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The Weekend (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Weekend (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 87 min · English
Echo score 55
JustWatch #14,144 7
Directed by
Stella Meghie
Starring
DeWanda Wise, Sasheer Zamata, Y'lan Noel, Tone Bell, Josefina Landeros, Kym Whitley

A stand-up comedian finds herself on a weekend getaway with her ex-boyfriend and his current girlfriend. What begins as a seemingly simple trip quickly spirals into a chaotic and hilarious series of events. As old feelings resurface and unexpected connections develop, the weekend becomes a battle of wits, humor, and ultimately, heart.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (6)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Weekend (2019)

Where can you watch The Weekend? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hoopla, The CW and Tubi TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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6 main characters · contains spoilers

The Weekend Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Weekend (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Margo Johnson (DeWanda Wise)

    Margo is a vibrant and caring friend who supports Beth through her tumultuous experiences. She signifies loyalty and friendship, pushing Beth to seek escapism even as troubles brew below the surface. Her presence plays a crucial role in portraying the complexities of female friendships amid crisis.

    • 👭 Friendship
    • 💪 Empowerment
  • Zadie Barber (Sasheer Zamata)

    Zadie is a free-spirited individual, often suggesting impulsive decisions in search of excitement. However, her character also highlights the vulnerability of women in precarious situations. Her initial encouragement for Beth's one-night stand sets a chain of events into motion that leads to tragedy.

    • 💃 Fun
    • ⚠️ Risk
  • Aubrey (Y'lan Noel)

    Aubrey represents the alluring but dangerous side of nightlife, initially captivating yet ultimately part of the grim reality that unfolds. His presence adds complexity to the narrative, transforming the idea of attraction into one fraught with peril. This duality underscores the film’s tension between desire and danger.

    • 💔 Heartbreak
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Intrigue
  • Bradford Collins (Tone Bell)

    Bradford's character exudes charm but soon reveals a darker layer as he becomes entangled in the investigation. His role raises questions about trust and the facades people maintain in social settings. As Beth uncovers the truth, Bradford morphs from a figure of intrigue to one of unease.

    • 🎭 Deception
    • 😈 Villainy
  • Diana Davis-Dyer (Josefina Landeros)

    Diana, though not heavily depicted, signifies the tragic fate that befalls many who fall victim to predatory situations. Her impact on the story is profound, as she serves as a catalyst for Beth's determination to fight for justice. Diana's character evokes compassion and a reminder of the stakes involved.

    • 😢 Tragedy
    • ⚖️ Justice
  • Karen Barber (Kym Whitley)

    Karen serves as a supportive figure for Beth, representing the voice of reason amidst chaos. Her character helps ground the storyline, providing Beth with the emotional support she needs as she faces one of her life’s hardest moments. She embodies strength in familial ties.

    • 🛡️ Support
    • 🌺 Care

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:12

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Setting

Where and When Does The Weekend Take Place?

The setting of The Weekend (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The events of the movie unfold in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues such as infidelity, trust, and justice. This era highlights the challenges of navigating personal relationships and the impact of a digital world on communication and privacy.

Location

Croatia, London

Croatia is known for its stunning coastline along the Adriatic Sea, vibrant culture, and charming old towns. It's a popular destination for tourists seeking sun and adventure. In contrast, London is a bustling metropolis with rich history and diverse communities, serving as the backdrop for Beth's journey of self-discovery and confrontation.

  • 🌍 Travel
  • 🏙️ City Life

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:12

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3 major themes

The Weekend Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Weekend (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Betrayal

    Betrayal runs deep throughout the narrative, particularly with Beth discovering her husband's affair with her best friend. This theme highlights the fragility of trust in relationships and the emotional turmoil that follows. As Beth grapples with this betrayal, it drives her quest for the truth and justice for her friend, Kate.

  • Mystery

    The film is steeped in mystery as Beth searches for answers surrounding Kate's disappearance. The unfolding investigation reveals layers of deception involving high-class escorts and drugs, intensifying the tension. Through Beth's eyes, the audience experiences the gripping pursuit of truth amidst suspicion and danger.

  • Resilience

    Beth's journey embodies resilience, as she confronts personal and external challenges head-on. Despite being misunderstood and accused, she remains determined to uncover the truth. Her strength is highlighted as she ultimately takes control of her narrative, seeking closure and justice for herself and her child.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:12

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Character & theme questions

The Weekend Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Weekend (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The story unfolds primarily in Croatia, a stunning coastal destination along the Adriatic Sea, and London, the bustling metropolis where Beth's journey of self-discovery begins. The contrast between Croatia's scenic escape and London's urban complexity shapes the narrative's tension.

  • croatia
  • london
  • setting
  • locations
  • travel
Q2

When does the story take place?

The movie is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues like infidelity, trust, and the impact of digital communication on relationships. This modern setting grounds the thriller in recognizable, relatable circumstances.

  • contemporary
  • modern era
  • time period
  • setting
Q3

What does the betrayal theme explore?

Betrayal runs deep as Beth discovers her husband's affair with her best friend, shattering her trust and launching her into a quest for truth and justice. This theme highlights the emotional devastation of infidelity and how it ripples through relationships.

  • betrayal
  • infidelity
  • trust
  • husband's affair
  • emotional turmoil
Q4

What is the mystery in the movie?

The mystery centers on Kate's disappearance, with Beth investigating a web of deception involving high-class escorts and drugs. As Beth digs deeper, she uncovers dangerous secrets that intensify the suspense and put her own life at risk.

  • mystery
  • disappearance
  • investigation
  • deception
  • escorts
Q5

What does resilience mean for the main character?

Beth embodies resilience as she confronts personal and external challenges despite being misunderstood and accused. Her determination to uncover the truth and seek justice for her friend drives her journey, ultimately leading her to take control of her narrative.

  • resilience
  • strength
  • determination
  • protagonist
  • justice
Q6

Who is Margo Johnson?

Margo Johnson is Beth's vibrant and caring friend who supports her through the tumultuous events. She represents loyalty and friendship, encouraging Beth to seek escapism while troubles simmer beneath the surface, highlighting the complexities of female friendships during crisis.

  • margo johnson
  • friend
  • supporting character
  • loyalty
  • female friendship
Q7

Who is Zadie Barber?

Zadie Barber is a free-spirited character who often makes impulsive decisions in search of excitement. Her encouragement of Beth's one-night stand sets tragic events in motion, while her arc also highlights the vulnerability of women in precarious situations.

  • zadie barber
  • impulsive
  • free-spirited
  • character role
Q8

Who is Aubrey in the story?

Aubrey represents the alluring yet dangerous side of nightlife, initially captivating Beth but ultimately revealing a grim reality. His character embodies the duality between desire and peril, adding tension to the narrative's exploration of attraction.

  • aubrey
  • nightlife
  • danger
  • attraction
  • duality
Q9

Who is Bradford Collins?

Bradford Collins exudes charm but reveals darker layers as the investigation unfolds. His role raises questions about trust and the facades people maintain in social settings, eventually transforming from a figure of intrigue to one of unease.

  • bradford collins
  • charm
  • deception
  • suspicious character
Q10

What is the emotional tone of the story?

The movie carries a heavy emotional weight, dealing with profound trauma from a friend's murder compounded by spousal betrayal. The tone is tense and suspenseful, dominated by police suspicion and the unraveling of personal deception, ending on a bittersweet note.

  • emotional tone
  • tension
  • suspense
  • trauma
  • bittersweet ending
Q11

How does the setting influence the plot?

The contrasting settings of Croatia and London serve narrative purposes: Croatia provides an idyllic yet dangerous escape where tragedy unfolds, while London represents the urban reality Beth returns to face. These locations amplify the story's themes of trust, danger, and self-discovery.

  • setting influence
  • croatia
  • london
  • plot locations
  • narrative

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Weekend, by Mood & Story

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

Thrillers of Betrayal and Suspicion like The Weekend

Stories where a trusted partner becomes the source of a terrifying conspiracy. Discover movies like The Weekend where a personal relationship becomes a deadly trap. If you enjoyed the high-tension plot of false accusations and a spouse's hidden guilt, you'll find similar gripping stories of marital strife, conspiracy, and fighting back from a position of profound distrust.

  • suspenseful
  • paranoid
  • betrayal
  • tense
  • gripping
  • investigation
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, suspenseful
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: This thread follows protagonists who discover that their closest ally—a spouse, partner, or friend—is secretly orchestrating their downfall. The narrative arc is a rapid descent from safety into a nightmare, driven by investigation, shocking revelations, and a fight for survival against an intimately known enemy.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here by their core theme of intimate betrayal and the specific, intense emotional journey of being framed or targeted by a loved one. They share a fast pace, a complex mystery, and a heavy emotional weight centered on trust shattered.

Movies with Bittersweet Endings like The Weekend

Journeys where truth prevails, but at a great personal cost. Explore films with endings similar to The Weekend, where justice is achieved but the emotional toll is immense. If you appreciated the complex mix of closure and sadness from losing a friend and a marriage, you'll find other powerful stories where the outcome is satisfying yet deeply poignant.

  • bittersweet
  • melancholic
  • gripping
  • grief
  • closure
  • justice
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, gripping
  • Pacing: fast, emotionally charged
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist enduring a heavy emotional trauma—such as the loss of a loved one or the destruction of a core relationship—while fighting for a just outcome. The story concludes with the antagonist being defeated or the truth revealed, but the protagonist's personal world is irrevocably changed, resulting in a victory that feels bittersweet.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their specific emotional payoff: a conclusive ending that is both satisfying and sad. They balance the catharsis of solving a mystery or defeating a villain with the sobering reality of enduring grief and irreversible personal damage.

Every angle

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

Everything about The Weekend 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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