Tabu

Year: 2012

Runtime: 118 min

Language: English

Director: Miguel Gomes

DramaRomance

Amidst growing cultural tensions, David and Leyla, an Armenian man and a Turkish woman, find their love forbidden by societal divides. Their passionate relationship unfolds against a backdrop of conflict, forcing them to confront difficult choices and make profound sacrifices as they navigate a world determined to keep them apart.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Tabu (2012)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Tabu (2012). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Lisbon, Portugal; Mozambique, Africa; Mount Tabu; India

Three disparate lives unfold in Lisbon's old building, where three women live, and flashbacks take us to Aurora's tea farm on the slopes of Mount Tabu in Africa. The setting shifts between present-day urban interiors and the African frontier, echoing themes of isolation and danger. Later, the narrative traces travels to India and back to Lisbon, linking places through memory and legend.

🗺️ Lisbon 🏜️ Africa 🧭 India

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:42

Main Characters – Tabu (2012)

Meet the key characters of Tabu (2012), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:42

Major Themes – Tabu (2012)

Explore the central themes of Tabu (2012), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:42

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies like Tabu: Melancholic Stories of Forbidden Love

Passionate romances doomed by societal divides and heavy emotional consequences.If you liked the tragic romance in Tabu, this section features similar movies about forbidden love facing societal divides. These films share a melancholic tone, heavy emotional weight, and bittersweet endings, exploring the profound costs of passion against the odds.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow lovers whose relationship is forbidden due to external forces like family, war, or class. The narrative focuses on the intensity of their connection, the pressure of societal judgment, and the inevitable, often sorrowful, conclusion that leaves a lasting emotional scar.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on the melancholic beauty and tragedy of forbidden relationships. They combine heavy romance with a somber, reflective mood, creating a cohesive experience of love, loss, and enduring memory.

Movies with a Poetic Mood Like Tabu

Slow, reflective films where the haunting past echoes into the present.Discover movies like Tabu that share its poetic, reflective mood and focus on memory. These films often feature slow pacing, complex narratives linking past and present, and a haunting, dreamlike atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll.

poeticdreamlikehauntingreflectivemelancholicmemoryatmosphericsomber

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves intertwining timelines, where a story from the past (often involving youth, passion, or trauma) is revisited through memory, affecting characters in the present. The structure is contemplative, using visual poetry and sound to evoke feeling rather than just advancing a straightforward plot.

Why These Movies?

They are connected by a shared commitment to a poetic visual style, a slow and reflective pace, and a central theme of how the past inhabits the present. The focus is on creating a specific, haunting mood rather than delivering a fast-paced story.

Unlock the Full Story of Tabu

Don't stop at just watching — explore Tabu in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Tabu is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Tabu Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Tabu, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Tabu Timeline

Track the full timeline of Tabu with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Tabu Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Tabu that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About Tabu

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Tabu: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to Tabu

Discover movies like Tabu that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.