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Timeline

The Mustang (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 96 min · English
Echo score 84
Directed by
Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
Starring
Bruce Dern, Connie Britton, Gideon Adlon, Heath Hensley, Jack Waggon, James Mcfarland

While serving time, a man named Roman is given the opportunity to participate in a wild horse training program in the Nevada desert. Struggling with his past and a volatile temper, he unexpectedly forms a deep connection with a spirited mustang. Through the demanding process of earning the horse's trust and working to gentl, Roman confronts his own demons and finds a path toward healing and a renewed sense of purpose.

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 Mustang
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Mustang (2019)

Where can you watch The Mustang? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Mustang Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Mustang (2019) 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. Mustangs Captured

    A vast herd of wild mustangs is corralled as they face a grim fate due to overpopulation. The captured horses are transported to prison facilities, where they will be trained and sold to fund a management program.

  2. Roman's Arrival at Prison

    Roman Coleman, grappling with a troubled past, is relocated to a Nevada penitentiary. His reluctance to discuss his history stems from the trauma of leaving behind a partner who now suffers from severe brain damage due to his violent actions.

    Where
    Nevada Penitentiary
  3. A Visit from Martha

    Roman's teenage daughter, Martha, unexpectedly visits him in prison to obtain his signature on important documents. This emotional encounter forces Roman to confront the impact of his past actions and offers him a glimmer of redemption.

    Where
    Prison Visitation Room
  4. Outdoor Maintenance Role

    As part of his sentencing, Roman is assigned to outdoor maintenance duties, giving him a brief respite from the prison environment. During this time, he encounters a wild mustang that has been deemed too unruly for training.

    Where
    Prison Grounds
  5. Joining the Rehabilitation Program

    Roman is accepted into a rehabilitation program aimed at training mustangs for auction. He is assigned a spirited horse named Marquis and has a strict 12-week timeline to prepare it, marking a new chapter in his life.

    Where
    Prison Rehabilitation Program
  6. Training Challenges

    Initially faced with difficulties, Roman struggles to bond with Marquis, the mustang he is tasked to train. However, under the guidance of Henry, a fellow inmate known for his horse training skills, Roman begins to find his rhythm.

    Where
    Training Stables
  7. Martha's Ultimatum

    Martha returns with another request for Roman’s initials on an important document, revealing her intent to sell their family home for a better future. This revelation triggers Roman's frustration and internal conflict about his daughter's decision to move on.

    Where
    Prison Visitation Room
  8. Dismissed from the Program

    Overwhelmed by feelings of anger and insecurity from Martha's ultimatum, Roman loses his temper, leading to his dismissal from the horse training program. He is sent back to solitary confinement, feeling defeated.

    Where
    Solitary Confinement
  9. Chaos in the Prison

    A sudden storm disrupts the prison environment, leading to chaos among the inmates who are tasked with moving their horses to safety. This turmoil provides Roman with a chance to redeem himself and rejoin the training program.

    Where
    Prison Grounds
  10. Conflict with Dan

    Upon returning to the program, Roman faces conflict with his cellmate, Dan, who coerces him into smuggling horse tranquilizers. The situation escalates when Dan, in a fit of rage, kills Henry, Roman’s mentor.

    Where
    Prison
  11. Retaliation

    Overcome with rage after the death of Henry, Roman retaliates against Dan, leaving him unconscious. This intense moment brings serious consequences as Roman alerts the authorities of Dan’s crime.

    Where
    Prison
  12. Auction Day

    As the day of the auction arrives, Roman attempts to reach out to Martha, hoping for reconciliation. However, the absence of his daughter distracts him, leading to a dangerous incident with Marquis during the auction.

    Where
    Auction Site
  13. Marquis's Fate

    Marquis spooks from the noise of a helicopter, throwing Roman off and causing chaos at the auction. Afterward, Myles delivers the heartbreaking news that Marquis is deemed unfit for training and faces a mercy killing.

    Where
    Auction Site
  14. The Decision to Escape

    In a moment of desperation, Roman decides to attempt an escape for Marquis amidst the turmoil. This bold choice reflects his deep bond with the horse and his desire to protect it from unnecessary death.

    Where
    Prison
  15. A Letter from Martha

    Time passes before Roman receives a heartfelt letter from Martha, revealing her emotional struggles and including a photograph of their newborn grandson. This note reignites Roman's hope for the future and his connection to family.

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 19:11

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Timeline questions answered

The Mustang Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Mustang (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Roman in prison?

Roman is serving time for a violent crime, he attacked his domestic partner, causing severe brain damage that left her in a permanently incapacitated state. This traumatic event haunts him throughout the film and explains his reluctance to engage with others or pursue redemption.

  • roman coleman
  • prison
  • domestic violence
  • brain damage
  • incarceration
Q2

Why is Roman dismissed from the horse training program?

Roman is dismissed after losing his temper in response to his daughter Martha's ultimatum about selling the family home. The frustration and emotional turmoil from her decision to move on from him causes him to lash out, leading to his removal from the program and return to solitary confinement.

  • roman
  • dismissed
  • program
  • horse training
  • temper
Q3

What happens to Henry in The Mustang?

Henry, the fellow inmate who mentors Roman in horse training, is murdered by Dan, Roman's manipulative cellmate. Dan kills Henry in a fit of rage after Henry refuses to help with Dan's schemes involving horse tranquilizers.

  • henry
  • dan
  • murdered
  • death
  • horse tranquilizers
Q4

Why is Marquis deemed unfit for training?

Marquis spooks from the noise of a helicopter during the auction, throwing Roman off and causing chaos. After the incident, Myles tells Roman that Marquis is too dangerous to train and will be killed as a result.

  • marquis
  • unfit
  • helicopter
  • auction
  • mercy killing
Q5

What causes the accident at the auction?

The accident occurs because Roman is distracted by his daughter Martha's absence at the auction. When he looks for her in the crowd, he misses the warning signs of Marquis becoming agitated by the helicopter overhead, which spooks the horse and throws Roman into the chaos of the stampede.

  • auction
  • accident
  • helicopter
  • stampede
  • marquis
Q6

Does Roman escape with Marquis at the end?

Yes, during the chaos caused by the storm and the auction accident, Roman makes the decision to set Marquis free rather than let the horse be killed. He runs Marquis toward the open range, allowing the mustang to escape back into the wild.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Roman encounters a mustang deemed too wild for training, foreshadowing his connection to untamed horses.

  • escape
  • free
  • mustang
  • range
  • freedom
Q7

Why does Martha want to sell the family home?

Martha wants to sell the inherited family home from Roman's mother to secure financial stability for her future. She asks Roman to sign documents authorizing the sale, but her timing and motivation reveal she is trying to move on from her father's presence in her life.

  • martha
  • sell
  • house
  • family home
  • documents
Q8

What is the significance of the helicopter in the ending?

The helicopter represents the cycle of captivity for the mustangs, it was the same helicopter used to capture the wild herd at the beginning of the film. Its noise at the auction spooks Marquis, triggering the tragic events that lead to Roman's decision to set the horse free.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene shows helicopters corralling the wild mustangs, establishing the helicopter as a symbol of forced removal from freedom.

  • helicopter
  • mustangs
  • capture
  • freedom
  • cycle
Q9

How does Roman's relationship with his daughter change?

Roman and Martha's relationship evolves from distant and strained to tentatively hopeful. Initially, Martha visits only for legal documents, showing resentment. After Roman's rejection of her home-selling plan, she misses the auction. However, she later sends him a letter with a photo of her newborn son, signaling a willingness to reconnect.

  • martha
  • daughter
  • reconciliation
  • letter
  • grandson
Q10

What does the ending mean for Roman and Marquis?

The ending is bittersweet: Roman secures freedom for Marquis by setting him loose, but Roman himself remains in prison. The hopeful note from Martha about meeting her newborn son suggests Roman may eventually have a reason to truly change his life, giving the story an optimistic undercurrent despite his continued confinement.

  • ending
  • conclusion
  • hope
  • redemption
  • future

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Mustang, by Mood & Story

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

Animal-assisted healing stories like The Mustang

Damaged individuals find healing through a powerful bond with an animal. Explore movies like The Mustang where troubled characters form transformative bonds with animals as a path to redemption. These films often feature therapeutic settings, rugged landscapes, and emotional journeys of self-discovery and healing through non-human connection.

  • redemptive
  • earnest
  • reflective
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • therapeutic
  • Tone: melancholic, hopeful, redemptive
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow an emotionally wounded or isolated protagonist who is assigned to or discovers an animal, often as part of a rehabilitation program. The arduous process of training, taming, or simply coexisting with the creature forces the character to confront their own trauma, anger, or grief, leading to profound personal growth.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their central theme of animal-assisted therapy as a powerful narrative device for redemption. They share a focus on non-verbal communication, patience, and the idea that caring for another being can heal the self, all set against often harsh, natural backdrops.

Prison redemption dramas similar to The Mustang

Incarcerated characters seek a second chance through a specific program or relationship. If you liked The Mustang, discover other movies about inmates finding a path to self-forgiveness and purpose behind bars. These similar films focus on character-driven stories of rehabilitation, strained family ties, and the bleak yet hopeful reality of seeking a second chance from within prison walls.

  • oppressive
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • redemptive
  • earnest
  • gritty
  • Tone: melancholic, oppressive, tense, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, defined by their past mistakes and volatile nature, being given a chance at redemption through a rehabilitative program (e.g., animal training, education, work detail) within the prison. The journey is fraught with institutional challenges, personal demons, and tense relationships, culminating in a hard-won but often incomplete victory.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific setting (prison) and a core character arc (redemption). They consistently blend a melancholic, oppressive atmosphere with a thread of hope, exploring themes of guilt, anger management, and the possibility of change even in a confined and harsh environment.

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Movies Like The Mustang

Similar movies to The Mustang: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

The Mustang (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Mustang 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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