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The Raffle (2024) movie poster

Timeline

The Raffle (2024) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2024 · 17 mins · Turkish
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Directed by
Muhammet Emin Altunkaynak
Starring
Evren Erler, Arben Akış, Aras Altunsoy
Budget
$350K

A resourceful and determined young boy challenges a local grocer when a raffle game comes to his neighborhood. Driven by a sense of fairness, he relentlessly pursues the grand prizes, much to the grocer’s dismay as he tries to maintain the lucrative scheme. The boy's persistence puts him at odds with the grocer, leading to a confrontation over the raffle's true purpose and outcome.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

The Raffle Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Raffle (2024) 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. Francesca's financial crisis revealed

    Francesca, a wealthy widow in Bari, discovers Maurizio's betrayals and a mountain of debt left behind. She worries about Giulia's future as she faces mounting bills and a dwindling safety net. The crushing financial pressure pushes her toward a plan far beyond conventional options.

    When
    Before the raffle
    Where
    Bari, Italy
  2. Francesca sells assets to cover debts

    On Cesare's advice, she begins liquidating assets: the villa by the sea, furniture, furs, jewelry, and even a boat that Cesare purchases. The goal is to raise enough funds for at least one year of rent and for Giulia's exclusive schooling. The drastic sale marks a radical departure from her previous life.

    When
    During asset liquidation
    Where
    Bari, Italy
  3. The raffle idea is born

    With no job prospects, Francesca and Cesare hatch a radical solution: a raffle to turn private misfortunes into public windfalls. The prize is described as the right to live with Francesca for four years, and the winner can ask for anything. Twenty participants would each pay 100 million lire to enter.

    When
    Planning stage
    Where
    Bari, Italy
  4. Prize announced as Francesca

    The raffle is publicly announced with Francesca as the prize, sparking gossip and controversy in Bari. The idea immediately captures the attention of people close to Maurizio's circle and Cesare. The town watches as the plan unfolds, unsure of the consequences.

    When
    Announcement stage
    Where
    Bari, Italy
  5. Terms tightened and participants listed

    The rules specify twenty participants, each paying 100 million lire, with the four-year companionship and the right to request anything as the core prize. Francesca's friends mobilize to support the plan, hoping to secure a stable future for her and Giulia. The raffle begins to take on a life of its own.

    When
    Pre-draw
    Where
    Bari, Italy
  6. Francesca meets Antonio after the accident

    One day, Francesca runs over a young man named Antonio, and a secret affair begins. He claims to love her, but his meetings reveal a deeper awareness of the raffle and its prospects. There is a sense that his affection doubles as a calculation tied to her wealth and plan.

    When
    Around the affair after accident
    Where
    Bari, Italy
  7. Antonio's motive becomes clear

    The penniless Antonio continues his meetings with Francesca while secretly planning to benefit from the raffle money. He uses their relationship to position himself for access to the potential windfall. His actions hint that romantic interest is a cover for financial ambition.

    When
    During pre-draw
    Where
    Bari, Italy
  8. Prosecutor challenges the raffle

    A few days before the drawing, a prosecutor receives a complaint about the raffle and about Cesare. The case threatens to trigger a scandal that could shake local society. The threat of investigation adds pressure to everyone involved.

    When
    Before the draw
    Where
    Bari, Italy
  9. Police search and questioning

    The lawyer's office is searched, and Francesca is questioned. She does not deny the raffle, but asserts that the real prize is the boat Cesare bought and that friends are helping her and Giulia. The interaction increases the tension around the plan and risks exposure.

    When
    During investigation
    Where
    Cesare's office, Bari
  10. Authorities demand a plausible story

    To avoid a public scandal, the commissioner accepts Francesca's explanation that the prize is the boat rather than herself. The truth about the raffle is effectively downplayed as authorities look for a quiet resolution. The plan edges closer to a resolution that avoids open confrontation.

    When
    Immediately after questioning
    Where
    Bari, Italy
  11. Francesca departs by plane

    With exposure looming, Francesca takes a plane and leaves Bari forever. She intends to live off the raffle money and begin a new life elsewhere with Giulia. The departure marks the end of her old life in Bari.

    When
    Shortly after the decision
    Where
    Bari, Italy (airport)
  12. A new life funded by the raffle

    Francesca begins a new life financed by the raffle winnings, continuing to provide for Giulia while letting go of Maurizio's betrayals and the debts that shaped her past. The money affords stability and distance from the scandal that nearly consumed her. Her future becomes defined by the choices she makes with the funds.

    When
    Post-departure
    Where
    Unknown (new location)

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:22

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Timeline questions answered

The Raffle Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Raffle (2024): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Francesca agree to raffle herself off?

Francesca agrees to the raffle because she faces severe financial ruin after discovering her late husband Maurizio left behind massive debts. With no job prospects and mounting bills threatening her daughter Giulia's future, she and her lawyer Cesare devise this radical plan as a last resort to secure at least a year of rent and funds for Giulia's prestigious schooling. The raffle represents her desperate attempt to trade her circumstances into financial security.

  • francesca
  • raffle
  • financial desperation
  • Bari
  • giulia
Q2

What are the exact terms of the raffle?

The raffle allows twenty participants to pay 100 million lire each for a chance to win. The prize grants the winner the right to live with Francesca for four years and to request anything within reason. The rules are deliberately vague about what "anything" means, making the arrangement legally ambiguous and socially controversial.

  • raffle
  • prize
  • 100 million lire
  • four years
  • participants
Q3

Why does Antonio pursue Francesca despite her poverty?

Antonio's pursuit of Francesca is financially motivated rather than romantic. When Francesca accidentally runs over him with her car, he uses the incident to enter her life. Though he claims to love her, his meetings reveal he is aware of the raffle and its potential windfall. He positions himself to gain access to the raffle money while maintaining the appearance of a genuine relationship.

Foreshadowing: Francesca meets Antonio after the accident, and his knowledge of the raffle scheme emerges during their meetings.

  • antonio
  • romance
  • raffle money
  • financial motive
  • deception
Q4

What triggers the police investigation into the raffle?

A complaint is filed with the prosecutor's office about the raffle and about Cesare's involvement in orchestrating the scheme. This triggers a formal investigation that threatens to expose the unconventional arrangement and create a scandal affecting the town's social circles. The complaint arrives just days before the scheduled drawing.

  • police
  • prosecutor
  • complaint
  • investigation
  • cesare
Q5

How does Francesca avoid arrest during questioning?

When police question Francesca about the raffle, she does not deny its existence but strategically reframes the prize. She claims the actual prize is the boat that Cesare purchased, not herself, and presents the raffle as friends rallying to support her and Giulia. The authorities, wanting to avoid a public scandal, accept this explanation and do not pursue charges.

  • police questioning
  • boat prize
  • scandal
  • authorities
  • escape
Q6

Why does Francesca lie about the prize being the boat?

Francesca lies about the boat being the prize because the truth, raffling herself as a companion for four years, would constitute a legal and moral scandal that could not be easily dismissed. By claiming the boat is the prize, she provides authorities with a socially acceptable explanation that protects her from prosecution and allows the matter to be resolved quietly.

  • lie
  • boat prize
  • scandal
  • deception
  • authorities
Q7

What happens to the raffle money after Francesca leaves?

After convincing authorities that the raffle was legitimate, Francesca boards a plane and disappears from Bari. She lives off the raffle money, using it to start a new life elsewhere with her daughter Giulia. The money provides her with financial security and distance from the scandal, though she leaves behind her old life and relationships.

  • raffle money
  • departure
  • new life
  • giulia
  • escape
Q8

Why does Francesca leave Bari after the investigation?

Francesca leaves Bari because the investigation has exposed her scheme and she can no longer maintain her previous life. With the truth barely concealed and the raffle money in hand, she chooses to escape rather than face continued scrutiny. She uses the funds to establish a new life elsewhere, leaving behind the social circles connected to her late husband and the scandal.

  • bari
  • departure
  • investigation
  • new life
  • scandal
Q9

What is Cesare's role and motivation in the raffle?

Cesare, Francesca's trusted lawyer and friend, helps orchestrate the raffle plan. He provides legal expertise to make the arrangement appear viable and purchases the boat that becomes part of the scheme. He also participates in the raffle himself, attracted by the prospect of escaping his own social circumstances. His dual role as helper and participant reflects the transactional nature of the arrangement.

Foreshadowing: Cesare purchases the boat during the asset liquidation, later using it as the false prize cover.

  • cesare
  • lawyer
  • raffle organizer
  • boat
  • participant
Q10

Why does the story use a raffle instead of other solutions?

The raffle serves as both a practical solution and a narrative device reflecting Francesca's desperation and the story's themes of transactional relationships. By raffling companionship rather than simply asking for help, Francesca transforms her misfortune into a formal transaction that attracts participants from her social circle, people also seeking escape from their own circumstances. The unconventional approach highlights how financial pressure distorts normal social boundaries.

  • raffle concept
  • desperation
  • transactional
  • social circles
  • escape

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Raffle, by Mood & Story

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

Morally Complex Survival Dramas like The Raffle

Stories where financial ruin forces a high-stakes moral gambit. If you liked the desperate financial gamble and heavy moral conflict in The Raffle, explore other movies like it. These drama films feature characters pushed to the brink by economic pressure, forcing them into high-stakes schemes with profound personal costs.

  • desperate
  • financially strained
  • tense
  • morally complex
  • fraudulent atmosphere
  • oppressive
  • Tone: melancholic, tense
  • Pacing: slow, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a protagonist facing overwhelming debt or ruin who devises a risky, often deceptive plan as their only escape route. The story builds tension as the plan is set in motion, leading to a climactic confrontation where the moral cost of survival is laid bare, often resulting in a bittersweet or ambiguous resolution.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core premise of financial desperation driving morally complex actions. They create a specific, tense mood through a slow build, heavy emotional weight, and an exploration of the gray areas between right and wrong when survival is at stake.

Slow Burn Melancholic Dramas like The Raffle

Character-driven dramas where sorrow and tension simmer slowly. Discover movies with a similar somber, slow-burning tension as The Raffle. These character-driven dramas prioritize mood and emotional depth, building a sense of melancholy and unease through a patient focus on a protagonist's internal struggles and moral dilemmas.

  • melancholic
  • contemplative
  • tense
  • oppressive
  • emotional isolation
  • slow burn
  • Tone: melancholic, contemplative
  • Pacing: slow, observant
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is character-centric, unfolding at a methodical pace that allows the viewer to fully absorb the protagonist's emotional state—often grief, isolation, or despair. Conflict is internal or interpersonal, with tension building gradually through subtle moments and unspoken emotions rather than overt drama, leading to an emotionally resonant, often ambiguous, endpoint.

Why they belong together: These films are united by a specific combination of a melancholic tone, slow pacing, and medium-to-high emotional weight. They offer a similar vibe: a deeply immersive, somber, and tense experience driven by character psychology rather than plot mechanics.

Every angle

The Raffle (2024) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Raffle 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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