The Girl by the Lake (2007) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Corrado murdered Anna because he blamed her for the death of his son Angelo, who choking while under Anna's care as a babysitter. Unable to cope with his grief and guilt over losing his child, Corrado believed Anna was responsible for the tragedy and sought revenge by killing her. The murder occurred eight months after Angelo's death, when Anna herself was already suffering from an incurable brain tumor.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, investigators reveal that Angelo died from choking while Anna was babysitting him, planting the seeds of Corrado's motive.

• corrado
• anna murder
• angelo death
• babysitter
• motive
• revenge

The police investigated Anna's boyfriend Roberto and her hockey coach as initial suspects because they were close to Anna and had potential motives. The coach had a troubling past with prior convictions for sexual assault, making him a logical suspect in a violent crime against a young woman. Roberto, as her boyfriend, was questioned about their relationship and any possible conflicts that might have led to her death.

Foreshadowing: The investigation begins by examining those closest to Anna, with the coach's criminal record and Roberto's proximity providing immediate leads.

• initial suspects
• coach
• boyfriend
• investigation
• police

Anna had been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor approximately eight months before her death. This illness explained why she had recently withdrawn from her usual activities, including quitting her hockey team. The diagnosis added emotional complexity to the case, as investigators had to consider how her terminal condition might relate to the murder and the timing of the crime.

Foreshadowing: Investigators note Anna's recent withdrawal and changes in behavior, which they initially attribute to personal issues before discovering the terminal diagnosis.

• brain tumor
• illness
• diagnosis
• withdrawal
• terminal

After Mario gave Marta a ride to his home where she spent several hours with him and his father Antonutti, they were returning to the village together when they came upon Anna's naked body on the banks of Lake Fusine. Their discovery triggered the full murder investigation, shifting police attention from Marta's disappearance to a homicide case.

Foreshadowing: Marta's initial disappearance brought police into the village, setting the stage for the body discovery that would reveal the murder.

• lake fusine
• body discovery
• marta
• mario
• naked body

Investigators began viewing Corrado as a suspect when they connected two timelines: Angelo's death occurred eight months earlier while Anna was babysitting, and Anna had recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness around the same time. Corrado's personal loss and the circumstances surrounding Angelo's death provided a clear motive rooted in grief and blame. As the investigation deepened, the evidence pointed toward a crime of revenge rather than random violence.

Foreshadowing: The timeline linking Angelo's death to Anna's illness created the psychological backdrop that made Corrado's motive plausible.

• corrado
• suspect
• motive
• guilt
• grief
• blame

Anna's backpack, which she had been wearing on the morning of her death, was found in Roberto's possession. This discovery complicated the investigation and forced detectives to reassess their understanding of the case, as it suggested a potential connection between Anna's boyfriend and the crime that had not been immediately apparent.

Foreshadowing: The backpack's discovery created a new puzzle piece that initially pointed toward Roberto, before the investigation revealed the true circumstances.

• backpack
• roberto
• evidence
• possession

The small village near Tarvisio is a tight-knit, isolated community where everyone knows each other. This setting is crucial because the killer is presumed to have grown up among them, making the investigation particularly sensitive. The close relationships and shared histories create an atmosphere where secrets are kept, loyalties are tested, and the truth becomes harder to uncover when everyone has some connection to the victims.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that this is a community where nothing stays hidden, yet the killer manages to hide in plain sight.

• village
• community
• isolation
• secrets
• investigation

Angelo was the young son of Corrado Canali. He died from choking while under Anna's care as a babysitter. This tragedy occurred approximately eight months before Anna's murder and became the foundation of Corrado's motive. Anna had been babysitting Angelo when the fatal incident happened, and Corrado never forgave her for what he perceived as her responsibility in his son's death.

Foreshadowing: The circumstances of Angelo's death are revealed gradually, with investigators piecing together how this tragedy set Corrado on his path to murder.

• angelo
• choking
• babysitter
• corrado
• death

The investigation concludes with the revelation that Corrado Canali murdered Anna as an act of revenge for his son Angelo's death. The truth emerges that Corrado harbored deep-seated grievance over Angelo's death and the way that tragedy had shaped Anna's life in the months that followed. With Corrado identified as the killer, the case closes, leaving the village to reckon with the devastating realization that the murder stemmed from a grief-fueled vendetta within their own community.

Foreshadowing: The film gradually builds toward this revelation by connecting Angelo's death to Corrado's growing obsession with Anna.

• confession
• killer revealed
• motive
• conclusion
• truth

Marta, a young girl, was reported missing by her family after she accepted a ride from a disabled man named Mario. She spent several hours with Mario and his father at their home before returning. Her disappearance triggered the initial police response in the village, which ultimately led to the discovery of Anna's body and transformed the case from a missing person search to a murder investigation.

Foreshadowing: Marta's disappearance mobilizes the local authorities and brings Commissario Sanzio into the case, establishing the investigative framework.

• marta
• missing
• disappearance
• mario