Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Action Comedy Drama Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Romance Mystery Animation Crime
The Rising Hawk (2019) movie poster

Timeline

The Rising Hawk (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 110 mins · English
Echo score 64
JustWatch #16,183
Directed by
Akhtem Seitablaiev, John Wynn
Starring
Alison Doody, Tommy Flanagan, Robert Patrick, Alex MacNicoll, Maryna Koshkina, Oliver Trevena
Budget
$2.9M

Freedom is my nature. During the 13th century, a small village fights for freedom in the frontier landscape of the Carpathian Mountains against Mongolian invaders.

Action Drama History Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (11)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Rising Hawk (2019)

Where can you watch The Rising Hawk? 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.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

11 events in order · contains spoilers

The Rising Hawk Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Rising Hawk (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. Peaceful life of Zakhar and Rada in Tukhlia

    In the 13th century, Zakhar Berkut and his wife Rada lead a hardy band of highlanders in Tukhlia, a village high in the Carpathians. They strive to keep peace and protect their people from harsh mountain life. Their tranquil existence is about to be disrupted by a powerful external threat.

    When
    13th century
    Where
    Tukhlia, Carpathian Mountains

  2. Burunda Khan advances west with Mongol armies

    Burunda Khan, a powerful Mongolian general, mobilizes massive armies and pushes west in search of new lands to conquer. His looming invasion threatens Tukhlia and its people. The scale of the impending war casts a long shadow over the valley.

    When
    13th century, eve of invasion
    Where
    Carpathian front near Tukhlia

  3. Sons sent to seek aid from Tugar Vovk

    Zakhar and Rada dispatch their sons, Ivan and Maksym, to seek assistance from Tugar Vovk, a wealthy boyar who has recently arrived from Daniel of Galicia. The mission crosses troubled lands in hopes of rallying a formidable ally. The success of their plea could determine Tukhlia's fate.

    When
    early invasion period
    Where
    Tugar Vovk's domain

  4. Maksym meets Myroslava in peril

    Maksym encounters Myroslava, the strong-willed daughter of Tugar Vovk, during a dangerous peril they survive together. The shared danger forges a budding connection between them. This personal bond will influence future decisions amid the political crisis.

    When
    early invasion period
    Where
    Tugar Vovk's domain

  5. Tugar Vovk pledges to defend Tukhlia

    Impressed by the peril Maksym and Myroslava endured, Tugar Vovk pledges to defend Tukhlia against Burunda Khan. His commitment signals a turning point in the villagers' resistance. The alliance strengthens Tukhlia's chances in the looming conflict.

    When
    early invasion period
    Where
    Tugar Vovk's domain

  6. Forbidden romance between Maksym and Myroslava

    A mutual attraction develops between Maksym and Myroslava, but Tugar Vovk forbids their relationship to avoid political trouble. The romance becomes a source of personal strain within the defense agreement. Lovers must balance affection with duty as war approaches.

    When
    early invasion period
    Where
    Tugar Vovk's domain

  7. Burunda Khan's soldiers question his motives

    Burunda Khan faces questions from his warriors about his motivation and strategy for the impending invasion. The internal dissent reveals uncertainties behind the campaign and foreshadows tough decisions ahead. He must maintain unity to press the attack.

    When
    eve of war
    Where
    Burunda Khan's camp

  8. War erupts and devastates Tukhlia

    War finally erupts, and both sides suffer devastating casualties. The clash shatters Tukhlia's tranquillity and tests every defender's resolve. The mountain village braces for a hard-fought siege as lives hang in the balance.

    When
    early war
    Where
    front near Tukhlia

  9. Burunda Khan unleashes the full fury

    Burunda Khan intensifies the assault, unleashing the full fury of his forces against the highlanders. The Mongol onslaught threatens to overwhelm Tukhlia's defenses. The balance of power tilts toward a catastrophic confrontation.

    When
    mid-invasion
    Where
    Carpathian front

  10. Maksym and Myroslava confront a life-or-death choice

    With doom looming, Maksym and Myroslava must decide whether to flee to safety or make the ultimate sacrifice to save their people. The choice tests their loyalty to each other and to Tukhlia. Their decision will shape the village's fate in the days ahead.

    When
    late invasion
    Where
    Tukhlia vicinity

  11. Sacrifice to shield Tukhlia

    Maksym and Myroslava choose to make the ultimate sacrifice to save their people, offering themselves in a final stand against the invaders. Their bravery becomes a defining moment in Tukhlia's history. The mountains remember their courage long after the clash subsides.

    When
    final phase of invasion
    Where
    Tukhlia outskirts

Last updated: March 05, 2026 at 18:40

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

The Rising Hawk Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why does Tuhar Vovk forbid Maksym and Myroslava from being together?

Tuhar Vovk forbids the relationship because he fears it would create political complications during the tense alliance against Burunda Khan. As a wealthy boyar who recently arrived from Daniel of Galicia, he needs to maintain diplomatic neutrality and avoid any perceived favoritism that could jeopardize his pledge to defend Tukhlia. The romance threatens to complicate the political arrangement he made with the highlanders.

Foreshadowing: The forbidden romance was foreshadowed when Maksym and Myroslava first met during a dangerous peril, establishing their connection before the alliance was even finalized.

  • maksym
  • myroslava
  • tuhar vovk
  • forbidden love
  • romance
  • alliance
  • politics
Q2

Why does Burunda Khan invade the Carpathian Mountains?

Burunda Khan, as a powerful Mongolian general, pushes west with his vast army searching for new lands to conquer. The movie shows his own warriors questioning his motives and military strategy, suggesting the invasion is driven by Mongol expansionism rather than any specific grudge against Tukhlia. The Carpathian frontier represents new territory for the Mongol empire to subjugate.

Foreshadowing: Early in the film, the looming invasion casts a long shadow over the valley, establishing the existential threat before the attack begins.

  • burunda khan
  • mongol invasion
  • carpathian mountains
  • conquer
  • army
  • war
Q3

What happens to Maksym and Myroslava at the end of the movie?

Facing certain doom as Burunda Khan unleashes the full fury of his forces, Maksym and Myroslava must choose between fleeing to safety or making the ultimate sacrifice to save their people. They choose to stay and fight, offering themselves in a final stand against the invaders. Their sacrifice becomes a defining moment in Tukhlia's history, with the mountains remembering their courage long after the battle.

Foreshadowing: Their life-or-death choice was foreshadowed by the escalating Mongol assault that threatened to overwhelm Tukhlia's defenses.

  • maksym
  • myroslava
  • sacrifice
  • ending
  • death
  • battle
  • tukhlia
  • heroes
Q4

Why do Zakhar and Rada send their sons to seek help from Tuhar Vovk?

Zakhar and Rada dispatch their sons Ivan and Maksym to Tuhar Vovk because he is a wealthy boyar who has recently arrived from Daniel of Galicia with resources and military power. As the village faces destruction from Burunda Khan's approaching army, seeking a powerful ally becomes their only hope for survival. The success of their plea could determine whether Tukhlia survives the Mongol invasion.

Foreshadowing: The desperate mission was set up by the peaceful village being shattered by the news of the Mongol advance.

  • ivan
  • maksym
  • zakhar
  • rada
  • tuhar vovk
  • sons
  • aid
  • alliance
  • boyar
Q5

What causes the war between the villagers and the Mongols?

War erupts when Burunda Khan's massive Mongol army arrives at the Carpathian front near Tukhlia, seeking to conquer new lands. The villagers, led by Zakhar Berkut and strengthened by Tuhar Vovk's pledge, refuse to surrender their home. The clash results in devastating casualties on both sides as the mountain village becomes a battlefield for freedom against the Mongol invaders.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Burunda Khan mobilizing armies and pushing west, with the scale of impending war casting a long shadow over the valley.

  • war
  • mongols
  • tukhlia
  • battle
  • casualties
  • invasion
  • highlanders
  • carpathian mountains
Q6

How does Maksym and Myroslava's relationship affect the alliance?

Their mutual attraction, forged during a perilous encounter they survived together, initially helps secure Tuhar Vovk's pledge to defend Tukhlia. However, when Tuhar Vovk forbids their relationship to avoid political trouble, it creates personal strain within the defense agreement. The lovers must balance their affection with their duty to the village as war approaches.

Foreshadowing: The dangerous peril they survived together directly impressed Tuhar Vovk and led to his commitment to help the villagers.

  • maksym
  • myroslava
  • relationship
  • alliance
  • tuhar vovk
  • love
  • commitment
Q7

How do the highlanders defend Tukhlia against the Mongols?

The highlanders, led by Zakhar Berkut and his wife Rada, use their knowledge of the Carpathian Mountains to mount a defensive resistance. They receive military support from Tuhar Vovk's forces after securing his alliance. Despite their courage, the defense becomes increasingly desperate as Burunda Khan unleashes the full fury of his forces, eventually forcing Maksym and Myroslava toward their ultimate sacrifice.

Foreshadowing: The highlanders' initial advantage came from their hardy nature and mountain terrain, but the overwhelming Mongol numbers eventually shifted the battle's outcome.

  • highlanders
  • defense
  • tukhlia
  • carpathian mountains
  • zakhar berkut
  • resistance
  • fortification
Q8

Why do Burunda Khan's soldiers question his motives?

Burunda Khan's warriors question his motivation and military strategy for the impending invasion, revealing internal dissent within the Mongol ranks. This uncertainty about the campaign foreshadows tough decisions ahead. He must maintain unity among his forces to press the attack against Tukhlia, suggesting the invasion may not be as strategically sound as it appears.

Foreshadowing: This internal conflict occurs on the eve of war, establishing the cracks in the Mongol command structure before the battle begins.

  • burunda khan
  • mongol soldiers
  • dissent
  • strategy
  • motives
  • army
  • questioning
Q9

Does Tukhlia survive the Mongol invasion?

While the movie's ending is bittersweet, suggesting victory comes at the cost of personal sacrifice, Tukhlia survives because of the ultimate sacrifice made by Maksym and Myroslava. Their bravery in making a final stand against the invaders becomes a defining moment in the village's history, with the mountains remembering their courage long after the clash subsides.

Foreshadowing: The life-or-death choice faced by Maksym and Myroslava directly determined whether the village would endure or fall.

  • tukhlia
  • village
  • survival
  • mongol invasion
  • sacrifice
  • victory
  • ending
  • history

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Rising Hawk, by Mood & Story

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

Epic survival stories like The Rising Hawk

Communities band together in a desperate fight for freedom against invaders. If you enjoyed the high-stakes battle for freedom in The Rising Hawk, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This collection features historical and fictional epics where communities face invasion, focusing on themes of sacrifice, resilience, and patriotic fervor.

  • epic
  • patriotic
  • tense
  • desperate
  • heroic
  • tragic
  • Tone: tense, patriotic, tragic
  • Pacing: variable, building from calm to chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often begin by establishing a peaceful, idyllic community whose existence is threatened by an external, overwhelming force. The story follows the community's transformation as they muster their courage, devise strategies, and endure devastating losses in a costly war for their homeland, culminating in a victory tempered by tragedy.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on large-scale conflict, the emotional weight of communal sacrifice, and the tense, oppressive atmosphere of a people fighting for their very existence. They deliver a powerful, heavy viewing experience centered on resilience.

The Rising Hawk movie poster

The Rising Hawk

2019
The Pride and the Passion movie poster

The Pride and the Passion

1957
Red Cliff movie poster

Red Cliff

2009
War of the Arrows movie poster

War of the Arrows

2011
Band of Brothers movie poster

Band of Brothers

1000
The Outpost movie poster

The Outpost

2020
Battle of the Bulge movie poster

Battle of the Bulge

1965
The Day of the Siege: September Eleven 1683 movie poster

The Day of the Siege: September Eleven 1683

2012

Bittersweet historical dramas like The Rising Hawk

Triumphs in war come at a profound personal cost, leaving scars on the survivors. For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional cost of victory in The Rising Hawk, this list features similar historical movies. These stories explore wars and conflicts where winning demands a terrible price, blending triumph with tragedy for a powerful, thoughtful conclusion.

  • bittersweet
  • tragic
  • tense
  • heavy
  • patriotic
  • solemn
  • Tone: tense, bittersweet, heavy
  • Pacing: variable, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a clear, high-stakes conflict where the protagonists ultimately achieve their goal—be it defending their home or winning a battle—but at the expense of beloved characters, personal happiness, or communal innocence. The ending acknowledges the win while foregrounding the grief and lasting trauma it inflicts.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their shared emotional journey: a tense build-up to a climactic struggle resolved with a bittersweet outcome. They prioritize the human cost of conflict over unambiguous celebration, creating a Heavy emotional weight that resonates long after the credits roll.

The Pride and the Passion movie poster

The Pride and the Passion

1957
Bitter Victory movie poster

Bitter Victory

1957
The Lost Battalion movie poster

The Lost Battalion

2001
Band of Brothers movie poster

Band of Brothers

1000
Waterloo movie poster

Waterloo

1970
The Charge of the Light Brigade movie poster

The Charge of the Light Brigade

1936
Gettysburg movie poster

Gettysburg

1993
The Lighthorsemen movie poster

The Lighthorsemen

1987

Every angle

The Rising Hawk (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Rising Hawk 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app