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Trust (2021) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Trust (2021) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 94 min · English
Echo score 75
Directed by
Brian DeCubellis
Starring
Ronny Chieng, Victoria Justice, Katherine McNamara, Lucien Laviscount, Lindsey Broad, Matthew Daddario

Brooke, an art gallery owner, finds her marriage to Owen challenged by the arrival of a charismatic painter. As their lives intertwine in New York City, tensions rise and vulnerabilities surface. Each partner seeks comfort outside the relationship, leading to infidelity and jeopardizing the foundation of their once-stable marriage. The film explores the complexities of trust, desire, and the fragility of long-term commitment.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Trust
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Trust (2021)

Where can you watch Trust? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Fawesome, Hoopla and Tubi TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Trust Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Trust (2021), 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.

  • Brooke Gatwick

    Brooke is a passionate and driven individual with dreams of opening her own art gallery. Her focus on her art world often leads to tension in her relationship with Owen, especially as she confronts issues of trust. Despite her ambition, Brooke finds herself caught between her career aspirations and her love for Owen.

    • 👩‍🎨 Artist
    • 💔 Heartbroken
    • 🎯 Ambitious
  • Owen Shore

    Owen is a sensitive and caring partner whose jealousy and insecurities manifest amidst growing trust issues. His commitment to rekindling their romance is tested by external temptations, causing him to act out impulsively. Owen’s character embodies the struggle between love and the fear of betrayal.

    • 💑 Devoted
    • ⚠️ Jealous
    • 🎭 Complex
  • Ansgar Doyle

    Ansgar serves as a catalyst for conflict in the film, representing temptation and artistic intrigue. His infatuation with Brooke complicates her relationship with Owen, embodying the tension between ambition and desire. Ansgar's character adds another layer to the exploration of loyalty and attraction.

    • 🎨 Artist
    • 😈 Temptation
    • 🎭 Complex
  • Amy

    Amy is a charming and flirtatious student whose unexpected appearance complicates Owen's life. Initially a source of temptation, she ultimately becomes a pivotal character in revealing truths about fidelity and trust. Her interactions with Owen shed light on his vulnerabilities.

    • 👩‍🎓 Student
    • 💕 Flirtatious
    • 🎭 Intriguing
  • Eleanor

    Eleanor acts as a friend who puts Brooke’s trust in Owen to the test. Her decision to involve Amy creates a rift in Owen and Brooke's relationship, showcasing the complex dynamics of friendship and loyalty. Eleanor's actions highlight the lengths friends may go to protect one another.

    • 👩‍❤️‍👩 Friend
    • 😒 Manipulative
    • 🎭 Schemer

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:15

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Setting

Where and When Does Trust Take Place?

The setting of Trust (2021): 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

The story unfolds in a contemporary setting, reflecting modern relationship challenges faced by young couples. Themes of ambition, trust, and jealousy are prevalent, capturing the essence of today’s romantic struggles.

Location

New York City, Paris, Las Vegas, Marias Hotel

New York City serves as the bustling backdrop for Brooke and Owen's relationship, known for its vibrant art scene and fast-paced life. Paris symbolizes romance and artistic inspiration, offering a luxurious escape where crucial events unfold, particularly at the elegant Marias Hotel. Las Vegas represents a diversion for Owen, embodying temptation and distraction from their conflicts.

  • 🏙️ City
  • ✈️ Travel
  • 🎨 Art

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:15

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2 major themes

Trust Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Trust (2021) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love & Betrayal

    The film navigates the complexities of love intertwined with betrayal, as both Brooke and Owen grapple with insecurities and jealousy. Their relationship strains under the weight of suspicions and misunderstandings, ultimately testing their bond. Amidst confrontations and deceit, the theme emphasizes the challenges couples face in maintaining trust.

  • Artistic Ambition

    Brooke's pursuit of her art gallery highlights the theme of ambition, showcasing her determination to carve out a new identity. The artistic endeavor represents both a personal escape and a source of conflict, as it competes for attention in her relationship. The interplay between art and personal life captures the struggle for balance.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:15

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Character & theme questions

Trust Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Trust (2021): 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

Where is the movie Trust set?

Trust primarily takes place in New York City, which serves as the bustling backdrop for Brooke and Owen's relationship. The film also features significant scenes in Paris, specifically at the elegant Marias Hotel, which symbolizes romance and artistic inspiration, and Las Vegas, representing temptation and distraction from their relationship problems.

  • new york city
  • paris
  • las vegas
  • setting
  • locations
Q2

What does Paris symbolize in the film?

Paris represents romance and artistic inspiration in Trust. It serves as a luxurious escape where crucial events unfold, particularly at the Marias Hotel. The city contrasts with the fast-paced, stressful environment of New York City and provides the setting for the couple's attempt to reconnect.

  • paris
  • marias hotel
  • symbolism
  • romance
  • artistic inspiration
Q3

When is Trust set?

The story takes place in a contemporary setting, reflecting modern relationship challenges faced by young couples today. It captures the essence of current romantic struggles with themes of ambition, trust, and jealousy.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • era
Q4

What are the main themes of Trust?

The two primary themes in Trust are Love & Betrayal and Artistic Ambition. Love & Betrayal explores how both Brooke and Owen grapple with insecurities and jealousy, testing their bond under the weight of suspicions. Artistic Ambition examines Brooke's pursuit of her art gallery as both a personal escape and a source of conflict in her relationship.

  • themes
  • love
  • betrayal
  • artistic ambition
  • trust
Q5

How does the movie explore trust in relationships?

Trust explores the complexities of love intertwined with betrayal, showing how both partners confront insecurities and jealousy. Their relationship strains under suspicions and misunderstandings, ultimately testing whether their bond can survive the challenges they face. The film emphasizes the difficulties couples encounter in maintaining trust over time.

  • trust
  • betrayal
  • jealousy
  • relationship
  • marriage
Q6

Who is Brooke Gatwick?

Brooke Gatwick is a passionate and driven individual whose dream is to open her own art gallery. Her focus on the art world often creates tension in her relationship with Owen. She finds herself caught between her career aspirations and her love for her husband, dealing with trust issues that arise throughout the film.

  • brooke gatwick
  • art gallery
  • ambition
  • character
Q7

Who is Owen Shore?

Owen Shore is Brooke's husband, portrayed as a sensitive and caring partner whose jealousy and insecurities grow amid increasing trust issues. His commitment to their marriage is tested by external temptations, leading him to act impulsively. Owen embodies the struggle between love and the fear of betrayal.

  • owen shore
  • husband
  • jealousy
  • character
Q8

Who is Ansgar Doyle in the story?

Ansgar Doyle serves as a catalyst for conflict in the film, representing temptation and artistic intrigue. His infatuation with Brooke complicates her relationship with Owen, adding another layer to the exploration of loyalty and attraction. He embodies the tension between artistic ambition and personal commitment.

  • ansgar doyle
  • painter
  • temptation
  • character
Q9

Who is Amy in Trust?

Amy is a charming and flirtatious student whose unexpected appearance complicates Owen's life. Initially a source of temptation, she becomes pivotal in revealing truths about fidelity and trust. Her interactions with Owen shed light on his vulnerabilities and the strains in his marriage.

  • amy
  • student
  • temptation
  • character
Q10

Who is Eleanor in the movie?

Eleanor acts as Brooke's friend who tests Brooke's trust in Owen. Her decision to involve Amy creates a rift in the couple's relationship, showcasing the complex dynamics of friendship and loyalty. Eleanor's actions highlight the lengths friends may go to protect one another, sometimes with unintended consequences.

  • eleanor
  • friend
  • loyalty
  • character
Q11

What is the tone of Trust?

Trust has a consistently tense tone, returning repeatedly to themes of trust being challenged and the anxiety of discovery. While the emotional stakes are high, the atmosphere remains grounded in relatable relationship drama rather than extreme events. The intensity is medium, with a steady pacing that methodically introduces complications.

  • tone
  • atmosphere
  • tension
  • style
Q12

What is the message of Trust about relationships?

Trust conveys a hopeful message about relationships, suggesting that couples can choose to rebuild and reconnect despite facing betrayal and suspicion. The film explores the fragility of long-term commitment and the ongoing effort required to maintain trust in modern relationships dealing with ambition, jealousy, and external temptations.

  • message
  • relationship
  • reconciliation
  • hope

Movie threads

More Movies Like Trust, by Mood & Story

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

Intimate Marital Crisis Dramas like Trust

Stories exploring the fragile architecture of trust in a long-term relationship. For viewers who liked the emotional realism of Trust, find more movies that dissect the complexities of marriage. These similar drama stories focus on infidelity, jealousy, and the difficult path toward reconciliation or separation, all with a steady, character-driven pace.

  • anxious
  • intimate
  • suspenseful
  • melancholic
  • regretful
  • passionate
  • Tone: tense, intimate, regretful
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a stable partnership that is tested by an external force, such as a new person or a personal secret. The plot builds tension through a series of small discoveries, lies, and confrontations, forcing the characters to re-evaluate their commitment and navigate the painful realities of betrayal.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their intense focus on a central relationship, their grounded, relatable emotional stakes, and their thematic exploration of fidelity and trust. The shared experience is one of anxious suspense and intimate melodrama.

Movies with Slow-Burn Anxiety like Trust

Where tension simmers quietly, eroding security and fueling suspicion. If you liked the building tension and anxious suspense in Trust, explore these films that master the art of the slow burn. These recommendations feature a steady pacing that methodically increases psychological pressure and emotional stakes in romantic or dramatic contexts.

  • anxious
  • suspenseful
  • uneasy
  • psychologically tense
  • slow burn
  • melancholic
  • Tone: anxious, suspenseful, tense
  • Pacing: slow burn, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a slow accumulation of small, unsettling details—a suspicious text, a withheld truth, a change in behavior. This methodical layering of complications creates a palpable sense of unease that escalates towards a climactic confrontation or revelation, focusing on the psychological toll on the characters.

Why they belong together: They are united by a specific pacing and tone: a steady, deliberate build of tension and a consistently anxious, suspenseful mood. The shared vibe is less about external action and more about the internal, psychological corrosion caused by doubt.

If you liked this

Movies Like Trust

Similar movies to Trust: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Trust (2021) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Trust in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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