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The Longest Week (2014) movie poster

Timeline

The Longest Week (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 86 min · English
JustWatch #20,302 1
Directed by
Peter Glanz
Starring
Billy Crudup, Olivia Wilde, Jason Bateman

A struggling young man finds comfort and connection in reconnecting with an old friend. However, their renewed friendship becomes complicated when he develops feelings for his friend’s girlfriend. This poignant comedy-drama explores themes of adulthood, uncertainty, and the delicate nature of relationships as he navigates a challenging situation and confronts his own vulnerabilities.

Drama Comedy Cast, crew & box office
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 The Longest Week
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Longest Week (2014)

Where can you watch The Longest Week? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and Peacock Premium: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Longest Week Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Longest Week (2014) 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. Conrad's Luxurious Upbringing

    Conrad Valmont is raised in a wealthy family in New York City, surrounded by luxury and privilege. Despite this lavish lifestyle, he experiences a sense of emotional isolation due to his parents' frequent absences.

    Where
    New York City

  2. Overwhelming Separation Anxiety

    The lack of parental presence leads Conrad to develop separation anxiety, affecting his relationships. He engages with various women but remains emotionally detached, reflecting his inner turmoil.

  3. Therapy Sessions with Barry

    Conrad frequently visits his therapist, Barry, seeking guidance for his turbulent emotions. Barry provides a listening ear as Conrad speaks about his confusing attraction patterns and the women he cannot connect with genuinely.

  4. Financial Ruin

    Conrad is abruptly cut off financially by his parents, leaving him feeling stranded and without direction. This turn of events forces him to reconsider his lifestyle and relationships.

  5. Meeting Beatrice on the Subway

    During a subway ride, Conrad encounters Beatrice Fairbanks, who is engrossed in a book. Their quick yet meaningful exchange culminates in Beatrice giving Conrad her phone number, sparking an unexpected connection.

    Where
    Subway

  6. Catching Up with Dylan

    Conrad crashes at his best friend Dylan's place as they navigate feelings of envy regarding each other's lifestyles. Their friendship is tested as they each deal with their personal struggles and romantic interests.

  7. The Party Encounter

    At a party, Conrad discovers that Beatrice is not only a talented pianist but is also entangled with Dylan. This revelation complicates their budding romance and puts pressure on the friendships between the trio.

  8. Clandestine Affair Begins

    Despite the complexities, Conrad and Beatrice embark on a secret affair, fueled by their instant chemistry. However, they must navigate the emotional fallout of their relationship with Dylan.

  9. Tensions Reach a Breaking Point

    As feelings intensify, the trio's dynamics become increasingly strained. A disastrous outing culminates in an explosive argument where Conrad's financial struggles come to light, straining all relationships.

  10. Breakup with Beatrice

    Caught between conflicting loyalties, Beatrice decides to end her relationship with Conrad. This decision leaves Conrad heartbroken and in a traumatic state, forcing him to confront the realities of his life.

  11. Accident and Recovery

    Conrad suffers a devastating accident shortly after the breakup, which forces him to reevaluate his life choices. The recovery process becomes a time of profound reflection on his past relationships and emotional state.

  12. Attempting Reconciliation

    Post-recovery, Conrad reaches out to both Beatrice and Dylan in an effort to mend their fractured relationships. He hopes to reconnect and heal the wounds caused by their complicated love triangle.

  13. Bittersweet Goodbye

    Conrad shares a poignant final date with Beatrice, marking the bittersweet end of their romance. Despite the emotional weight, they acknowledge the impact they've had on each other's lives.

  14. Creating a New Project

    Conrad channels his experiences with Beatrice into writing a book, seeking to process his feelings creatively. However, the book receives a lukewarm reception, leaving him to question its impact.

  15. Reunion and Resolution

    In a turn of fate, Conrad facilitates a reunion between Dylan and Beatrice, allowing them to find success as a jazz duo. This act not only mends a friendship but also helps Conrad embrace the lessons learned from his past.

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 21:42

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Timeline questions answered

The Longest Week Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Longest Week (2014): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Conrad struggle with separation anxiety?

Conrad's separation anxiety stems from his childhood upbringing. His wealthy parents were frequently absent, traveling worldwide and leaving him in the care of staff. This emotional neglect left him feeling isolated and unable to form genuine connections, causing him to seek emotional distance in relationships while remaining attracted to women he doesn't actually care about.

Foreshadowing: His therapist Barry notes early on that Conrad is drawn to women he doesn't care for while those he genuinely cares for elude him.

  • separation anxiety
  • conrad valmont
  • emotional detachment
  • childhood trauma
  • therapy
Q2

Why do Conrad's parents cut him off financially?

The film doesn't specify the exact reason for the financial cutoff, but it occurs suddenly and leaves Conrad stranded in New York City with no resources. This event forces him to crash with his friend Dylan and fundamentally shifts his lifestyle from privilege to vulnerability.

  • financial ruin
  • parents
  • conrad
  • dylan
  • homeless
Q3

How does Conrad meet Beatrice?

Conrad meets Beatrice on a subway ride when he notices her reading "Sense and Sensibility." Their brief exchange is meaningful enough that Beatrice slips her phone number to him before they part ways, initiating their romantic connection.

  • beatrice fairbanks
  • subway
  • meeting
  • first encounter
Q4

Why is Beatrice already with Dylan when Conrad meets her?

Beatrice is already in a relationship with Dylan when Conrad encounters her at a party. The film establishes that Beatrice is a talented pianist who has also ventured into modeling, and she has been with Dylan prior to Conrad's reentry into their social circle.

Foreshadowing: The party scene reveals Beatrice's existing relationship with Dylan before any romantic tension with Conrad develops.

  • beatrice
  • dylan
  • relationship
  • love triangle
Q5

Why does Conrad pursue Beatrice even though she's with Dylan?

Despite knowing Beatrice is Dylan's girlfriend, Conrad is drawn to her and they begin a clandestine affair. The film suggests this stems from Conrad's pattern of seeking connections he shouldn't pursue, combined with the genuine chemistry between him and Beatrice. Dylan explicitly warns Conrad against pursuing her, but Conrad proceeds anyway.

  • affair
  • conrad
  • beatrice
  • dylan
  • betrayal
Q6

What causes Beatrice to break up with Conrad?

During a disastrous outing with the trio, tensions escalate and Conrad's financial struggles are exposed in an explosive argument. Caught between her loyalty to Dylan and her feelings for Conrad, Beatrice decides to end things with Conrad, choosing to step away from the complicated situation.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes financial struggles come to light during this confrontation.

  • breakup
  • beatrice
  • argument
  • financial struggles
Q7

What happens to Conrad after the breakup?

Shortly after Beatrice breaks up with him, Conrad suffers a devastating accident. This traumatic event forces him to confront the fragility of his relationships and becomes a catalyst for his later attempts at reconciliation with both Beatrice and Dylan.

  • accident
  • conrad
  • injury
  • recovery
Q8

Why does Conrad write a book about Beatrice?

After recovering from his accident, Conrad channels his experiences with Beatrice into writing a book, using creativity to process his feelings and the aftermath of their failed relationship. The book receives only a lukewarm response, leaving Conrad to question its impact.

  • book
  • writing
  • beatrice
  • creative outlet
Q9

Why does Conrad help reunite Dylan and Beatrice?

Conrad orchestrates a reunion between Dylan and Beatrice, allowing them to find success together as a jazz duo. This act represents Conrad's growth and acceptance, he puts his friends' happiness above his own feelings and embraces the lessons learned from his past mistakes.

  • reunion
  • jazz duo
  • forgiveness
  • dylan
  • beatrice
Q10

Why does Conrad end up alone at the end?

Conrad ends up alone but at peace. At age 42, he finally comes to terms with his past and embraces maturity. While he facilitates a happy outcome for Beatrice and Dylan, he accepts his own solitary path, finding personal growth through heartbreak and recovery rather than a new romantic relationship.

  • ending
  • solitary
  • maturity
  • personal growth
  • self-acceptance

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Longest Week, by Mood & Story

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

Movies with Bittersweet Love Triangles like The Longest Week

Stories where romantic entanglements lead to messy emotions and personal growth. If you liked the complicated romance in The Longest Week, explore more movies about love triangles that navigate friendship, betrayal, and bittersweet endings. These similar drama and comedy-drama stories focus on emotional depth and the messy reality of relationships.

  • bittersweet
  • romantic
  • regretful
  • introspective
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • Tone: melancholic, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives typically follow a protagonist who becomes entangled in a romantic situation with a partner who is already involved, often with a friend. The plot unfolds through the resulting emotional conflict, leading to a climax of confrontation and regret, and ultimately concludes with a resolution that emphasizes personal maturity over traditional happily-ever-afters.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on the emotional complexity of love triangles, a medium emotional weight that balances drama with moments of wit, and a consistently bittersweet or melancholic tone that feels authentic to the nuances of adult relationships.

Intermezzo: A Love Story movie poster

Intermezzo: A Love Story

1939
Those People movie poster

Those People

2016
Shortcomings movie poster

Shortcomings

2023
Eternal Summer movie poster

Eternal Summer

2006
The Longest Week movie poster

The Longest Week

2014
Sunday Bloody Sunday movie poster

Sunday Bloody Sunday

1971
Choose Me movie poster

Choose Me

1984
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Falling in Love

1984

Movies About Privileged Awakenings like The Longest Week

Journeys of self-centered characters facing consequences and finding maturity. Fans of The Longest Week's story of a man losing his privilege and finding himself will enjoy these similar movies. Discover more dramas and comedies about wealthy or sheltered protagonists who undergo a humbling journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

  • introspective
  • regretful
  • bittersweet
  • hopeful
  • self-discovery
  • melancholic
  • Tone: reflective, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, introspective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a catalyst—often financial ruin, a lost relationship, or a moral failure—that shatters the protagonist's insulated life. The resulting journey is internal, focusing on their struggle with vulnerability and their gradual, often reluctant, evolution toward emotional maturity and responsibility.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific character arc: the fall and redemption of a privileged individual. They possess a reflective, often melancholic tone, a steady pacing that allows for introspection, and a medium complexity that prioritizes character development over convoluted plotting.

An Awfully Big Adventure movie poster

An Awfully Big Adventure

1995
A Modern Hero movie poster

A Modern Hero

1934
Shortcomings movie poster

Shortcomings

2023
The Land of Steady Habits movie poster

The Land of Steady Habits

2018
Solitary Man movie poster

Solitary Man

2010
A Self-Made Hero movie poster

A Self-Made Hero

1997
Darling movie poster

Darling

1965
From the Terrace movie poster

From the Terrace

1960

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Every angle

The Longest Week (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Longest Week in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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