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Timeline

This Is Our Land (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 117 min · French
Echo score 70
JustWatch #23,008 1
Directed by
Lucas Belvaux
Starring
Émilie Dequenne, André Dussollier, Catherine Jacob, Guillaume Gouix, Patrick Descamps, Corentin Lobet
Budget
$5.8M

A compassionate nurse, seeking connection and purpose, becomes entangled with a far-right political movement. Drawn in by their promises, she explores their ideology but soon faces a disturbing reality, challenging her beliefs and forcing her to examine the dangerous allure of extremism and the potential consequences of belonging.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch This Is Our Land (2018)

Where can you watch This Is Our Land? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on OVID, Fawesome and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

This Is Our Land Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of This Is Our Land (2018) 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. Pauline's Life as a Nurse

    Pauline is a dedicated home nurse living in a picturesque village in northern France. Her job is her sole support for her working-class family, which includes her two children, Tom and Lili, along with her father, Jacques.

    Where
    Pas-de-Calais, France
  2. The Proposition from Dr. Berthier

    Dr. Philippe Berthier approaches Pauline with an unexpected opportunity to run for mayor, backed by the influential nationalist party leader Agnès Dorgelle. He believes her experience as a compassionate caregiver and her strong ties to the community make her an excellent candidate.

  3. Meeting Stéphane

    While navigating her new mayoral candidacy, Pauline reconnects with Stéphane Stankowiak, an old friend and her son’s soccer coach. Unbeknownst to Pauline, Stéphane is embroiled with skinheads, complicating their friendship and her campaign.

  4. Confrontation with Jacques

    When Pauline shares her decision to run for mayor with her father, Jacques reacts with shock and horror. His disapproval stems from Pauline's potential association with political extremism, generating tension and division within their family.

  5. Community Division

    The announcement of Pauline’s candidacy causes a rift in the community. Conservative patients rally around her while progressive supporters withdraw, fearing she may be compromising their values through her association with the nationalist party.

  6. Rising Tensions and Sabotage

    As her campaign progresses, Pauline faces hostility from individuals like Nathalie Leclerc, who spreads misinformation to sabotage her efforts. Meanwhile, Nada Belisha accuses her of being a puppet for extremist agendas, intensifying the campaign's challenges.

  7. Stéphane’s Vigilance

    Concerns for Pauline’s safety increase as tensions rise around her campaign. Stéphane steps in to protect her, recruiting trusted friends to keep a watchful eye on her amidst the growing threats from the skinhead group.

  8. Violent Attack

    Chaos erupts when skinheads launch an attack on a protestor, resulting in serious injuries for the individual involved. Pauline is caught in the crossfire, facing indifference from onlookers more concerned with their own lives than the violence unfolding.

  9. Seeking Guidance

    As Pauline feels increasingly isolated from her family and friends, she reaches out to Dr. Berthier for advice. During this turbulent period, she learns unsettling truths about Stéphane’s violent past, forcing her to reevaluate their relationship.

  10. Emotional Departure from Politics

    Overwhelmed by the turmoil in her personal life and her political aspirations, Pauline makes the painful decision to step away from the party. Her feelings for Stéphane, once a source of strength, complicate her stance on the political unrest surrounding her.

  11. Reconnecting with Family

    In search of solace, Pauline reconnects with her father and children, enjoying a rare moment of happiness during an outing to the stadium. This time spent together highlights the importance of family amidst the chaos surrounding her life.

    Where
    Stadium
  12. Shocking Discovery

    The joy of the outing turns to horror when Pauline discovers alarming photos of Stéphane with his friends, which reveal their aggressive stance towards refugees. This revelation shatters her trust and complicates their relationship even further.

  13. Confrontation with Stéphane

    Furious about the images of aggression, Pauline confronts Stéphane, unleashing her pent-up anger. The escalating argument draws the intervention of Jacques and the children, as they struggle to manage the situation borne from betrayal and pain.

  14. Returning Home

    After the confrontation, Pauline is led back home by her father and children, showcasing the fracturing of her relationships and the heaviness of unresolved issues. The difficult journey back highlights the tension between her political struggles and personal life.

  15. Looming Doubts

    As Pauline navigates her way through the aftermath of her decisions, she is left with profound doubts about her relationships with Stéphane, her community, and her own values. The weight of the situation threatens to unravel the bonds she once held dear.

Last updated: November 18, 2024 at 21:15

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Timeline questions answered

This Is Our Land Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of This Is Our Land (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Jacques react so strongly to Pauline running for mayor?

Jacques, a former member of the French Communist Party, is horrified because he recognizes the nationalist party backing Pauline as fascist. His political history fighting against far-right movements makes him see her candidacy as a direct betrayal of the values he held throughout his life. This revelation creates an irreconcilable rift between father and daughter.

Foreshadowing: Jacques's past as a communist who worked alongside Dr. Berthier (who is secretly aligned with the nationalist party) adds dramatic irony to his shock.

  • jacques
  • father
  • communist
  • mayoral candidacy
  • nationalism
  • fascism
Q2

Why is Pauline chosen as a mayoral candidate?

Agnès Dorgelle, the leader of the nationalist party, selects Pauline because her reputation as a compassionate nurse makes her an ideal public face for the movement. The party hopes her caring image will attract moderate voters and mask the party's extremist ideology. Dr. Berthier acts as the intermediary who approaches Pauline with this opportunity.

Foreshadowing: The party seeks a sympathetic, non-political figurehead to appeal to mainstream voters while advancing their hidden agenda.

  • agnès dorgelle
  • nationalist party
  • mayoral candidate
  • nurse
  • recruitment
Q3

What is Stéphane's connection to the skinheads?

Stéphane has a troubling history with a group of skinheads, though he claims to be trying to distance himself from them. Dr. Berthier threatens to expose this past to Pauline if Stéphane continues their relationship, revealing the political manipulation at play. Pauline later discovers the full truth about his violent involvement when she sees the photos.

Foreshadowing: Stéphane's role as soccer coach and his attempts to protect Pauline contrast with his hidden violent affiliations.

  • stéphane stankowiak
  • skinheads
  • violence
  • past
  • football coach
Q4

Why does Pauline decide to leave the nationalist party?

Pauline leaves the party because she becomes increasingly isolated from her father, patients, and community. The political turmoil damages her personal relationships, and her feelings for Stéphane complicate her stance. She ultimately chooses personal connections over political ambitions, realizing the movement has caused more harm than good.

Foreshadowing: Her growing isolation from Jacques foreshadows her eventual decision to abandon the political path.

  • leave party
  • resignation
  • political campaign
  • family
  • stephane
Q5

What do the photos reveal about Stéphane?

The photos show Stéphane with his skinhead friends engaging in violent aggression toward refugees. These images shatter Pauline's trust completely, revealing that his violent past was never truly behind him. The discovery occurs when Lili unknowingly views the photos on Stéphane's phone during their family outing.

Foreshadowing: Stéphane's protective behavior toward Pauline throughout the film makes this betrayal even more devastating.

  • photos
  • violence
  • refugees
  • betrayal
  • lili
  • smartphone
Q6

Why does the community split over Pauline's candidacy?

Pauline's association with the nationalist party divides the village between conservative supporters who rally behind her and progressive residents who withdraw their support. Some patients abandon her care while others remain loyal. Friends like Nathalie Leclerc actively work to sabotage her campaign with misinformation, while Nada Belisha accuses her of being an extremist puppet.

Foreshadowing: The community's division reflects the broader political fractures in French society shown throughout the film.

  • community division
  • village
  • patients
  • friends
  • political split
  • pas-de-calais
Q7

Why does Nathalie Leclerc sabotage Pauline's campaign?

Nathalie, who is racist, joins Pauline's campaign specifically to undermine it from within. She spreads misinformation intended to damage Pauline's reputation and derail her candidacy. Her sabotage represents the way extremist elements infiltrate political movements to advance their own agenda.

Foreshadowing: Nathalie's early support masks her true intent to destroy what she sees as a threat to her ideology.

  • nathalie leclerc
  • sabotage
  • misinformation
  • racism
  • campaign
Q8

What does Nada Belisha accuse Pauline of?

Nada Belisha, a French woman of Slavic descent, accuses Pauline of being a puppet for extremist agendas. She sees through the nationalist party's manipulation and believes Pauline is being used as a convenient face to hide the party's true racist ideology. This accusation reflects the perspective of immigrants who would be directly harmed by such a movement.

Foreshadowing: Nada's accusation proves prescient as the film's events unfold and reveal the party's true nature.

  • nada belisha
  • puppet
  • extremist
  • accusation
  • immigrant
Q9

Why does Stéphane recruit friends to watch over Pauline?

Stéphane becomes concerned for Pauline's safety as tensions rise around her campaign. He discreetly enlists reliable friends to keep watch over her, attempting to protect her from potential violence. However, his own connections to the skinhead group make this protective gesture deeply ironic and ultimately insufficient.

Foreshadowing: His efforts to protect her contrast with the violent reality of his own associates.

  • protection
  • safety
  • skinheads
  • friends
  • watch
  • campaign
Q10

Why does Pauline confront Stéphane so violently?

Pauline unleashes brutal anger upon discovering the photos showing Stéphane's involvement in violence against refugees. Her fury represents the culmination of her political disillusionment, personal betrayals, and the shattering of her hope that he was different. Jacques and the children must physically intervene to stop the confrontation.

Foreshadowing: The stadium scene's temporary happiness makes this violent confrontation even more devastating.

  • confrontation
  • anger
  • violence
  • photos
  • family
  • betrayal
Q11

What is the significance of the stadium scene?

Pauline takes her children and Stéphane to a stadium for a joyful outing that represents a brief escape from political chaos. The atmosphere is filled with laughter and family warmth, offering viewers a contrast to the mounting tensions. However, the joy turns bitter when Lili discovers the troubling photos on Stéphane's phone, ending this moment of peace.

Foreshadowing: This scene provides the false hope before the devastating revelation that destroys Pauline's trust.

  • stadium
  • family
  • children
  • outing
  • happiness
  • escape
Q12

Why is Pauline vulnerable to recruitment by the nationalist party?

Pauline seeks connection and purpose beyond her demanding job as a home nurse. Struggling financially on a single salary with two children and an aging father, she feels unseen and undervalued. The party offers her recognition, status, and the promise of meaningful change in her community, exploiting her desire for purpose and belonging.

Foreshadowing: Her compassionate nature, meant to help others, is twisted into a political tool.

  • vulnerability
  • recruitment
  • loneliness
  • purpose
  • status
  • financial struggle

Movie threads

More Movies Like This Is Our Land, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about ideological descent like This Is Our Land

Characters drawn into extremist movements, facing moral rupture and disillusionment. Discover films similar to This Is Our Land, where relatable protagonists are drawn into extremist groups. If you were intrigued by the exploration of radicalization, moral conflict, and the cost of belonging, these movies offer similar tense and thought-provoking drama.

  • tense
  • unsettling
  • introspective
  • divided
  • melancholic
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow a character seeking purpose or community, who is gradually indoctrinated into a rigid ideology. The narrative tension builds as the character confronts the gap between their initial ideals and the movement's disturbing reality, culminating in a crisis of conscience and a break from the group, often at great personal cost.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on a specific character arc: the journey into and out of a radicalizing ideology. They create a similar viewing experience of psychological tension, moral unease, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from broken ideals and fractured relationships.

Somber dramas of social division like This Is Our Land

Tense stories where personal lives are fractured by broader social and political rifts. Explore movies like This Is Our Land that capture the tension of social and political division. If you appreciated the film's somber mood and its focus on how community conflict forces personal moral choices, these similar stories will resonate with you.

  • somber
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • divided
  • anxious
  • disillusioned
  • Tone: dark, somber, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread often use a community or family as a microcosm for larger societal conflicts. A central character, often initially apolitical or seeking connection, is forced to take a stand as ideological lines are drawn, leading to betrayals, strained family bonds, and a bittersweet personal realization about the world.

Why they belong together: These movies share a cohesive, heavy atmosphere built from themes of social fracture, betrayal, and disillusionment. They are united by a dark, steady tone, a focus on working-class struggles or community dynamics, and an emotionally resonant, often bittersweet, conclusion.

Every angle

This Is Our Land (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about This Is Our Land 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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