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Timeline

Touchy Feely (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 89 min · English
JustWatch #8,613 6
Directed by
Lynn Shelton
Starring
Josh Pais, Elliot Page, Scoot McNairy, Rosemarie DeWitt

A dentist finds he has an unexpected ability to alleviate his patients’ discomfort. Simultaneously, his sister struggles with a profound aversion to touch, causing a growing distance between them as they grapple with their contrasting approaches to healing and connection. The situation creates a poignant exploration of human interaction and the complexities of empathy.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Touchy Feely
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Touchy Feely (2013)

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

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Touchy Feely Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Touchy Feely (2013) 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. Abby's Aversion Begins

    Abby starts experiencing an unsettling aversion to human contact, which significantly affects her professional life as a massage therapist. This sudden change drives her to take a break from her job, leaving her emotionally distressed and uncertain.

  2. Relationship Strain with Jesse

    As Abby struggles with her aversion, her relationship with her boyfriend Jesse suffers greatly. The lack of physical connection creates tension and misunderstandings between the couple, leading to feelings of isolation.

  3. Experimenting with Ecstasy

    In an effort to rekindle their intimacy, Abby suggests that she and Jesse try ecstasy pills she acquires from Bronwyn. However, this risky decision does not yield the results they hope for and ultimately leads to their breakup.

  4. Paul's Struggles at Work

    Meanwhile, Abby's brother Paul is facing his own challenges as he runs a struggling family dentistry practice. He is unable to attract new clients and is hesitant to employ any marketing strategies to boost his business.

  5. Jenny Invites Henry

    Paul's daughter Jenny invites her friend Henry for a routine teeth cleaning, which initially raises Paul's disinterest. However, after helping Henry with his jaw pain, Paul finds himself drawing in more patients, intrigued by the unique healing service he provides.

    Where
    Paul's dental office
  6. Learning Reiki

    Motivated by his newfound clientele, Paul approaches Bronwyn to learn Reiki, aiming to expand his dental practice's offerings. His excitement over the growth is short-lived, as the pressures of success begin to mount.

  7. Patient Collapse

    In a shocking turn of events, a disgruntled patient collapses in Paul's waiting room, leading to a wave of doubt regarding his abilities. The incident not only harms his reputation but also deeply affects his daughter's view of his profession.

    Where
    Paul's dental office
  8. Jenny's Emotional Turmoil

    Witnessing her father’s struggles and the chaos surrounding his practice, Jenny reacts emotionally and runs out of the office in tears. She is overwhelmed by the pressure and disappointment she feels in her family's situation.

    Where
    Paul's dental office
  9. Abby Moves On

    As her relationship with Jesse deteriorates, Abby decides to leave him, writing a breakup note in the process. She moves in with her brother Paul in search of solace and healing.

  10. Meeting Adrian

    While under the influence of ecstasy, Abby takes a walk in the park and serendipitously meets Adrian. He introduces her to a new lifestyle that helps eliminate her aversion to physical touch, emblematic of her new beginning.

    Where
    Park
  11. Paul Consumes Ecstasy

    Amidst the chaos, Paul discovers a leftover ecstasy tablet and, out of curiosity, decides to take it. This decision leads him to Bronwyn's home, where an unexpected connection ignites between them.

    Where
    Bronwyn's home
  12. Paul and Bronwyn's Kiss

    At Bronwyn's abode, the chemistry between Paul and Bronwyn intensifies, culminating in a passionate kiss. This moment signifies a turning point for Paul, revealing possibilities for new relationships.

    Where
    Bronwyn's home
  13. Jenny Seeks Comfort

    As Abby emotionally distances herself from Jesse, Jenny turns to her ex-boyfriend for comfort. She persuades him to attend Henry's music concert, hoping to distract herself from the turmoil at home.

  14. Jesse's Reassurance

    During the concert, Jesse gently declines Jenny’s request for a kiss, reaffirming his feelings for Abby. He expresses lingering affection, showcasing the emotional complexity of the relationships involved.

  15. Abby's Return

    Later that night, after Jenny has fallen asleep at Jesse's place, Abby shows up at the door. Now emotionally unburdened, she is ready to embrace Jesse without the hesitation that once plagued their relationship.

    Where
    Jesse's home

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 15:12

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Timeline questions answered

Touchy Feely Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Touchy Feely (2013): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Abby suddenly develop an aversion to touch?

Abby's aversion to touch emerges mysteriously, coinciding with the growing strain in her relationship with Jesse. The story doesn't explicitly explain the cause, but it manifests as she begins losing her ability to connect physically with others, including her boyfriend. This condition forces her to leave her job as a massage therapist and ultimately leads to their breakup. The aversion represents her deeper emotional barriers to intimacy and connection.

  • abby touch aversion
  • massage therapist
  • physical contact
  • relationship problems
Q2

How does Paul suddenly develop healing abilities?

Paul discovers his healing touch accidentally while treating his daughter Jenny's friend Henry for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. After successfully alleviating Henry's jaw pain, news spreads and new patients begin seeking Paul specifically for his unique healing methods. This unexpected ability gives his struggling dental practice a much-needed boost, though the source of this talent remains unexplained.

  • paul healing abilities
  • dentist
  • temporomandibular joint
  • reiki
  • new patients
Q3

Why do Abby and Jesse break up after taking ecstasy?

Abby suggests trying ecstasy pills (obtained from Bronwyn) as a desperate attempt to revive their failing intimacy. However, the drugs don't restore their connection, instead, they deepen the gap between them. The experience leaves Abby even more emotionally distant, leading her to write a breakup note and move out, ending their cohabitation despite Jesse's continued feelings for her.

  • breakup
  • ecstasy
  • bronwyn
  • relationship ending
  • Jesse
Q4

Who is Adrian and how does he help Abby?

Adrian is a man Abby encounters while under the influence of ecstasy in a park. He introduces her to a new lifestyle that somehow allows her aversion to physical touch to dissipate. This encounter represents a turning point for Abby, as the experience helps her overcome her psychological barriers to touch, ultimately enabling her to return to Jesse without hesitation.

  • adrian
  • park
  • new lifestyle
  • recovery
  • touch aversion healed
Q5

What causes the patient to collapse at Paul's dental office?

A disgruntled patient collapses in Paul's waiting room, creating a major crisis that damages Paul's reputation and raises doubts about his abilities. The incident has devastating consequences for his practice and deeply affects his daughter Jenny, who witnesses the chaos and runs out of the office in tears. This event marks a significant turning point that halts Paul's sudden success.

  • patient collapse
  • dental office
  • paul reputation
  • jenny upset
Q6

Why does Abby return to Jesse at the end of the movie?

After overcoming her aversion to touch through her experience with Adrian and the lifestyle change she underwent, Abby returns to Jesse's home late at night. Now emotionally free from her previous barriers, she can embrace him without hesitation. This resolution shows her complete transformation, she has worked through whatever psychological issues were preventing physical connection.

  • abby returns
  • jesse reunion
  • happy ending
  • overcoming aversion
Q7

Why does Paul take ecstasy and kiss Bronwyn?

Paul discovers a leftover ecstasy tablet and, driven by curiosity after seeing the changes it brought in Abby, decides to try it. The drug leads him to Bronwyn's home, where their mutual chemistry ignites into a passionate kiss. This moment marks a turning point for Paul, revealing new possibilities for romantic connection after his professional struggles.

  • paul ecstasy
  • bronwyn kiss
  • new relationship
  • chemistry
Q8

Why does Jenny run out of the dental office crying?

Jenny becomes emotionally overwhelmed after witnessing her father Paul's struggles, the collapse of his sudden success, the doubt cast on his abilities, and the chaos surrounding his practice. The pressure and disappointment of seeing her family's situation deteriorate proves too much, causing her to flee the office in tears.

  • jenny emotional
  • dental office
  • pauls struggles
  • family disappointment
Q9

What does the title Touchy Feely mean in relation to the story?

The title "Touchy Feely" directly references the story's central themes of physical touch and emotional connection. Abby's aversion to being touched contrasts with Paul's newfound ability to heal through touch. The film explores how these contrasting relationships with physical contact affect the characters' ability to connect emotionally with others.

  • title meaning
  • touch
  • connection
  • healing
  • themes

Movie threads

More Movies Like Touchy Feely, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about personal healing like Touchy Feely

Stories of quiet transformation where overcoming a crisis leads to hope. If you enjoyed the quiet, character-driven journey of healing in Touchy Feely, you'll appreciate these other movies. They feature protagonists overcoming internal struggles in a bittersweet, hopeful manner, focusing on personal transformation and the delicate process of reconnecting with life and others.

  • introspective
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • yearning
  • intimate
  • serene
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a character experiencing a sudden or deep-seated personal disruption. The story follows their internal struggle and gradual steps toward healing, often aided by unexpected circumstances or relationships. The resolution is not about a complete victory but a meaningful, hard-won change that allows for a happier, more integrated life.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a specific emotional arc: starting from a place of personal crisis and moving toward a hopeful, but realistically earned, resolution. They prioritize character depth over plot mechanics and maintain a consistent, bittersweet tone that feels authentic to the healing process.

Movies about family dynamics like Touchy Feely

Explorations of how small, personal changes ripple through family relationships. For viewers who liked the exploration of brother-sister relationships and intimate family dynamics in Touchy Feely, this list features similar films. These dramas center on how personal growth and transformation affect family bonds, offering quiet, thoughtful stories about connection and understanding.

  • intimate
  • serene
  • contemplative
  • introspective
  • yearning
  • hopeful
  • Tone: intimate, contemplative
  • Pacing: steady, serene
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves parallel character arcs within a family unit. One person's struggle or breakthrough inadvertently impacts the others, creating a web of interconnected growth. The story unfolds through quiet conversations and shared moments, building towards a resolution that strengthens or redefines the family ties.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their central theme of family as a microcosm for change. They share a low-key intensity, an intimate scope, and a contemplative pace that allows the audience to sit with the characters and feel the nuanced evolution of their relationships.

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Movies Like Touchy Feely

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Every angle

Touchy Feely (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Touchy Feely 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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