The Long Goodbye

Year: 1973

Runtime: 112 min

Language: English

Director: Robert Altman

DramaMysteryThrillerComedyCrime

As an immigrant family prepares for a wedding in their British home, a local right-wing march unexpectedly escalates into chaos. The disruption exposes underlying tensions and fractures within the community, challenging the family's sense of belonging and revealing a more complex reality beneath the surface of everyday life.

The Long Goodbye (1973) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Long Goodbye (1973) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a quiet British suburb, an immigrant family is busy preparing for a wedding that promises to stitch together two worlds. The house hums with the clatter of dishes, the scent of spices mingling with the cold drizzle of an English spring, and the soft chatter of relatives who have traveled far to share in the celebration. The ordinary rhythm of daily life is underscored by a palpable sense of anticipation, as the couple and their families hope the day will mark a bridge between past traditions and the new life they are building together.

Leila and Samir stand at the heart of the gathering, embodying both the tenderness of love and the weight of cultural expectation. Leila’s mother, a steadfast pillar of the household, meticulously oversees the décor, while Samir’s father, equally proud, balances the desire to honor his heritage with the need to fit into the surrounding community. Their interactions are warm yet tinged with the quiet anxiety that often accompanies moments of transition—each smile, each shared story hinting at deeper questions about identity, belonging, and the future they hope to craft amidst a society that watches from the outside.

That fragile equilibrium is suddenly tested when a local right‑wing march rolls through the neighborhood, its chants and banners spilling onto the streets where the wedding preparations are underway. The demonstration, initially a distant rumble, rapidly escalates into a chaotic interruption that forces the family to confront the simmering tensions hidden beneath the surface of everyday life. As the noise swells and neighbors pause to watch, a subtle but powerful shift occurs: the celebration becomes a mirror reflecting both the community’s unease and the family’s own hidden doubts. The film’s tone remains atmospheric and introspective, inviting viewers to linger on the delicate dance between hope and uncertainty, and to wonder how far the promise of a new chapter can stretch when the world outside insists on reminding everyone of its own unresolved fractures.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 14:16

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Cynical Detective Movies Like The Long Goodbye

World-weary protagonists uncover the rot beneath society's sunny facade.If you liked Elliott Gould's portrayal of Philip Marlowe in The Long Goodbye, you'll enjoy these movies about weary detectives. This thread gathers films with similar world-weary protagonists, slow-burn mysteries, and a deep sense of cynicism. Find other neo-noir and crime stories where the hero is as interesting as the case.

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These narratives follow a disillusioned protagonist, often a detective, as they investigate a case that reveals more about the corruption of the world than it does about the crime itself. The central mystery is often simple, but it's complicated by layers of deception from characters who are all morally compromised. The protagonist's journey is less about triumphant justice and more about a grim confirmation of their cynical worldview.

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Movies are grouped here based on their cynical tone, the archetype of the detached hero, and the thematic focus on betrayal and moral ambiguity. They share a similar pacing that allows for atmospheric immersion and a mood that balances melancholy with a sharp, disenchanted perspective on human nature.

Atmospheric Neo-Noir Films Like The Long Goodbye

Slow-burn mysteries where the setting and mood are central to the story.Discover movies that share the hazy, sun-drenched atmosphere and slow-burn pace of The Long Goodbye. This section features similar neo-noir stories where the mood and setting are as important as the plot. If you liked the laid-back, melancholic vibe of Los Angeles in the film, you'll find more like it here.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative in these films unfolds at a leisurely pace, prioritizing mood and character observation over complex plotting. The story often feels like a meandering journey through a specific, vividly rendered world. The central conflict simmers beneath a surface of everyday life, with bursts of violence or revelation that disrupt the languid atmosphere but don't fundamentally change its melancholic tone.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their unique blend of a slow, meandering pace with a distinctly melancholic and hazy neo-noir atmosphere. They share a medium intensity that focuses on simmering tension rather than constant action, and often feature bittersweet or bleak endings that reinforce the overall mood.

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The Long Goodbye Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Long Goodbye

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More About The Long Goodbye

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