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Time (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Time (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 81 min · English
Echo score 75
JustWatch #21,722 3
Directed by
Garrett Bradley
Starring
Fox Rich

Fox Rich tenaciously fights for her husband Rob's release after he's been incarcerated for twenty years. Through decades of video diaries and personal reflections, this documentary explores their enduring relationship and the profound impact of America’s prison system. It’s a powerful and intimate portrayal of unwavering love and resilience in the face of injustice.

Documentary Cast, crew & box office
On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  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 Time (2020)

Where can you watch Time? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Time Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Time (2020), 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.

  • Will Salas

    Will Salas is a factory worker in Dayton who finds himself thrust into a life-altering quest after a series of tragic events. Driven by grief and a desire for justice, Will evolves from a desperate man into a revolutionary figure, challenging the societal norms that govern time distribution. His resilience and selflessness highlight his complexity as a character.

    • 👷‍♂️ Protagonist
    • 🕰️ Time Rebel
    • ⚖️ Justice Seeker

  • Sylvia Weis

    Sylvia Weis is the daughter of a wealthy time-loaning tycoon who becomes an unwilling accomplice to Will's mission. Initially sheltered from the harsh realities of time inequality, Sylvia's character develops as she witnesses the struggles of the less fortunate. Her transformation reflects a journey of awakening and a commitment to fight alongside Will.

    • 👩‍👧‍👦 Ally
    • 💪 Empowered
    • 🌟 Change Agent

  • Henry Hamilton

    Henry Hamilton is a crucial character who symbolizes the desperation faced by the affluent in times of crisis. His selfless act of transferring all his time to Will sets off a chain reaction of events. Hamilton's foresight into the grim realities of their world serves as a catalyst for the ensuing rebellion.

    • 🌌 Catalyst
    • 💔 Sacrifice
    • ⏳ Visionary

  • Raymond Leon

    Raymond Leon is the head of the Timekeepers, tasked with maintaining societal order. His character embodies the relentless enforcement of the system that controls time, adding a layer of complexity as he grapples with morality and authority. Leon's journey ultimately leads to a poignant realization about his role in the oppressive structure.

    • 👮 Authority
    • ⚖️ Enforcer
    • 🤔 Moral Conflict

  • Fortis

    Fortis is portrayed as a time thief and antagonist who capitalizes on the desperate situation of the impoverished. As a leader of the Minutemen gang, his ruthless pursuit of time showcases the dark side of this dystopian world. Fortis represents the threat posed by those who exploit the vulnerable for their gain.

    • 💣 Antagonist
    • 🚨 Time Thief
    • 🔪 Ruthlessness

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:33

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Setting

Where and When Does Time Take Place?

The setting of Time (2020): 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

2169

In 2169, society has transformed with technology enabling individuals to suspend aging at the age of 25. Time is treated as a currency, leading to drastic inequalities as the wealthy stockpile it while the poor toil for survival. The era showcases a grim reflection on resource distribution and the consequences of capitalism.

Location

Dayton, New Greenwich

Dayton is a rundown ghetto where its inhabitants struggle to survive with minimal time on their timers. Contrastingly, New Greenwich epitomizes luxury and wealth, allowing its citizens to live in blissful excess. The stark divide between these two locales underscores the socioeconomic disparities within their futuristic society.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🌆 Society

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:33

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3 major themes

Time Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Time (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Time

    The theme of time is central to the narrative, manifesting as both a resource and a constraint. Characters navigate a dystopian landscape where life is measured in time, highlighting the disparity in its distribution. The quest for reclaiming stolen time serves as a powerful metaphor for social justice and the struggle against oppression.

  • Wealth Inequality

    Wealth inequality plays a pivotal role in the film, with the affluent enjoying prolonged life while the poor face premature death. This theme critiques the relentless pursuit of wealth and its impact on society's structure. The characters' rebellion against the system underscores a fight for equality and human dignity.

  • Rebellion

    Rebellion is a driving force in the movie, as characters challenge a system that hoards time and maintains oppression. Will and Sylvia's actions epitomize the fight against authoritative control, representing hope and resistance. Their journey signifies the potential for change amidst adversity.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:33

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Character & theme questions

Time Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Time (2020): 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

What are the main locations in the movie?

The story takes place in two contrasting locations: Dayton, a rundown ghetto where poor people struggle to survive with minimal time on their timers, and New Greenwich, a luxurious enclave where the wealthy live in excess. Dayton represents poverty and desperation, while New Greenwich embodies wealth and privilege. The stark contrast between these two areas highlights the extreme socioeconomic divide in this futuristic society.

  • dayton
  • new greenwich
  • setting
  • locations
  • society
Q2

When is the movie set?

The movie is set in the year 2169, a time when society has been transformed by technology that allows people to stop aging at 25. This future setting is crucial because it creates a world where time itself becomes the primary currency, determining how long people can live.

  • 2169
  • time period
  • future
  • setting
  • year
Q3

How does the time currency system work?

In this society, time becomes a literal currency that people carry on timers embedded in their forearms. Everyone stops aging at 25 and must earn more time to stay alive. The wealthy can accumulate decades or even centuries of time, while the poor constantly race against their timers running out. This system creates a brutal form of inequality where the rich can live forever while the poor face premature death.

  • time currency
  • timers
  • lifespan
  • wealth
  • system
Q4

Who is Will Salas?

Will Salas is a factory worker from Dayton who becomes the film's protagonist after tragic events force him into a life-altering journey. Driven by grief and a desire for justice, he evolves from a desperate man into a revolutionary figure who challenges the societal norms governing time distribution. His resilience and transformation embody the movie's themes of rebellion against oppression.

  • will Salas
  • protagonist
  • factory worker
  • revolutionary
Q5

Who is Sylvia Weis?

Sylvia Weis is the daughter of a wealthy time-loaning tycoon who initially lives a sheltered life in New Greenwich. She becomes an unwilling accomplice to Will's mission after witnessing the harsh realities of time inequality firsthand. Her character arc represents an awakening from privilege to understanding and fighting for those less fortunate.

  • sylvia Weis
  • character
  • wealthy
  • transformation
Q6

What are the Timekeepers?

The Timekeepers are the enforcement arm of the time currency system, tasked with maintaining societal order. Led by Raymond Leon, they track down those who steal time or violate the system's rules. The organization represents the oppressive structures that protect the wealthy and keep the poor in check.

  • timekeepers
  • raymond leon
  • enforcement
  • police
  • system
Q7

Who are the Minutemen?

The Minutemen are a gang of time thieves led by Fortis who operate in the poorest areas of Dayton. They exploit the desperate situation of the impoverished, stealing time from those who already have little. Fortis represents the dark side of survival in this dystopian world where even the oppressed can become oppressors.

  • minutemen
  • fortis
  • gang
  • thieves
  • antagonists
Q8

What are the main themes of the movie?

The movie explores three interconnected themes: Time as both a resource and constraint that determines survival; Wealth Inequality where the rich live indefinitely while the poor face constant death; and Rebellion against a system that hoards time and maintains oppression. These themes work together to critique capitalism and social injustice.

  • themes
  • time
  • wealth inequality
  • rebellion
  • meaning
Q9

What does the movie say about wealth inequality?

The film presents wealth inequality as a life-or-death matter in literal terms. The wealthy accumulate time like money, living for centuries while the poor toil for survival and die young. This extreme portrayal criticizes how wealth concentration creates systemic oppression, with the characters' rebellion representing a fight for equality and human dignity.

  • wealth
  • inequality
  • social class
  • critique
  • capitalism
Q10

Who leads the rebellion against the time system?

Will Salas and Sylvia Weis lead the rebellion against the time system. Will, motivated by personal tragedy, teams up with Sylvia, who abandons her privileged background to join his fight. Their journey represents hope and resistance against authoritative control, showing that change is possible even in the most oppressive systems.

  • rebellion
  • will salas
  • sylvia
  • revolution
  • resistance

Movie threads

More Movies Like Time, by Mood & Story

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

Intimate Acts of Resistance like in Time

Documentaries about individuals fighting systemic injustice through unwavering personal devotion. If you were moved by the personal fight against systemic injustice in Time, explore these movies. This thread features powerful documentaries and dramas where one person's unwavering devotion becomes an act of rebellion against overwhelming odds, offering similar stories of resilience and love in the face of oppression.

  • urgent
  • defiant
  • intimate
  • oppressive
  • desperate
  • resilient
  • Tone: tense, urgent, defiant
  • Pacing: steady, driven by personal resolve
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread unfold over years or decades, tracking a protagonist's relentless battle against an impersonal system. The narrative is driven by personal sacrifice, love, and the accumulation of small acts of defiance, often using personal archives like video diaries to create an incredibly intimate and urgent perspective.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their focus on a highly personal, emotionally heavy journey against systemic forces. They share a tense, urgent tone, a steady-to-fast pacing driven by high stakes, and a central theme of love as a form of resistance, resulting in a profoundly impactful viewing experience.

!Women Art Revolution movie poster

!Women Art Revolution

2011
Valley of Tears movie poster

Valley of Tears

2003
This Revolution movie poster

This Revolution

2005
Let the River Flow movie poster

Let the River Flow

2023
Resolved movie poster

Resolved

2007
Under Our Skin movie poster

Under Our Skin

2009
Born in Flames movie poster

Born in Flames

1983
Little Dieter Needs to Fly movie poster

Little Dieter Needs to Fly

1997

Movies with a Race Against Time like in Time

Stories where the relentless pressure of time creates unbearable tension and urgency. For viewers who felt the urgent, time-sensitive stakes in Time, this thread collects movies where time is the enemy. Discover similar stories featuring desperate races against the clock, high-tension narratives, and characters fighting against an unforgiving deadline, whether literal or metaphorical.

  • tense
  • urgent
  • desperate
  • oppressive
  • high-stakes
  • race-against-time
  • Tone: tense, desperate, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern is a linear, fast-paced countdown towards a critical deadline. Characters are constantly aware of the ticking clock, which fuels their desperate actions and elevates the stakes. The plot is propelled by this urgency, creating a straightforward but highly effective structure of escalating tension.

Why they belong together: These films share a core narrative device: the oppressive pressure of a time limit. This creates a coherent vibe of high intensity, fast pacing, and relentless tension. The emotional journey is one of desperation and urgency, making the viewing experience gripping and anxiety-inducing in a similar way.

Time movie poster

Time

2020
Time Cut movie poster

Time Cut

2024
Ticking Clock movie poster

Ticking Clock

2011
Time Table movie poster

Time Table

1956
In Time movie poster

In Time

2011
57 Seconds movie poster

57 Seconds

2023
Time After Time movie poster

Time After Time

1979
Out of Time movie poster

Out of Time

2003

Every angle

Time (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Time 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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