Time of the Wolf

Following an unspecified apocalyptic event, Anne, Georges, Eva, and Ben travel to their countryside house, hoping to find safety from societal collapse. Upon arrival, they discover the house is already occupied by an armed family, indicating total societal breakdown. Georges attempts to de-escalate the tense situation but is suddenly shot and killed by the intruders.

After Georges' death, Anne and her children are allowed to leave with minimal belongings. They are forced to wander the devastated countryside, facing a landscape ravaged by collapse and violence. Their journey is marked by encounters with hostile villages, abandoned scenes, and the struggle for survival.

While traversing the landscape, the family meets a feral teenage boy who has survived alone in the wild. He exhibits emotional detachment and wariness towards outsiders, but Anne tries to show him compassion and care, recognizing his vulnerability amidst chaos.

After days of hardship, the group reaches a refugee gathering point at a railway station. The station is crowded with diverse survivors, and a self-appointed leader named Koslowski begins overseeing resource distribution and interactions among different groups. Tensions arise over access to resources and services offered by the community.

Refugees barter whatever possessions they have or offer services—sometimes including sexual favors—to secure resources. The atmosphere is tense and desperate, highlighting the societal breakdown and the breakdown of moral boundaries in the fight for survival.

Anne encounters Béa, a city woman who whispers about 'the Just', a group of 36 righteous people believed to be responsible for the world's salvation. Béa suggests that their hardships may be a divine trial linked to these mysterious figures, adding a spiritual dimension to their suffering.

Eva grows close with the feral teenage boy, who eventually abandons the group to steal a goat, seen as a betrayal by Eva. She also witnesses the group being victimized when she observes a rape while others sleep, and instinctively throws herself over her brother to shield him, exposing her innocence amidst chaos.

The group discovers that Georges’s murderer, along with his wife and child, has joined their shelter. Anne demands their removal, but the group refuses without concrete proof. Tensions escalate as accusations are made against other members, highlighting distrust and moral ambiguity among survivors.

An old man provides brief entertainment by swallowing razor blades and telling stories of people sacrificing themselves by fire or other means. These stories reflect themes of suffering, salvation, and the search for meaning amidst chaos, resonating with the group’s grim reality.

Ben, suffering from chronic nosebleeds and an unexplained illness, leaves the camp and strips down by a fire on the tracks, seemingly attempting to sacrifice himself to stop a passing train. A man pulls him away, telling him that their willingness to die is noticed and that his life still has value, giving him a reason to live.

The film ends with a silent, panoramic shot from a passing train, moving through peaceful countryside. There are no signs of refugees or chaos, suggesting a return to normalcy or the continued uncertainty, highlighting themes of transition and unresolved tension.