting David?

While sailing at sea, Alexis's boat gets caught in a sudden thunderstorm and capsizes. David rescues him from the turbulent waters, which is how their pivotal summer relationship begins, the life-threatening event becomes the catalyst for everything that follows.

  • thunderstorm boat
  • how they met
  • rescue scene explained
Q10

Why is Alexis so fascinated with death at the beginning of the film?

From the start, Alexis is depicted as a contemplative teenager drawn to existential questions about mortality. This fascination with death is what makes the later tragedy even more poignant, he's obsessed with an idea he never truly understood until losing someone he loved.

  • alex death fascination
  • why obsessed with death
  • character motivation explained
Q11

What happens at David's family shop after the rock-throwing incident?

After Alexis throws the rock at David and misses, his rage escalates into chaos at the family shop. He smashes items and creates destruction, physically expressing the emotional pain David's betrayal has caused before running away.

  • shop destruction scene
  • what happened at shop
  • fight consequences
Q12

Why does Alexis feel guilty about David's death?

Alexis carries immense guilt because their last interaction was a violent confrontation where he threw a rock at David. He was cycling away when David chased after him and crashed, Alexis believes if he hadn't run, hadn't fought, David might still be alive.

  • alex guilt
  • why feels responsible
  • survivor guilt explained

Movie threads

More Movies Like Summer of 85, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Summer of 85 tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Tragic Summer Romance movies like Summer of 85

Stories where idyllic summer flings are shattered by sudden, heartbreaking tragedy. For viewers who enjoyed the passionate yet doomed romance of Summer of 85, this list features movies with similar stories of idyllic summer love shattered by tragedy. Discover other poignant dramas that explore the intense joy and devastating grief of a summer that changes everything.

  • tragic
  • passionate
  • nostalgic
  • heartbreaking
  • romantic
  • anguished
  • Tone: melancholic, tragic, nostalgic
  • Pacing: steady, building to a pivotal event
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often begin with an idealized, carefree summer setting where a passionate relationship blossoms. The initial joy and freedom are palpable, creating a stark contrast for the impending tragedy. The story then pivots dramatically, exploring the aftermath of loss and the heavy process of mourning, often through a reflective or nostalgic lens.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared emotional trajectory: the intense high of a formative, seasonal romance followed by a devastating low. They share a melancholic tone, a steady pacing that builds to a dramatic turn, and a focus on the lingering emotional impact of a love cut short.

Summer of 85 movie poster

Summer of 85

2021
All Summers End movie poster

All Summers End

2018
Summer in February movie poster

Summer in February

2014
A Small September Affair movie poster

A Small September Affair

2014
Summer with Monika movie poster

Summer with Monika

1953
September movie poster

September

1987
Splendor in the Grass movie poster

Splendor in the Grass

1961
Eighteen Springs movie poster

Eighteen Springs

1997

Melancholic Queer Coming-of-Age stories similar to Summer of 85

Emotional stories of young gay love fraught with intensity, societal pressure, and heartache. If you were moved by the emotional depth and melancholic tone of Summer of 85, explore these similar queer coming-of-age dramas. Find movies that capture the passionate intensity, societal challenges, and bittersweet realities of first love and self-discovery for gay teenagers.

  • melancholic
  • passionate
  • anguished
  • reflective
  • romantic
  • tragic
  • Tone: melancholic, passionate, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, character-focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a young protagonist's pivotal first romantic relationship, which serves as their catalyst for self-discovery. The journey is emotionally charged, filled with both ecstatic passion and the pain of societal judgment, unrequited feelings, or tragic circumstances. The ending is often reflective and bittersweet, emphasizing growth through pain.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific mood mix: the passion of first love intertwined with the melancholy of hardship. They are characterized by a heavy emotional weight, a steady, character-driven pace, and a tone that is deeply romantic yet fundamentally somber, reflecting the complexities of queer youth experiences.

Queer movie poster

Queer

2024
Free Fall movie poster

Free Fall

2013
Summer of 85 movie poster

Summer of 85

2021
Your Name Engraved Herein movie poster

Your Name Engraved Herein

2020
Ode to Billy Joe movie poster

Ode to Billy Joe

1976
Center of My World movie poster

Center of My World

2016
Another Country movie poster

Another Country

1984
Beach Rats movie poster

Beach Rats

2017

If you liked this

Movies Like Summer of 85

Similar movies to Summer of 85: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries
Age of Summer movie poster

Age of Summer

2018
Summer movie poster

Summer

2017
Summer movie poster

Summer

2006
Late Summer movie poster

Late Summer

2001
Something Like Summer movie poster

Something Like Summer

2017
Summer movie poster

Summer

2019
And Then Came Summer movie poster

And Then Came Summer

2000
My Summer of Love movie poster

My Summer of Love

2005
A Summer Dress movie poster

A Summer Dress

1996
Our Eternal Summer movie poster

Our Eternal Summer

2022
The Summer I Turned 15 movie poster

The Summer I Turned 15

1976
Last Summer movie poster

Last Summer

2021

Every angle

Summer of 85 (2021) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Summer of 85 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app