The Washing Machine

The Washing Machine

Year: 2020

Runtime: 25 mins

Language: German

Director: Dominik Hartl

ThrillerComedy

The washing machine bites the dust: turning the humdrum life of a young couple upside down.

Dark
Bittersweet ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Fast pacing
Complex story

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Washing Machine (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Washing Machine (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Kolbas Penthouse, Yuri's Strip Club, Conservatory, Police Headquarters

The story largely unfolds inside the Kolbas sisters' penthouse, a lavish city residence that becomes a pressure cooker for secrets. The trio's world extends to Yuri's strip club and the police investigation, weaving crime into the fabric of daily life. The opulent surroundings contrast with violence and deceit, creating a glamorous but dangerous mood.

🏙️ Urban setting 🏢 High-rise residence 🎭 Noir atmosphere

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:58

Main Characters – The Washing Machine (2020)

Meet the key characters of The Washing Machine (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Vida Kolbas

The oldest sister, a spoiled temptress who uses seduction and manipulation to steer others. She is ruthlessly pragmatic, fiercely protective of her position within the family, and willing to cross lines to secure outcomes.

🪄 Manipulative 💋 Seductive 🧠 Calculating

Ludmilla Kolbas

The lonely sister who claims clairvoyance and fuels suspicion with dramatic premonitions. She alternates between self-serving lies and glimpses of truth, keeping the investigation off balance while masking her own motives.

🔮 Secretive 🗝️ Deceptive 🌀 Obsessed

Maria Kolbas

The bisexual sister who uses charm and sexuality to influence others, including investigators. She is calculating and ambitious, willing to conspire for wealth and to stay one step ahead of everyone else.

💃 Seductive 🗝️ Calculating 🖤 Ambitious

Yuri Petkov

The mob boss ex-boyfriend whose presence propels the plot and whose actions drive manipulation and violence. He re-enters the story to settle scores and force outcomes, becoming a dangerous constant in the sisters' world.

🧩 Dominant 💣 Threatening 🕳️ Calculating

Inspector Alexander Stacev

The investigator drawn into the sisters’ web, gradually overwhelmed by false leads and manipulated evidence. His judgment is compromised as the case spirals into personal peril and he becomes a conduit for the sisters’ schemes.

🕵️ Detective 🪪 Vulnerable 🧩 Compromised

Nikolai

Stacev’s rookie colleague who blunders and becomes entangled in the deceit. His fate underscores the danger of trusting the wrong allies within a web of lies.

👥 Colleague 💥 Involved ⚖️ Cautionary

Irina

Stacev’s girlfriend and lawyer. Their relationship fractures as the case corrupts trust, culminating in a tragic arc that mirrors the story’s dark mood.

💔 Romantic entanglement ⚖️ Lawyer 🖤 Tragic

Nidaya

Maria’s blind girlfriend, whose presence highlights themes of perception and trust. She adds complexity to the sisters’ social web and affects the dynamics of the investigation.

👁️ Blind perception 🧭 Ambiguity 🖤 Loyal

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:58

Major Themes – The Washing Machine (2020)

Explore the central themes of The Washing Machine (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Power & Manipulation

Three sisters wield charm, sexuality, and deceit to influence investigations and control those around them. They craft alibis, press secret agendas, and use flirtation as a weapon to steer the course of events. The investigation becomes a theater where trust is manipulated and loyalties are tested. The balance of power continually shifts as each sister fights to maintain control.

🔪 Murder & Deception

A murder scene at the washing machine triggers a web of lies and false confessions. Evidence vanishes, testimonies shift, and truth becomes a moving target as the sisters and others maneuver for advantage. The killer's identity remains murky as alliances fracture and reality blurs. The washing machine itself becomes a stark symbol of secrets that refuse to stay hidden.

🧭 Secrets & Betrayal

Hidden motives and secret relationships propel the sisters' schemes. Characters present themselves as innocent while secretly steering outcomes, deepening the web of deceit. Alibis are forged and confessions are manufactured to protect or advance personal agendas. Trust erodes as private desires trump collective safety.

💸 Greed & Wealth

A suitcase of jewels and cash becomes a focal point around which betrayals spiral. The pursuit of wealth blurs lines between family loyalty and personal gain. The story climbs toward a brutal reckoning where every player risks everything for a shot at fortune. Wealth acts as lure and weapon in the sisters’ deadly game.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:58

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Thrillers of Deception and Manipulation like The Washing Machine

Stories where charismatic liars create a suffocating reality of their own design.If you liked the psychological games and shifting truths in The Washing Machine, explore more movies like it. This list features complex thrillers where characters are ensnared in webs of lies, facing master manipulators who control the narrative.

deceptivemanipulativeunreliableclaustrophobicsuspensefuloppressiveunsettling

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically revolve around a central, manipulative force—often a person or a small group—who constructs a false reality for other characters. The plot unfolds through a series of revelations and fabrications, forcing protagonists and viewers alike to question every piece of information, leading to a climax where the manipulator's true motives are exposed.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their core focus on psychological domination. They share a dark, tense tone, complex narrative structures with unreliable perspectives, and a feeling of claustrophobia, even in open spaces, as the characters' mental freedom is systematically stripped away.

Claustrophobic Crime Stories like The Washing Machine

Tense, intimate crime stories where violence and betrayal corrode personal morality.For viewers who enjoyed the intimate, violent, and morally complex crime world of The Washing Machine. Discover similar movies that explore crime in confined settings, focusing on betrayal, psychological pressure, and the heavy emotional toll on characters.

claustrophobictenseviolentoppressivesuspensefulunsettlingmoral decay

Narrative Summary

These stories often unfold in limited settings—a single house, a small town, a family unit—making the conflict inescapable. The crime investigation or criminal act serves as a pressure cooker, exposing hidden rivalries, secrets, and betrayals. The journey is typically one of moral descent, where characters emerge forever scarred by their actions and choices.

Why These Movies?

They are linked by a shared sense of spatial and emotional claustrophobia, a high-intensity pace driven by personal stakes, and a dark tone that explores the grim consequences of crime on a human level. The endings are often bittersweet or bleak, reflecting the permanent damage done.

Unlock the Full Story of The Washing Machine

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Washing Machine in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Washing Machine is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Washing Machine Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Washing Machine, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Washing Machine Summary

The Washing Machine Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Washing Machine with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Washing Machine Timeline

The Washing Machine Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Washing Machine Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Washing Machine

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The Washing Machine (2020) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Washing Machine (2020) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Washing Machine (2020) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow