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Tamara Drewe (2010) movie poster

Timeline

Tamara Drewe (2010) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2010 · 111 min · English
Directed by
Stephen Frears
Starring
Gemma Arterton, Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper

A vibrant reimagining of a classic tale set in the English countryside, this film follows the return of Tamara Drewe, a woman seeking escape from her troubled life. Her arrival as a strikingly beautiful woman disrupts the peaceful existence of the local residents, igniting a chain of humorous romantic complications and unexpected career changes for several villagers, including writers and a rock star.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Tamara Drewe
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Tamara Drewe (2010)

Where can you watch Tamara Drewe? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Tamara Drewe Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Tamara Drewe (2010) 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. Tamara returns to Ewedown to sell her mother's house

    Tamara Drewe returns from London to the Dorset village of Ewedown with the intention of selling her deceased mother's house. Locals are surprised by her newly enhanced appearance after a rhinoplasty. She sets about re-establishing herself and preparing the house for sale.

    When
    start of story
    Where
    Ewedown, Dorset
  2. Tamara meets Ben at a village music festival

    At a village music festival, Tamara rekindles her attraction to rock-band drummer Ben. Their chemistry is evident as they begin a romantic relationship. The festival scene marks the start of Tamara's entanglement with someone in the village.

    When
    during festival
    Where
    Ewedown village
  3. Tamara hires Andy to work on the house

    Tamara asks Andy to work on her mother's house so she can sell it. He begins a working relationship with her and spends time at the property. The arrangement foreshadows later tensions as the social circle becomes entangled.

    When
    early in return
    Where
    Tamara's mother's house, Ewedown
  4. Tamara and Ben's relationship ends

    Tamara and Ben's romance falters and ends, prompting Ben to leave Ewedown. The breakup reshapes the local dynamics and prepares the ground for Tamara's next affair. The village watches as Tamara navigates changing relationships.

    When
    after festival
    Where
    Ewedown
  5. Tamara begins an affair with Nicholas

    After Ben's departure, Tamara begins an affair with Nicholas, the prolific crime novelist living at the neighboring retreat. The relationship brings scandal and intoxicating danger to Tamara's stay in Ewedown. Rumors begin to swirl through the village as the two become more involved.

    When
    after Ben's departure
    Where
    Nicholas's authors' retreat, Ewedown
  6. Jody and Casey escalate their mischief

    Jody and Casey, two local teenage girls, grow jealous of Tamara's relationship with Ben and stir up trouble around the village and the retreat. Their meddling reveals the fragility of Tamara's standing in the community. The girls' actions heighten tensions and broader gossip.

    When
    during Tamara's affairs
    Where
    Ewedown village
  7. Jody manipulates Ben into returning

    Feeling left out, Jody manipulates Ben into returning to the village after his departure. Her plan increases the drama surrounding Tamara and the central social circle. The move ties Ben back to Ewedown and to Tamara in a more complex way.

    When
    after Ben's departure
    Where
    Ewedown
  8. Deceit is uncovered

    Jody's deceit is uncovered, exposing her manipulation of Ben. The discovery compounds the strain on Tamara's relationships and intensifies village gossip. The incident underscores how the young girl's actions pull the community into the affair's consequences.

    When
    revelation moment
    Where
    Ewedown
  9. Tamara and Nicholas's affair is revealed

    Tamara and Nicholas's affair comes to light, shocking villagers and friends alike. The revelation intensifies the scandal surrounding the retreat and Tamara's choices. It precipitates a cascade of reactions from those close to Tamara and Nicholas.

    When
    after Jody's deceit is revealed
    Where
    Ewedown and Nicholas's retreat
  10. Nicholas dies in a stampede

    In a strange turn of events, Nicholas is killed by a stampede of cows after a confrontation. The accident shocks the village and forces the characters to confront the consequences of indiscretion. The tragedy marks a turning point in the mood at the retreat.

    When
    after confrontation
    Where
    near the retreat, Ewedown
  11. Glen confesses his love for Beth

    Beth's friend Glen, a Thomas Hardy scholar, confesses his love for Beth. He wrestles with guilt over Nicholas's death and the tangled feelings in the retreat. Beth faces a choice about whether to pursue the budding romance or protect the balance of the house.

    When
    after Nicholas's death
    Where
    Beth's residence/retreat
  12. Beth asks Glen to stay at the retreat

    Beth persuades Glen to remain at the retreat with her, choosing companionship over leaving. The two begin to settle into a new arrangement, softening the emotional upheaval. The stay helps reshape the social fabric of the village.

    When
    after confession
    Where
    The authors' retreat
  13. Tamara and Andy reconcile; Tamara stays in Ewedown

    Ultimately Tamara's relationship with Andy deepens, and she decides to stay in Ewedown. The couple's bond provides a sense of resolution amid the previous chaos. Tamara commits to making a life in the village she once tried to escape.

    When
    finale
    Where
    Ewedown

Last updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58

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Timeline questions answered

Tamara Drewe Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Tamara Drewe (2010): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Tamara decide to stay in Ewedown?

Tamara stays because she finds a genuine connection with Andy, who has quietly loved her since childhood. After experiencing the complications of her affairs with Ben and Nicholas, she realizes the life she was searching for in London was actually in Ewedown all along. The chaos of her romantic entanglements helps her recognize what true companionship looks like.

Foreshadowing: Andy's quiet longing for Tamara threads through the town from the moment she returns, establishing the emotional foundation for their eventual reunion.

  • tamara
  • andy
  • ewedown
  • love
  • resolution
  • ending
Q2

How does Nicholas die in Tamara Drewe?

Nicholas is accidentally killed by a stampede of cows after a confrontation. The death occurs as a strange twist of fate, serving as the film's most dramatic and unexpected moment. It happens near the retreat and shocks the tight-knit village community, forcing characters to confront the consequences of their indiscretions.

  • nicholas
  • death
  • cows
  • stampede
  • accident
Q3

Why does Tamara start an affair with Nicholas?

Tamara begins the affair with Nicholas after her relationship with Ben ends. She has already begun pulling away from Ben, and Nicholas, a charismatic crime novelist known for his philandering, pursues her. The affair represents a dangerous, intoxicating escape that pulls her deeper into the village's complicated social web.

Foreshadowing: Nicholas is established as a serial philanderer from the start, making his pursuit of Tamara predictable within the film's comic structure.

  • tamara
  • nicholas
  • affair
  • infidelity
  • relationship
Q4

Why does Jody manipulate Ben into returning to Ewedown?

Jody becomes infatuated with Ben and is distraught that she won't see him in the village again after he leaves following his split with Tamara. Driven by teenage jealousy and desperation, she manipulates him into returning, but her deceit eventually unravels and exposes her scheme to the community.

Foreshadowing: The timeline establishes Jody and Casey's jealousy of Tamara's relationship with Ben early in the story.

  • jody
  • ben
  • manipulation
  • teenage
  • jealousy
Q5

What happens to Beth after Nicholas dies?

After Nicholas dies, Glen, a Thomas Hardy scholar who has harbored feelings for Beth for months, confesses his love for her. He wrestles with guilt over Nicholas's death following a tense confrontation. Beth ultimately persuades Glen to stay at the retreat with her, choosing companionship over isolation and beginning a new relationship.

Foreshadowing: Glen's feelings for Beth are established early as an underlying emotional subplot at the retreat.

  • beth
  • glen
  • nicholas death
  • love
  • retreat
Q6

Why does Tamara break up with Ben?

Tamara and Ben's romance falters and ends, though the specific reasons are tied to her emotional state and the pull she feels toward Nicholas. After the relationship ends, Ben leaves Ewedown, reshaping the local dynamics and creating space for Tamara's next affair.

  • tamara
  • ben
  • breakup
  • relationship
  • departure
Q7

Why does Andy agree to work on Tamara's house?

Andy agrees to help Tamara with the house because he still sees her as the girl she once was and has quietly longed for her throughout the years. His quiet longing and willingness to help serve as the foundation for their eventual romantic connection. He becomes aware of the tangled relationships around him while working at the property.

Foreshadowing: Andy still sees her as the girl she once was, and his quiet longing threads through the town as she returns.

  • andy
  • tamara
  • house
  • work
  • renovation
Q8

How does Tamara and Nicholas's affair get revealed?

The affair is revealed through the escalating mischief of Jody and Casey, the teenage girls who stir up trouble driven by jealousy of Tamara. As their meddling increases, the web of relationships unravels, and the village learns about Tamara and Nicholas's secret relationship, casting a shadow over the retreat.

Foreshadowing: Jody and Casey's jealousy and their pattern of stirring trouble gradually expose the hidden relationships.

  • affair
  • revealed
  • nicholas
  • scandal
  • gossip
Q9

Why are the villagers amazed by Tamara's appearance?

The villagers are amazed because Tamara returned from London with a drastically improved appearance after undergoing rhinoplasty while away. This physical transformation shocks the small community, where people have known her since childhood and remember her differently. It sets the stage for the attention and romantic complications that follow.

Foreshadowing: The narrative establishes early that locals are amazed at the improvement in her appearance after her time away.

  • tamara
  • rhinoplasty
  • appearance
  • transformation
  • village

Movie threads

More Movies Like Tamara Drewe, by Mood & Story

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

Quaint Community Romantic Farces like Tamara Drewe

Humorous tales of love and gossip disrupting a small, tight-knit community. If you enjoyed the gossipy charm and romantic complications of Tamara Drewe, you'll love these movies. This section features films set in quaint villages or small towns where the arrival of a new person or a secret affair creates a delightful chain reaction of humorous events for the community.

  • quaint
  • gossipy
  • lighthearted
  • romantic
  • rural
  • whimsical
  • Tone: lighthearted, whimsical
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically centers on a contained setting, like a village or small town, where characters' lives are deeply intertwined. A catalyst—often a homecoming, a new arrival, or a secret—sets off a domino effect of romantic pursuits, misunderstandings, and comedic confrontations. The plot weaves together multiple subplots, resolving them in a way that reaffirms community ties or allows for personal growth.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on lighthearted interpersonal drama within a specific locale, blending romance and comedy with a steady, character-driven pace. The experience is consistently whimsical and gossipy, offering a humorous yet heartwarming look at human connections.

Movies about Homecoming and Self-Reinvention like Tamara Drewe

Stories of returning to a former life and rediscovering one's true self. For viewers who liked Tamara Drewe's story of returning home and sparking change, this section collects films about protagonists rediscovering themselves in a familiar setting. These stories often blend romance and comedy, focusing on personal growth and the humorous ripple effects of a character's reinvention.

  • nostalgic
  • self-discovery
  • hopeful
  • lighthearted
  • romantic
  • coming of age
  • Tone: light, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern begins with a protagonist's return to a community they once knew. Their changed appearance or status disrupts the status quo, rekindling old flames and creating new rivalries. The central conflict involves the character navigating their past identity versus their present self, leading to a series of comedic and romantic events that culminate in a clearer sense of purpose and a hopeful new beginning.

Why they belong together: These movies share a core character arc of rediscovery and reinvention triggered by a return to a formative environment. They blend light drama with comedy, focusing on the protagonist's effect on their surroundings and their own emotional journey toward a happier, more genuine existence.

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Every angle

Tamara Drewe (2010) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Tamara Drewe 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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