Una

Una

Year: 2017

Runtime: 94 min

Language: English

Director: Benedict Andrews

Echo Score: 60
DramaRomance

After fifteen years, Una unexpectedly returns, disrupting the quiet life of Ray, the man she left behind. Their reunion forces them to confront a painful history and the unresolved feelings that linger. As old wounds reopen, they must delve into the secrets and memories they’re both desperately trying to bury, seeking understanding and a chance at redemption.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Una (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Una (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold in a contemporary setting, roughly fifteen years after the original abuse. The confrontation and the subsequent party take place within a short window, underscoring modern attitudes toward accountability and memory. The period feels current, reflecting contemporary social dynamics around power and justice.

Location

Warehouse, Coast hotel, Suburban home, Streets, Office

Most action centers around a large warehouse where Ray works and where Una confronts him. Other key settings include a coast hotel room—the site of the initial abuse—, a suburban home, and a party at Ray's residence, as well as the urban streets and the warehouse locker room. The shifting environments highlight the clash between public success and private trauma.

🏭 Warehouse 🌊 Coast hotel 🏠 Suburban home 🗺️ Urban streets

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:46

Main Characters – Una (2017)

Meet the key characters of Una (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Una Spencer (Rooney Mara)

Una is a young woman who returns to confront Ray years after their past. She is emotionally scarred by grooming and the sense of abandonment she felt, yet she remains determined to seek accountability and truth. Her actions reveal the long shadow of childhood trauma and the challenges of forming lasting relationships.

🧠 Trauma 💔 Abuse survivor 🗣️ Confrontation

Ray Brooks / Peter Trevelyan (Ben Mendelsohn)

Ray is a former next-door neighbor who groomed Una as a teenager and is now a successful warehouse manager. He is controlling, evasive, and natural at deflecting blame, presenting a polished public image while denying harm. His refusal to fully acknowledge the past drives the conflict with Una.

🧠 Manipulation 💼 Power 😒 Self-interest

Scott (Riz Ahmed)

Scott is Ray’s coworker who fears layoffs and becomes entangled in the fallout of Una’s confrontation. He is anxious and seeking to protect his own position, yet he is drawn into the drama as events unfold. His presence highlights workplace vulnerability and the pressure of job security.

😨 Fear 🧭 Pressure 🤝 Complicity

Yvonne (Tara Fitzgerald)

Yvonne is Ray’s wife, a contemporary with her own private frictions. Her marriage appears stable on the surface, but the gathering at their home reveals underlying tensions. She observes the upheaval and contributes to the charged atmosphere of the confrontation.

💑 Relationships 🏠 Domestic life 👀 Observation

Young Una (Ruby Stokes)

Young Una is the adolescent version of the protagonist during the initial abuse, as seen in flashbacks. Her early experiences with Ray set the stage for the later trauma and confusion that shape the adult Una. Her presence anchors the film’s exploration of memory and damage done in youth.

🧒 Youth 🕳️ Trauma memory 📜 Flashback

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:46

Major Themes – Una (2017)

Explore the central themes of Una (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Trauma

Una’s memories of grooming shape her present actions and emotions. The film traces how trauma alters trust, relationships, and self-perception. Recounting the past does not erase pain, but it drives her in the present confrontation.

⚖️ Accountability

Ray’s past actions are scrutinized in the present, testing whether accountability can come through confrontation or exposure. The corporate and social contexts complicate justice, as appearances can mask wrongdoing. The narrative probes the limits of forgiveness and the consequences of denial.

🎭 Facade

Public success and private cruelty coexist, as Ray’s polished image masks a history of abuse. Una’s pursuit of truth disrupts the façade, revealing harm behind respectable appearances. The tension between appearance and reality drives the drama.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:46

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about explosive confrontations with the past like Una

Stories where a long-buried past violently erupts into the present.If you were captivated by the tense, confrontational reunion in 'Una', this list is for you. These movies feature characters whose quiet lives are shattered by the sudden, unwelcome return of a traumatic past, leading to emotionally charged and psychologically complex dramas.

confrontationalunsettlingtensemelancholicpsychologicaltraumaticcatharticanxious

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern centers on a single, intense confrontation that serves as the story's core. Through this high-stakes encounter, often set over a short period, the film uses flashbacks and dialogue to unravel a complex history of trauma, betrayal, or abuse, building towards an emotionally raw and often devastating conclusion.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a primary focus on a climactic, cathartic, and deeply unsettling confrontation. They create a specific, high-tension viewing experience defined by psychological unraveling, moral ambiguity, and the heavy weight of history crashing down on the present.

Character-driven psychological dramas with moral complexity like Una

Character-driven dramas that dissect the grey areas of guilt and responsibility.For viewers who appreciated the deep character study and moral ambiguity of 'Una', this collection features similar films. These are slow-burn, heavy dramas that delve into the psyche of flawed individuals, examining themes of guilt, grooming, and the elusive search for redemption without easy answers.

psychologicalmorally complexunsettlingheavythought-provokingcharacter studybleakdamaged

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread unfold through intimate, often claustrophobic character interactions. The plot is secondary to the psychological unraveling of the protagonists as they are forced to examine their past actions and motivations. The narrative structure is typically linear or uses strategic flashbacks to reveal the source of the central moral conflict, leading to an ending that offers little solace.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their primary interest in psychological depth and moral ambiguity over plot mechanics. They share a dark tone, steady pacing, and a heavy emotional weight, creating a consistently intense and thought-provoking experience centered on difficult questions about human nature and accountability.

Unlock the Full Story of Una

Don't stop at just watching — explore Una in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Una is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Una Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Una, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Una Summary

Una Timeline

Track the full timeline of Una with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Una Timeline

Una Spoiler-Free Summary

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Una Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Una

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Una: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Una

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