The Secrets We Keep (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Maja recognizes Thomas as a German soldier she encountered 15 years earlier during her escape from Romania. Her certainty stems from his physical resemblance to the soldier who participated in brutal violence against her and other refugees, including the assault of her sister Miriah. Despite Thomas's claims of being Swiss, Maja's traumatic memories make her believe she has finally found one of the men responsible for her suffering.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Maja's nightmares recalling the horrors she witnessed, establishing her traumatic memories as the foundation for her conviction.

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Maja's sister Miriah was brutally assaulted by German soldiers during the SS raid on the group of Romanian refugees Maja was traveling with. This horrific event is etched into Maja's memory and is a primary reason for her obsessive pursuit of vengeance against anyone she suspects of being involved. Maja carries deep guilt believing she abandoned her sister, though the full truth remains complicated.

Foreshadowing: Maja's flashbacks show visceral scenes of violence against women during the wartime escape, with Miriah's suffering being a central trauma.

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Under intense pressure at the dug pit, Thomas finally admits to his wartime crimes, confessing with the words "I did it." He describes how soldiers like him were driven by drugs and desperation as they scrambled under the pressure of advancing forces. His confession confirms Maja's worst fears that she did not abandon her sister, validating her years of trauma and pursuit.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Maja forces Thomas to admit specific terminology used during the war, gradually breaking down his defenses.

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Maja discovers a ring engraved with a Star of David at Rachel's home, which she believes Thomas stole from a Jewish victim during the war. This physical evidence intensifies her suspicion that Thomas participated in atrocities against Jewish people and deepens her determination to extract a confession about his true past.

Foreshadowing: Maja's earlier suspicions about Thomas's involvement with Jewish victims foreshadow this discovery.

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Lewis initially goes along with Maja's accusations because he wants to support his wife, whom he sees as traumatized and in pain. He participates in confining Thomas in their basement and helping with the interrogation. However, his loyalty is tested when he discovers documentation proving Thomas is actually Swiss, causing him to question whether Maja's pursuit has crossed into dangerous obsession.

Foreshadowing: Lewis's concern for Maja's mental state is evident from the beginning, setting up his complicated role in the kidnapping.

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Lewis finds documentation at work proving that Thomas Steinmann is indeed from Switzerland, not Germany. This discovery shatters Maja's certainty and creates doubt about whether she has captured the right man. Despite this evidence, Maja refuses to believe it, insisting that Thomas is using a false identity to escape his wartime crimes.

Foreshadowing: Thomas consistently claims he was in Zürich during the war, providing this as his alibi.

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After Thomas confesses to his wartime crimes at the dug pit confrontation, Lewis attacks him in a frenzy, taking drastic action. The film implies Lewis kills Thomas, though the exact method is not explicitly shown. Maja and Lewis then attempt to cover up their actions, burying evidence and scrubbing their basement clean before joining neighbors for a Fourth of July celebration.

Foreshadowing: The escalating tension at the pit, with Maja finger on the trigger and Lewis's growing rage, foreshadows violent consequences.

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Maja's obsession stems from unresolved trauma from the war, where she witnessed horrific violence including her sister's assault. Her nightmares constantly resurface these memories. Finding Thomas, who resembles her tormentor, becomes an outlet for her need for justice and closure. Her pursuit blurs the line between legitimate retribution and psychological obsession, eventually leading her to commit kidnapping and threaten murder.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Maja's persistent nightmares about her wartime experiences, establishing her psychological state.

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After Thomas's confession and implied death, Maja and Lewis work together to bury the truth, literally and figuratively. They scrub their basement to remove evidence of the kidnapping and murder, then join Rachel and their neighbors for a Fourth of July celebration, pretending normalcy. This desperate attempt to compartmentalize their dark history suggests they will live with the burden of their actions.

Foreshadowing: The title "The Secrets We Keep" foreshadows the central theme of hidden crimes and the characters' inability to truly escape their past.

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Rachel is Thomas's American wife, through whom he claims U.S. citizenship. Her presence in Thomas's life provides him with a cover of normalcy and a legitimate identity. Maja visits Rachel to gather information, where she discovers the ring with the Star of David. Rachel remains unaware of Thomas's true past and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Foreshadowing: Thomas's marriage to Rachel is revealed as part of his deceitful past, allowing him to gain American citizenship.

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