The Dust of Time

The Dust of Time

Year: 2008

Runtime: 128 mins

Language: Greek

Director: Theo Angelopoulos

Drama

An American director of Greek descent creates a film that weaves his life with his parents’, spanning Italy, Germany, Russia, Kazakhstan, Canada and the United States. It follows Eleni, who declares love’s absolute truth, and drifts like a dream through five decades of historic events that shaped the 20th century. As the “dust of time” clouds memory, he searches for and revisits those lost moments in the present.

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Timeline & Setting – The Dust of Time (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Dust of Time (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1953-2000

The narrative spans several decades, starting in the early 1950s and ending at the turn of the millennium. It traces political upheaval, border crossings, and the persistence of family memories across continents. The timeline culminates in a reunified Berlin, underscoring how personal histories intersect with global change.

Location

Temirtau, Moscow, Siberia, New York, Austria, Hungary, Ontario, Berlin

The film sweeps across a string of real-world locations tied to its characters' lives. Temirtau’s industrial backdrop introduces the Cold War era's reach, while Moscow, Siberia, and border towns in Europe mark the movements of Eleni, Spyros, and Jacob. The later chapters unfold in New York, Canada (Ontario), and Berlin, using these places to mirror memory, exile, and reunion.

🌍 European settings 🗺️ Border-crossing journeys 🏙️ Urban landscapes ❄️ Winter atmosphere

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:24

Main Characters – The Dust of Time (2008)

Meet the key characters of The Dust of Time (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Eleni

A resilient matriarch whose past drives the film's emotional core. Across decades, she navigates political upheaval, long-lost lovers, and the burden of family secrets. Her choices reveal a fierce determination to protect those she loves, even at personal cost.

❤️ Mother 🧠 Memory 🌍 Immigrant

Spyros

A complex figure navigating love, loyalty, and his own secrets. He moves through decades as a man shaped by displacement and his relationships with Eleni and Jacob.

💔 Love and Betrayal 🕰️ Time-Worn 🌐 Exile

Jacob

A Jew of German descent, he threads through the story as a foil and bond across generations.

❤️ Family 🌍 Diaspora

A

An American filmmaker of Greek descent who catalyzes the family's reunions and frames the decades as a filmic memory.

🎬 Film within a film 🧭 Memory

Grandfather

An elder figure whose quiet presence anchors the lineage's memory, representing endurance across generations.

🧓 Elder 👪 Family legacy

Granddaughter

A young member of the family who becomes a focal point of protection and belonging, symbolizing renewal.

💖 Future 👪 Family

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:24

Major Themes – The Dust of Time (2008)

Explore the central themes of The Dust of Time (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⏳ Time and Memory

Across decades, the film threads past and present, showing how memories endure through changing landscapes and relationships. Time reshapes choices, regrets, and the bonds that endure across generations. The characters' recollections drive the narrative as much as external events.

❤️ Love and Separation

Love persists despite distance, borders, and broken promises. The relationships between Eleni, Spyros, and Jacob reveal tenderness, longing, and sacrifices made for family. The film treats affection as a force that outlives political regimes.

🧭 Borders and Identity

The journey across borders literalizes questions of belonging and identity. Each crossing tests loyalties and reveals how history channels personal stories. The settings—across continents—highlight the tension between roots and routes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:24

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Unlock the Full Story of The Dust of Time

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The Dust of Time Summary

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The Dust of Time Summary

The Dust of Time Timeline

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The Dust of Time Timeline

The Dust of Time Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Dust of Time Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Dust of Time

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More About The Dust of Time

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