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Timeline

Take This Waltz (2012) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2012 · 116 min · English
JustWatch #3,766 25
Starring
Sarah Silverman, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Aaron Abrams

Margot finds her seemingly stable marriage challenged by an unexpected and intense connection with a charming stranger, Daniel. As their forbidden relationship develops amidst the Toronto summer heat, she is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about herself and her life. The film explores themes of love, longing, and the complexities of relationships, questioning the foundations of commitment and the search for personal identity.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Take This Waltz
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Take This Waltz (2012)

Where can you watch Take This Waltz? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and Netflix: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Take This Waltz Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Take This Waltz (2012) 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. Margot's Encounter with Daniel

    While exploring the historic town of Louisburg, Margot meets Daniel, an artistic rickshaw operator. Their unexpected encounter marks the beginning of a significant connection between them.

    Where
    Louisburg, Nova Scotia
  2. Chance Meeting on a Flight

    Margot and Daniel's paths cross again on a flight from Halifax to Montreal, which creates an opportunity for them to bond further. This coincidental meeting reinforces the growing intrigue they have for one another.

  3. Sharing a Cab Ride

    After returning home, Margot and Daniel share a cab ride, where a palpable attraction develops. Their connection deepens as they converse, leading Margot to remind Daniel of her marriage despite the chemistry they share.

  4. Revealing Domestic Life

    Margot has been married to Lou for five years, and their relationship has become comfortable yet uninspiring. While they have a sincere bond, Margot feels a growing disconnect and insecurity about her life.

  5. Playful Banter About the Future

    During a casual drinking day, Margot jokingly mentions her plan to kiss Daniel in 2040 at the Louisburg lighthouse. This playful comment highlights both their bond and the awkward reality of Margot's marriage.

    Where
    Louisburg, Nova Scotia
  6. Anniversary Dinner Disappointment

    On the night of Margot and Lou's anniversary, Daniel offers to take them to dinner on his rickshaw. Margot declines, but Lou readily accepts, unaware of the brewing tension between Margot and Daniel.

  7. Deepening Connection

    Margot and Daniel's relationship grows in intimacy as they share special moments, including a silent moment in a pool and a joy-filled day at an amusement park. These experiences draw them closer, complicating Margot's feelings.

    Where
    Amusement Park
  8. Guilt Overwhelms Margot

    When Margot visits Daniel's home and sits beside him on the bed, she is overwhelmed by guilt. Realizing their chemistry can lead to infidelity, Margot leaves before they can act on their feelings.

    Where
    Daniel's Home
  9. Conflict During Geraldine's Celebration

    While celebrating Geraldine’s sobriety, Daniel struggles with his emotions as he witnesses the bond between Margot and Lou. Confronted by Margot about his sadness, he expresses his frustration, leading to his decision to leave.

  10. Postcard from Louisburg

    After he moves out, Daniel leaves Margot a postcard from Louisburg that reminisces about their lighthearted plans for the future. This gesture symbolizes both the love they shared and the pain of lost possibilities.

  11. Dreaming of Daniel

    Margot awakens from a vivid dream where she shares a passionate kiss with Daniel. This dream catalyzes her decision to tell Lou that she wants a divorce, igniting the desire for a new life.

  12. Physical Expression of Feelings

    After declaring her wish for divorce, Margot and Daniel reunite and express their feelings physically. This marks a significant turning point in Margot's life as she embraces her desires.

  13. Geraldine's Distress

    Tragically, Margot receives troubling news about Geraldine, who has gone missing. In a moment of chaos, Margot rushes back to console Geraldine's daughter, underscoring the toll of her choices.

  14. Confrontation with Geraldine

    In an emotionally charged confrontation, a drunken Geraldine criticizes Margot for her betrayal. Geraldine's own struggles reveal the complex dynamics of friendship and loyalty that Margot must navigate.

  15. Margot's Solitude

    As time passes, Margot and Daniel adapt to their new life together, yet their fervor begins to fade. The narrative concludes with Margot riding alone at the amusement park, symbolizing her isolation amid the choices she has made.

    Where
    Amusement Park

Last updated: November 08, 2024 at 01:43

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Timeline questions answered

Take This Waltz Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Take This Waltz (2012): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Margot leave her husband Lou for Daniel?

Margot leaves Lou because she feels a deep dissatisfaction in her marriage. Though Lou is kind and their relationship is comfortable, Margot experiences a growing disconnect and insecurity about her life. The intense connection she feels with Daniel represents an escape from her uninspiring routine and a chance at passion, which ultimately compels her to pursue a divorce.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Margot admits to Daniel that she feels uninspired and disconnected from her life, hinting at her underlying unhappiness.

  • margot
  • lou
  • daniel
  • marriage
  • divorce
  • affair
  • dissatisfaction
Q2

Why does Daniel move out before Margot divorces Lou?

Daniel becomes frustrated with Margot's indecision and refuses to be a contender in a love triangle. He sees that Margot is unwilling to fully commit to him while still married, so he leaves abruptly, sending her a postcard from Louisburg as a final goodbye.

Foreshadowing: During Geraldine's sobriety celebration, Daniel visibly struggles watching Margot and Lou together, revealing his emotional pain.

  • daniel
  • margot
  • lou
  • leaves
  • postcard
  • love triangle
Q3

What triggers Margot to ask Lou for a divorce?

Margot asks for a divorce after waking from a vivid dream where she shares a passionate kiss with Daniel. This dream serves as a catalyst, compelling her to finally act on her suppressed desires rather than continue living in her comfortable but unfulfilling marriage.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Margot repeatedly reminds Daniel that she's married, showing her internal conflict between desire and commitment.

  • margot
  • divorce
  • dream
  • kiss
  • lou
  • desire
Q4

Why does Margot and Daniel's relationship lose its spark?

After Margot leaves Lou and they begin living together, their relationship settles into a routine that closely resembles her previous life with Lou. The passion and excitement that once defined their connection fades, and Margot finds herself alone at the amusement park, symbolizing her isolation and disillusionment with the choices she's made.

Foreshadowing: The film foreshadows this outcome through their early meetings, where the thrill of forbidden attraction drives their connection rather than genuine compatibility.

  • margot
  • daniel
  • relationship
  • routine
  • disillusionment
  • amusement park
Q5

What happens to Geraldine at the end of the film?

Geraldine goes missing after struggling with her sobriety, and Margot receives troubling news about her. In a drunken confrontation, Geraldine criticizes Margot for her betrayal, revealing her own personal struggles. Geraldine eventually decides to face legal consequences for her DUI, taking responsibility for her actions.

Foreshadowing: Geraldine is introduced as a recovering alcoholic, and her sobriety is celebrated earlier in the film, setting up her later breakdown.

  • geraldine
  • missing
  • dui
  • alcoholism
  • confrontation
Q6

Why does Geraldine blame Margot for her problems?

Geraldine, drunk and emotionally vulnerable, chastises Margot for betraying her brother Lou. She claims that Margot's affair for an illusion of happiness was even more grievous than her own struggles with alcoholism. This confrontation highlights the complex dynamics of loyalty and betrayal within their family circle.

Foreshadowing: Geraldine is Lou's sister and Margot's best friend, making her betrayal particularly painful for everyone involved.

  • geraldine
  • margot
  • lou
  • blame
  • betrayal
  • alcoholism
Q7

Why does Margot feel guilty about her affair with Daniel?

Margot feels guilty because she genuinely loves Lou and values their relationship, despite feeling dissatisfied. When she visits Daniel's home and sits on his bed, she's overwhelmed by guilt and leaves before they can act on their feelings, demonstrating the internal conflict between her desires and her moral obligations.

Foreshadowing: Margot repeatedly tells Daniel "I'm married," showing her awareness of her commitment and the guilt she carries.

  • margot
  • guilt
  • affair
  • marriage
  • lou
  • daniel
Q8

What does the ending of Take This Waltz mean?

The ending shows Margot riding alone at the amusement park, symbolizing her solitude despite getting what she wanted. She left a comfortable marriage for passion with Daniel, only to find that her new relationship has become just as routine. The bittersweet ending suggests that happiness may not be found in escaping one's life, but in confronting what already exists.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes at the amusement park with Daniel showed joy and excitement, contrasting sharply with Margot's final solitude.

  • ending
  • solitude
  • amusement park
  • margot
  • disillusionment
  • routine
Q9

Why does Margot repeatedly tell Daniel she's married?

Margot reminds Daniel that she's married as a way to maintain boundaries and control her own desires. Each reminder is both a warning to Daniel and a reminder to herself about her commitment to Lou, revealing her internal struggle between loyalty to her husband and her growing attraction to Daniel.

Foreshadowing: This pattern begins during their first cab ride home, establishing the central conflict of the film.

  • margot
  • married
  • lou
  • daniel
  • boundary
  • affair
Q10

What is the significance of the 2040 lighthouse promise?

During a casual drinking day, Margot jokingly tells Daniel she plans to kiss him in 2040 at the Louisburg lighthouse. This playful promise represents their lighthearted bond and the future they could potentially share. Daniel later sends Margot a postcard from Louisburg reminding her of this plans, symbolizing both the love they shared and the lost possibilities.

Foreshadowing: Their first meeting occurred in Louisburg, making the location emotionally significant to their relationship.

  • lighthouse
  • louisburg
  • 2040
  • promise
  • postcard
  • daniel
  • margot
Q11

Why does Lou's work on his cookbook matter to the story?

Lou's dedication to his cookbook represents his commitment to building a life with Margot, showing his loving and industrious nature. His focus on this project highlights the contrast between his stability and the excitement Margot seeks elsewhere, making her decision to leave feel like a betrayal of someone who was genuinely trying to build a future.

Foreshadowing: Lou's cookbook is mentioned early in the film as a passion project that keeps him occupied.

  • lou
  • cookbook
  • work
  • dedication
  • margot
  • stability

Movie threads

More Movies Like Take This Waltz, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about bittersweet romance and life choices like Take This Waltz

Stories where the heart's desire clashes with the comfort of familiar love. If you liked the emotional dilemma in Take This Waltz, this collection features similar movies about love triangles and personal crossroads. These films delve into themes of fidelity, temptation, and the search for identity, often with a melancholic and contemplative tone that mirrors the complex reality of life choices.

  • melancholic
  • contemplative
  • romantic
  • uncomfortable
  • introspective
  • longing
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, contemplative
  • Pacing: slow, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a protagonist at a personal crossroads, often within a long-term relationship. A new temptation or profound dissatisfaction forces a re-evaluation of their life, leading to an emotional journey that explores the 'what if.' The endings are seldom purely happy or sad, but bittersweet, acknowledging the gains and losses inherent in any significant choice.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on romantic and existential dilemmas, their bittersweet emotional tone, and their thoughtful, character-driven pacing. The primary connection is the exploration of the complicated, often painful, process of choosing one path in life and irrevocably leaving another behind.

Atmospheric movies about restlessness like Take This Waltz

Films where a simmering discontent is amplified by a hazy, atmospheric setting. For viewers who appreciated the atmospheric summer heat and mood of longing in Take This Waltz, this list finds similar films. These movies use their settings to create a specific vibe and explore themes of midlife ennui, unfulfilled desires, and quiet emotional turmoil in an evocative, immersive way.

  • atmospheric
  • restless
  • melancholic
  • quiet
  • summer heat
  • introspective
  • Tone: melancholic, uneasy, contemplative
  • Pacing: slow, atmospheric
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is often less about high-stakes plot and more about a slow-burn character study. A character feels trapped or stagnant in their current life, and the oppressive or evocative atmosphere (like a hot summer) acts as a catalyst, bringing their underlying discontent to a boil. The story follows their introspective, and sometimes passive, struggle with this feeling.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific mood-first approach. The connection is their strong, almost tangible atmosphere, a focus on internal emotional states like restlessness and melancholy, and a slow, deliberate pacing that allows the viewer to soak in the feeling of a place and a character's psyche.

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Every angle

Take This Waltz (2012) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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