The Man Who Cried (2001) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Dante betrayed Susan out of jealousy and resentment after she rejected his romantic advances. When he discovered her Jewish background through her father's photograph, he used this information to harm her. Additionally, Dante felt threatened himself as an Italian in Paris during the Nazi occupation, and his anger at being spurned combined with his precarious position led him to expose Susan to the Germans.

Foreshadowing: Dante's jealousy was foreshadowed when he visited Susan's apartment after spending time with Lola, discovering the photograph that revealed her Jewish identity.

• dante betrayal
• susan jewish
• paris occupation
• betrayal scene

The ocean liner they boarded to escape to America was tragically torpedoed during its voyage. This catastrophic event occurred as they attempted to flee the Nazi invasion of France. While Susan miraculously survived, Lola was killed in the chaos, devastating Susan and marking one of the film's most tragic moments.

Foreshadowing: The urgency of their departure was heightened when Nazis attacked Cesar's Romani village the night before, killing a child and making their escape critical.

• ocean liner
• torpedo attack
• lola death
• escape from france

Susan's father believed his entire family, including his daughter and mother, had been killed during the brutal pogrom that destroyed their village. Believing he was the sole survivor, he altered his identity, abandoned his singing career, and built a new life out west with a new family. He never knew that Fegele had escaped to England and survived.

Foreshadowing: The devastating destruction of Fegele's village and the assumption of her death directly led to his decision to start over.

• father identity
• new life
• believed family dead
• hollywood

Cesar's Romani village was attacked by Nazis on the night Susan and Lola planned to depart for America. A child was killed in the attack, making the need for Susan to flee urgent. Cesar insisted she leave for her safety, despite his love for her and his desire to stay and fight. The film does not explicitly show Cesar's ultimate fate, but he chose to remain behind while Susan escaped.

Foreshadowing: The attack on Cesar's village was set up by the growing Nazi threat throughout the Paris portion of the film.

• cesar
• romani village
• nazi attack
• gypsy horseman

When Fegele arrived in England as a young refugee orphan, a local official renamed her 'Susan' as part of the assimilation process. This was common practice at the time, where officials would anglicize names to help integrate immigrant children into their new country. She was also placed with foster parents to care for her.

• renamed susan
• england
• foster parents
• assimilation

Dante's intense reaction stemmed from a combination of romantic rejection and the volatile political climate. When Susan rejected his romantic advances, his feelings turned to anger. Additionally, in the context of Nazi-occupied Paris, discovering someone's Jewish background could be used as leverage. Dante's jealousy was compounded by his own precarious position as an Italian when Mussolini might align with the Nazis.

Foreshadowing: Dante's interest in Lola and his presence in the opera world set up his later discovery of Susan's photograph.

• dante jealousy
• jewish heritage
• opera singer
• paris occupation

After leaving for America in 1927, Susan's father received news (or lack thereof) about the brutal pogrom that destroyed his village. With no information about Fegele's escape to England, he reasonably concluded that his daughter and mother had perished in the attack, as many others in the village did. This devastating belief shaped his decision to start a new life.

Foreshadowing: The brutal destruction of the village and Fegele's narrow escape created the misunderstanding that led to her father's belief.

• pogrom
• village destruction
• believed dead
• father survival

'Je Crois Entendre Encore' from Bizet's opera *Les pêcheurs de perles* was the song Fegele's father sang to her before his departure in 1927. This tender moment became a lasting memory for her. Later, in the film's emotional climax, Susan sings the same opera aria in Yiddish at her father's hospital bedside, symbolizing their unbreakable bond despite decades of separation and hardship.

Foreshadowing: The song was introduced in the opening scene as a tender father-daughter moment that would resonate throughout the film.

• je crois entendre encore
• bizet
• yiddish
• father daughter song

Cesar insisted that Susan flee to America because her life was in immediate danger. Dante had betrayed her to German officers, making her a target for arrest. Additionally, the Nazi attack on Cesar's Romani village had just occurred, killing a child. While Susan wanted to stay and fight alongside Cesar, he prioritized her survival and made her go, recognizing that staying meant almost certain death.

Foreshadowing: Lola had already arranged the ocean liner passage, and the attack on the village made immediate departure necessary.

• cesar love
• escape america
• flee paris
• danger

Lola died when the ocean liner she and Susan were traveling on was torpedoed during their voyage to America. While Susan survived, Lola was killed in the attack at sea. This tragic event occurred shortly after they escaped from Nazi-occupied Paris, making the loss even more devastating for Susan.

Foreshadowing: The ocean liner departure was their only escape route from the danger in Paris.

• lola death
• torpedo
• ocean liner
• paris escape

Susan rejected Dante's romantic advances because she was in love with Cesar, the charismatic Romani horseman she had connected with earlier in Paris. Their relationship had deepened through her introduction to Cesar's community, and she had no romantic interest in Dante. This rejection, combined with his discovery of her Jewish background, fueled Dante's eventual betrayal.

Foreshadowing: Susan's interest in Cesar was established during their first meeting at the glamorous social event in Paris.

• susan cesar
• dante rejected
• love triangle
• paris romance

Lola helped Susan escape Paris because she recognized the grave danger Susan faced after Dante betrayed her to German authorities. As Susan's close friend and roommate in Paris, Lola was aware of the Nazi threats and understood that Susan would be arrested if she remained. Lola arranged passage on the ocean liner and urged her to leave before it was too late, sacrificing her own safety in the process.

Foreshadowing: Lola's concern for Susan was established through their friendship and living arrangements in Paris.

• lola help
• paris escape
• friend sacrifice
• arranged passage