Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

TÁR (2022) movie poster

Timeline

TÁR (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 158 min
Echo score 75
JustWatch #3,152 8
Directed by
Todd Field
Starring
Vincent Riotta, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant, Allan Corduner
Budget
$25M

Cate Blanchett portrays Lydia Tár, a renowned and influential conductor preparing for a significant book launch and symphony performance. As she navigates her career at the pinnacle of success, unexpected events trigger a dramatic downfall. The film delves into the intricacies of power, ambition, and the potential for corruption within even the most respected figures, revealing a compelling portrait of a woman facing a crisis.

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 TÁR
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch TÁR (2022)

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

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

15 events in order · contains spoilers

TÁR Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of TÁR (2022) 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. Lydia Tár's Acclaimed Career

    Lydia Tár is introduced as a revered composer-conductor, making history as the first openly gay female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Her groundbreaking achievements have solidified her reputation in the classical music world, making her an influential figure in an otherwise male-dominated field.

    Where
    Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
  2. Interview at the New Yorker Festival

    During an engaging interview with Adam Gopnik at the New Yorker Festival, Lydia discusses her recent projects, including a live recording of Mahler's 5th Symphony. This moment captures her passion for music and her ambitious plans for the future.

    Where
    New Yorker Festival
  3. Lunch Meeting with Eliot Kaplan

    In a pivotal lunch meeting with fellow conductor Eliot Kaplan, Lydia considers the future direction of her orchestra. This conversation sheds light on her desire to replace the current assistant conductor, Sebastian, with her assistant Francesca, highlighting Lydia's strategic approach to management.

  4. Controversial Teaching at Juilliard

    While serving as a guest instructor at Juilliard, Lydia's unyielding criticism of student Max provokes controversy. Her insistence on a return to classical ideals amid discussions of identity politics leads to Max feeling frustrated enough to leave her class.

    Where
    Juilliard
  5. The Arrival of the Novel 'Challenge'

    Lydia receives a novel titled 'Challenge' from Krista Taylor, a former associate. This book rekindles painful memories of their troubled, transactional relationship, revealing Lydia's past mistakes and the consequences of her actions.

  6. The Blind Audition and Olga

    At a blind audition for a cello position, Lydia encounters the captivating Olga Metkina. Her attraction leads her to manipulate the audition's results, paving the way for Olga's inclusion in the orchestra, which sets off a series of personal and professional conflicts.

  7. Conflict with Francesca and Sharon

    As Lydia becomes consumed with the preparation for the recording of Mahler's 5th, tensions rise with her assistant Francesca and her spouse Sharon. Their growing concern over Lydia's infatuation with Olga strains their relationships and adds pressure to Lydia's already chaotic life.

  8. Sebastian's Replacement and Accusations

    After informing Sebastian of his impending replacement, Lydia faces backlash and accusations of favoritism. This moment underscores the toxic environment within her orchestra and raises questions about her leadership and ethical conduct.

  9. Krista's Tragic Death

    The narrative takes a dark turn as Krista tragically takes her own life, leaving behind grave accusations against Lydia. This shocking event not only threatens Lydia's career but also forces her to confront the damaged relationships and mistakes of her past.

  10. Legal Troubles and Erased Evidence

    In the aftermath of Krista's death, Lydia orders Francesca to delete incriminating emails while seeking legal guidance. The impending lawsuit from Krista's family creates an oppressive atmosphere that heightens Lydia's anxiety and desperation.

  11. Mental Turmoil and Public Outrage

    As her life spirals out of control, Lydia grapples with psychological turmoil, haunted by her past choices. When an edited video of her lecture goes viral, public outrage erupts, culminating in protests during her return to New York for a book promotion.

    Where
    New York
  12. Confrontation with Eliot onstage

    In an impulsive moment during a live performance, Lydia confronts Eliot onstage, revealing the extent of her unraveling. This public outburst is emblematic of her loss of composure in both personal and professional spheres.

  13. Return to Staten Island

    Seeking refuge from the chaos, Lydia flees to her childhood home on Staten Island. Here, she confronts her true identity, realizing her real name is Linda Tarr, and grapples with family tensions, leading to a moment of personal reckoning.

    Where
    Staten Island
  14. Conducting in the Philippines

    Months later, Lydia finds herself conducting an orchestra in the Philippines, where her perception of reality begins to blur. The experience evokes both nostalgia and discomfort as she faces familiar yet unsettling scenarios from her past.

    Where
    Philippines
  15. Final Performance

    The film culminates with Lydia conducting a new orchestra, embodying mixed emotions as she navigates her complex journey. While surrounded by devoted cos-players for a film adaptation score, echoes of her tumultuous past continue to resonate in her present.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 11:34

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

TÁR Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of TÁR (2022): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Lydia manipulate the cello audition to get Olga into the orchestra?

Lydia was immediately attracted to Olga when they met in the restroom during the blind audition. Her infatuation led her to manipulate the results, ensuring Olga got the position and a solo performance paired with Mahler's 5th Symphony. This decision reflected her pattern of using her power to pursue personal desires, regardless of ethical boundaries.

  • Olga Metkina
  • audition manipulation
  • Mahler's 5th
  • orchestra position
Q2

What was the nature of Lydia and Krista Taylor's relationship?

Krista Taylor was a former fellow who worked with Lydia. Their relationship was described as troubled and transactional, with Lydia having fostered it and then later blacklisting Krista, which severely damaged Krista's career prospects in conducting. This past transgression haunts Lydia throughout the film.

Foreshadowing: The novel "Challenge" Lydia receives hints at the transactional nature of their past relationship.

  • Krista Taylor
  • blacklisted
  • conducting career
  • past relationship
Q3

Why did Krista Taylor commit suicide?

Krista Taylor took her own life after being blacklisted by Lydia, which destroyed her career prospects in the classical music world. She left behind devastating accusations against Lydia, suggesting the relationship was exploitative and that Lydia's actions had catastrophic consequences for Krista's life and mental health.

  • Krista Taylor suicide
  • accusations
  • career destruction
Q4

Why did Lydia want to replace Sebastian Brix as assistant conductor?

Lydia wanted to replace Sebastian to promote her personal assistant Francesca Lentini to the assistant conductor position. This decision appeared to be motivated by favoritism and loyalty rather than merit, which drew accusations of abuse of power when the replacement was announced.

  • Sebastian Brix
  • Francesca
  • assistant conductor
  • replacement
Q5

What triggered Lydia's public downfall?

Multiple factors contributed to Lydia's downfall: Krista's suicide and accusations, the viral edited video of her controversial Juilliard lecture criticizing a student's identity politics, protests at her book promotion event, and mounting legal trouble from Krista's family's lawsuit. These revelations collectively destroyed her reputation and career.

  • public downfall
  • lawsuit
  • viral video
  • protests
Q6

What is Lydia Tár's real name?

Lydia's real name is Linda Tarr. She discovers this about herself when she returns to her childhood home on Staten Island, confronting the reality of her constructed identity versus her origins.

  • Linda Tarr
  • real name
  • Staten Island
  • identity
Q7

What happened in the viral video of Lydia's lecture?

An edited video surfaced showing Lydia's harsh confrontation with student Max at Juilliard, where she criticized Max's disinterest in classical masters shaped by identity politics. The edited version made her appear elitist and dismissive, sparking public outrage when she returned to New York for a book promotion and deposition.

  • viral video
  • Juilliard lecture
  • Max
  • public outrage
Q8

Why did Francesca betray Lydia?

While the film hints at Francesca's betrayal through whispers Lydia hears amid the chaos, the exact nature of her betrayal is left ambiguous. It likely involved her knowledge of Lydia's manipulations and the deleted emails, potentially cooperating with those seeking to expose Lydia's conduct.

  • Francesca Lentini
  • betrayal
  • deleted emails
  • assistant
Q9

What happened in Lydia's confrontation with her neighbors?

Lydia became increasingly antagonistic toward her worker-class neighbors during her mental turmoil. The confrontation culminated in a fateful encounter that resulted in injury, though the film leaves the specific details ambiguous, reflecting her complete loss of control.

  • neighbors
  • confrontation
  • injury
  • mental breakdown
Q10

What does Lydia's final conducting position in the Philippines represent?

Lydia ends up conducting an orchestra in the Philippines, conducting a score for a "Monster Hunter" video game adaptation surrounded by cos-players. The ending is ambiguous and surreal, suggesting she has lost her former prestige while potentially repeating patterns of power dynamics, though whether this represents punishment, resignation, or a twisted continuation remains unclear.

  • Philippines
  • Monster Hunter
  • ending
  • conducting
  • cos-players
Q11

Why did Lydia confront Eliot Kaplan onstage during a performance?

In an impulsive act during a live performance, Lydia confronted Eliot onstage, publicly unraveling. This moment represented the final collapse of her composure, showcasing her inability to maintain her carefully constructed persona as her career and personal life disintegrated.

  • Eliot Kaplan
  • confrontation
  • live performance
  • breakdown
Q12

Why did Lydia ask Francesca to delete the emails?

After Krista's suicide left devastating accusations against Lydia, Lydia panicked and directed Francesca to erase incriminating emails that could implicate her in the manipulation and mistreatment of Krista. This was an attempt to shield herself from the impending lawsuit by destroying evidence.

  • deleted emails
  • evidence
  • lawsuit
  • Krista family

Movie threads

More Movies Like TÁR, by Mood & Story

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

Slow burn psychological unraveling like in TÁR

Meticulous character studies where a life of power crumbles under psychological pressure. Explore movies like TÁR, featuring meticulous character studies where powerful figures face a slow, psychologically intense downfall. If you liked the tense, steady pace and complex portrait of a life unraveling, these films deliver a similar experience of haunting self-confrontation.

  • psychological
  • unraveling
  • claustrophobic
  • anxious
  • haunting
  • oppressive
  • Tone: tense, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives follow a character, often in a position of authority or talent, as their carefully constructed world is dismantled. The story unfolds not through explosive action, but through a steady accumulation of pressures, revelations, and internal crises, leading to a loss of identity and power.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on internal collapse, a tense and steady pacing that maximizes psychological dread, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from themes of corruption, narcissism, and the consequences of one's actions.

Movies about a fall from grace in elite worlds like TÁR

Stories of influential figures brought down by their own ambition in elite settings. Find movies similar to TÁR that explore the downfall of powerful, ambitious figures in high-stakes environments like the classical music world. These stories delve into themes of power, corruption, and cancel culture, offering a heavy, tense viewing experience.

  • unraveling
  • oppressive
  • melancholic
  • anxious
  • dissociative
  • power dynamics
  • Tone: tense, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, character driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist at the peak of their career in a rarefied world. Their moral compromises, hubris, or hidden past triggers a chain of events that leads to public disgrace and a complete loss of status, exploring the intricate power dynamics of their specific milieu.

Why they belong together: These films share a central theme of a 'fall from grace,' set within specific, often insulated, professional worlds. They possess a high emotional weight, a tense tone, and a complex examination of how ambition and power can lead to self-destruction.

If you liked this

Movies Like TÁR

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

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

TÁR (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about TÁR in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained 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