The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed (2024) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie is set in New York City, primarily in three locations: Ann's modest apartment where she navigates her personal relationships, a corporate office where she works, and her family home where she maintains a strained relationship with her parents.

• setting
• locations
• new york city
• apartment
• office

The film takes place in contemporary, modern-day urban settings, reflecting current societal issues and the complexities of relationships in today's world.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern
• era

The movie explores three central themes: relationships, which delve into the emotional highs and lows of romantic and platonic connections; identity, as Ann grapples with self-worth and the masks she wears in different roles; and BDSM, portrayed as Ann's nuanced exploration of submission and dominance within her relationships.

• themes
• relationships
• identity
• bdsm

Relationships are central to the film, illustrating Ann's challenges in connecting with others. From her BDSM dynamics to her familial bonds, the movie explores both romantic and platonic interactions, capturing the difficulty of achieving genuine emotional intimacy in a world that often prioritizes convenience and self-interest.

• relationships
• emotional intimacy
• connections

BDSM is presented as a nuanced theme rather than mere titillation. It represents Ann's search for fulfillment and control in a world that often feels overwhelming and demeaning. The exploration of submission and dominance reflects her broader struggle to find meaning and agency in her relationships.

• bdsm
• submission
• dominance
• power dynamics

Ann is a thirty-three-year-old woman portrayed by Joanna Arnow who feels emotionally detached from her life. She is caught in a long-term BDSM dynamic with Allen while working a corporate job and dealing with family expectations. Her journey centers on seeking deeper connections and confronting her past.

• ann
• protagonist
• main character
• joanna arnow

Allen is Ann's long-term domin partner who maintains a nonchalant, detached attitude toward their relationship. He represents Ann's initial exploration of BDSM, but his lack of emotional investment ultimately prompts her to seek more meaningful connections elsewhere.

• allen
• dom
• bdsm partner
• scott cohen

Chris is a younger man who becomes significant in Ann's journey of self-discovery. He shares a unique bond with Ann through their mutual interests, though he struggles to understand and adapt to her BDSM background, creating tension in their developing relationship.

• chris
• babak tafti
• relationship
• younger man

Karl is Ann's manager at the corporate office who exemplifies the struggles of the workplace environment. His micromanagement style reflects the power dynamics present in her professional life, mirroring the control issues she experiences in her personal relationships.

• karl
• manager
• corporate
• work
• micormanagement

Though classified as a comedy, the film has a predominantly melancholic tone with dry, situational humor arising from awkwardness rather than overt comedy. It maintains a slow, observational pace typical of character-driven indie dramas, focusing on everyday disappointments rather than dramatic plot turns.

• tone
• genre
• comedy
• melancholic
• indie
• drama