The Robbers

The Robbers

Year: 2023

Runtime: 15 mins

Language: German

Drama

A group of trans women come together to plan a daring robbery. To create a diversion and mislead investigators, they disguise themselves as men, meticulously practicing masculine speech, posture, and behavior. As they prepare, they confront the challenges of embodying a male persona, pushing their emotional and physical boundaries while navigating complex relationships within their close-knit team. Their rehearsals are fraught with difficulty and repeated setbacks, testing the limits of their commitment and camaraderie.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Robbers (2023)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Robbers (2023). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary (late 20th to early 21st century)

The events take place in recent decades, highlighting modern societal issues, such as crime, rehabilitation, and the struggles with personal change. The setting provides a realistic backdrop that emphasizes current themes of law, morality, and personal redemption.

Location

Austria

The movie is set primarily in Austria, a country known for its mountainous landscapes and historic cities. The settings range from urban areas to remote countryside, reflecting a diverse and picturesque environment that contrasts with the darker elements of the story.

🏞️ Alpine 🏙️ Urban 🌲 Countryside

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:44

Main Characters – The Robbers (2023)

Meet the key characters of The Robbers (2023), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Johann

Johann is a charismatic yet troubled man, combining athletic talent with a violent streak. His motivations are complex, driven by a desire for adrenaline, challenge, or perhaps a need to escape his inner turmoil. His criminal acts and eventual downfall depict a tragic conflict between his ambitions and moral boundaries.

🏃‍♂️ Athlete 🥊 Violent 🧠 Troubled

Erika

Erika is a compassionate social worker and Johann’s love interest, representing stability and moral conscience. Her suspicion and moral conflict highlight her caring nature and the emotional toll Johann’s actions take on her. She ultimately acts as a catalyst for his downfall and reflection.

💗 Compassionate 🧳 Supportive 🔍 Investigative

Parole Officer

The parole officer embodies authority and the strictures of the law. His concern for Johann’s rehabilitation reflects themes of oversight and responsibility. His interactions with Johann underscore the tension between redemption and punishment.

👮‍♂️ Authority 📜 Law 🚨 Enforcement

Old Man

The old man is a minor yet pivotal character whose encounter with Johann signifies the unpredictability of life and mortality. His confrontation with Johann reveals the vulnerability and danger that surround the protagonist’s reckless pursuit of freedom.

👴 Elder 🗡️ Threat ⚠️ Vulnerable

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:44

Major Themes – The Robbers (2023)

Explore the central themes of The Robbers (2023), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔗 Confinement

The movie explores physical and psychological confinement, from Johann’s time in prison to his mental state during his criminal pursuits. It raises questions about freedom, control, and the limits imposed on individuals by society and themselves.

🔥 Rebellion

Johann's continuous cycle of crime and defiance against authority signifies a rebellious spirit. The film delves into his refusal to conform and his pursuit of personal goals despite societal restrictions, highlighting themes of individuality and resistance.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:44

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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.

Bleak crime spiral movies like The Robbers

Stories of accelerating criminal obsession ending in tragic collapse.If you liked the accelerating downfall and tragic ending of The Robbers, these movies feature similar stories of desperate criminal acts, downward spirals, and bleak conclusions. Explore films about obsession, failure, and the heavy emotional weight of crime.

desperatetensebrutaltragicgrippingobsessivefatalistic

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread follow a clear, often linear, pattern of a character diving deeper into criminality. Each act escalates the stakes, pushing the protagonist further from their former life. The journey is marked by high-tension sequences, moral compromises, and a growing sense of doom, culminating in a final, tragic outcome.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared dark tone, fast pacing, and heavy emotional weight. They all explore the theme of a self-destructive cycle driven by obsession, resulting in a bleak ending that leaves a powerful, somber impact on the viewer.

Character-driven heist movies similar to The Robbers

Heist films where the emotional stakes are as high as the criminal ones.For viewers who enjoyed the high-stakes planning and complex team dynamics in The Robbers, this list features similar movies where a heist is driven by desperate characters and fraught relationships. Find tense crime films with heavy emotional weight and gripping personal drama.

tensegrippingdesperatebrutaltragicobsessivehigh-stakes

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a high-risk criminal plan, but the core of the story is the preparation and the interpersonal friction within the group. The heist serves as a pressure cooker that tests loyalties, reveals character flaws, and often leads to tragic consequences, making the emotional journey as central as the plot mechanics.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their high intensity, dark tone, and focus on the emotional and psychological dimensions of a heist. They share a gripping, tense mood and prioritize the characters' desperate struggles over a purely procedural crime narrative.

Unlock the Full Story of The Robbers

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Robbers 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 Robbers is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Robbers Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Robbers, 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 Robbers Summary

The Robbers Timeline

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

The Robbers Timeline

The Robbers Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Robbers that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Robbers Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Robbers

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Robbers: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Robbers