Voyager

Voyager

Year: 1991

Runtime: 117 mins

Language: German

Director: Volker Schlöndorff

DramaRomance

Destiny proves the strongest coincidence when Walter Faber, who survived an airplane crash, boards a ship for his next journey. Aboard the vessel he meets the enchanting Sabeth, and their attraction sparks a passionate love affair. They sail together to her home in Greece, yet the pragmatic, rational Faber remains oblivious to the fate his past actions have set in motion.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Voyager (1991)

Trace every key event in Voyager (1991) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Caracas encounter and decision not to board

Walter meets Herbert Hencke at the Caracas airport and feels a curious connection to his past. He decides not to board the flight, hoping to alter the course of his day. A flight attendant later escorts him onto the plane, removing his hesitation and setting the stage for what follows.

April 1957 Caracas, Venezuela
2

Plane crash in the desert

During the flight the airplane suffers engine trouble and crash lands in the desert near the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. The survivors struggle to understand what went wrong as they await rescue. The crash shatters Walter's sense of control and introduces him to a harsh new reality.

April 1957 Desert near Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico
3

Reveals about Joachim and Hannah

In the aftermath, Walter learns that Herbert is Joachim's brother, not merely a stranger. He discovers that Joachim was married to his former girlfriend Hannah and that they had a child who is now part of a complex family history. The revelation deepens Walter's sense of tangled past and potential consequences.

April 1957 Desert / rescue site
4

Rescue and the Guatemala plan

Rescue arrives in Mexico City and Herbert prepares to continue on to see his brother Joachim in Guatemala. Walter decides to accompany him, drawn by unfinished business with his old friend. The choice marks a transition from accident to a quest that spans countries.

April 1957 Mexico City, Mexico
5

Journey to Guatemala and Joachim's death

The journey to the tobacco farm in Guatemala is long and fraught with hardship. When they arrive, they find Joachim has hanged himself, leaving Walter to confront a devastating consequence of the past. The trip hardens Walter as he witnesses the cost of relationships undone by time.

April 1957 Tobacco farm, Guatemala
6

Return to New York and Ivy

Walter returns to New York City to find his current girlfriend Ivy waiting. She has received his letter ending their relationship, but she does not acknowledge the change. The encounter underscores Walter's growing sense of alienation and the pull of a different future.

May 1957 New York City, USA
7

Escape to Europe by ocean liner

Needing to escape his current life, Walter decides to travel to Paris on an ocean liner rather than fly. He seeks a chance to reinvent himself away from the memories that haunt him. The voyage becomes a catalyst for a new romance and a new set of dangers.

May 1957 New York to Atlantic crossing
8

Love aboard the ship

On the liner, Walter meets Elisabeth Piper, whom he calls Sabeth, and they quickly fall in love. They spend time together playing games, exploring the ship, and sharing intimate moments as their bond deepens. The ship voyage becomes the beginning of a life changing relationship.

May–June 1957 Atlantic Ocean, aboard the ocean liner
9

Paris reunion and road to Rome

After disembarking, Walter and Sabeth reunite in Paris at the Louvre. He offers to drive her to Rome rather than letting her hitchhike, and they begin a long drive through France toward Italy. The relationship takes on a new dimension as boundaries blur.

June 1957 Paris, France
10

Stops and the Head on Palatine Hill

Their journey takes them through France and Italy with stops in Avignon, Florence, and Orvieto before arriving in Rome. On Palatine Hill Walter is captivated by a sculpture and begins to confront the possibility that Sabeth is his daughter. A heavy silence settles over their romance as doubt grows.

June 1957 Avignon, Florence, Orvieto, Rome
11

The Greece plan and the shadows of paternity

The couple heads toward Greece, but Walter is troubled by the possibility of paternity and what Sabeth means to him. They sleep under the stars on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean as the tension between love and fear intensifies. The question of lineage starts to shadow their happiness.

June 1957 Greece coast / hillside overlooking the Mediterranean
12

Hospital stay and Hannah arrives

Sabeth is bitten by a snake and rushed to a hospital in Athens after a fall. Hannah arrives to look after her daughter, bringing with her the weight of Walter past and a chance to reveal the truth. The medical crisis becomes a turning point in their intertwined histories.

June 1957 Athens, Greece
13

Revelation of Sabeths parentage

While Sabeth recovers, Hannah reveals that Sabeth is Walter's daughter and presses him about how far he went with the child. Walter acknowledges the past, exposing a truth he has tried to hide. The admission shatters the fragile closeness that had grown between them.

June 1957 Athens, Greece
14

Sabeths death and aftermath

Sabeth survives the medical event but ultimately dies from the head injury. Walter is devastated by the revelation and the loss of the daughter he might have known. The tragedy marks a final reckoning with his past decisions.

June 1957 Athens, Greece
15

Farewell at Athens Airport

In June at Athens Airport, Hannah and Walter share a somber embrace and say goodbye. Walter remains seated in the terminal as his flight is called, contemplating the limits of fate and his own existence. The film closes on a note of unresolved longing and existential doubt.

June 1957 Athens International Airport, Greece

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:01

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