Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

War Witch (2013) movie poster

Timeline

War Witch (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 90 min · French
Directed by
Kim Nguyen

Torn from her family, a young girl is forced to become a soldier in an African rebel group. Known as a witch due to her prophetic visions, she struggles to maintain her humanity amidst the violence. Finding a brief respite in a connection with a fellow soldier, she confronts the trauma of her past and the harsh realities of war.

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

Where to watch

Where to Watch War Witch (2013)

Where can you watch War Witch? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Fawesome, Amazon Video and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

15 events in order · contains spoilers

War Witch Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of War Witch (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. Abduction by Rebels

    During a brutal civil war in sub-Saharan Africa, 12-year-old Komona is abducted from her village by a rebel faction. The warlord known as the Great Tiger leads this faction, marking the beginning of a traumatic journey for her.

    Where
    Komona's village
  2. Forced to Kill

    As part of the rebels' horrifying initiation, Komona is forced to commit the unthinkable act of killing her own parents. This heart-wrenching moment steals away her childhood, plunging her into a life of violence and grief.

  3. Life on the Island

    Komona is taken to a desolate island where other children like her are held captive. The rebels subject them to inhumane treatment, using them as porters, while training them to wield weapons for the chaos of war.

    Where
    Desolate Island
  4. Visions from God

    In the midst of her suffering, Komona receives a strange gift from God. After drinking tree sap, she begins to experience vivid hallucinations, which she later realizes help her endure and survive the attacks amidst the war.

  5. Branded a Child Witch

    The Great Tiger, intrigued by Komona's hallucinations, brands her as a 'child witch.' This label both repulses and empowers her, as it makes her visions valuable in the ongoing conflict.

  6. Bonding with Magician

    During her ordeal, Komona forms a bond with a boy named Magician, who has albinism. Together, they share dreams of escaping the clutches of the rebel faction and finding safety with her uncle.

  7. Uncle's Proposal

    In a twist of fate, Komona learns that her uncle wishes to marry her. He promises to catch a rare white rooster as a means of winning her consent, leaving her both hopeful and conflicted about the future.

  8. Capture of the White Rooster

    Her uncle succeeds in capturing the white rooster, a symbol of their engagement and a glimmer of hope for Komona. However, tragedy strikes as the commander from the Great Tiger's ranks discovers Komona's whereabouts.

  9. Tragic Loss of Magician

    As Komona is kidnapped once again, her beloved friend Magician faces a tragic end. His death devastates Komona, further darkening her already harrowing journey through war and loss.

  10. Becoming a Concubine

    Following her abduction, Komona is forced to become the concubine of the commander who kidnapped her. Despite her circumstances, she retains a glimmer of hope for her eventual freedom.

  11. Taking Back Control

    In a moment of sheer resilience, Komona retaliates against her captor by killing the commander. This act of defiance marks a turning point in her battle for survival and autonomy.

  12. Journey to Safety

    After escaping her captor, Komona embarks on a perilous journey to reunite with her uncle. Throughout her travels, she reflects on her past, haunted by memories of her parents.

  13. Unexpected Labor

    As Komona's journey comes to a climax, she unexpectedly goes into labor. The pain of childbirth is intertwined with the memories of her lost childhood and stolen dreams.

  14. Birth of Her Son

    In a bittersweet moment, Komona gives birth to a son during her escape. She names him after her beloved friend Magician, preserving his memory amidst the chaos surrounding her.

  15. Reconciliation with the Past

    As she holds her newborn son, Komona reflects on her harrowing journey and the loss of her parents. She finds a sense of closure, vowing to honor their memory and navigate a better future for her child.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 17:22

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

War Witch Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why was Komona forced to kill her own parents?

Komona was forced to kill her own parents as part of the rebels' horrifying initiation ritual. The Great Tiger's faction used this brutal act to break down the children psychologically and ensure their complete loyalty to the rebel cause. It was meant to sever all ties to their former lives, making escape and desertion psychologically harder for the child soldiers.

  • komona
  • parents
  • killing
  • rebels
  • initiation
  • great tiger
Q2

How did Komona's visions help her survive?

After drinking tree sap, Komona began experiencing vivid hallucinations that acted as an early warning system during attacks. These visions allowed her to anticipate enemy movements and survive onslaughts that would have otherwise killed her. The Great Tiger recognized this as a strategic advantage, which is why he kept her alive and valued her as an asset.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Komona drinks tree sap given to her by a rebel, which triggers her first vision.

  • komona
  • visions
  • hallucinations
  • survival
  • tree sap
  • attacks
Q3

Why did the Great Tiger call Komona a witch?

The Great Tiger branded Komona a 'child witch' after witnessing her visions and hallucinations. He interpreted her supernatural experiences as a valuable gift from God that could be exploited militarily. The label served a dual purpose: it terrified other rebels into respecting her, and it allowed the Great Tiger to use her prophetic abilities for strategic advantage in battles.

  • great tiger
  • witch
  • visions
  • child witch
  • military advantage
Q4

What happened to Magician in the movie?

Magician was killed when a commander from the Great Tiger's ranks tracked Komona down and kidnapped her. During this abduction, Magician was unable to protect her and was murdered. His death devastated Komona and represented another profound loss in her already traumatic life, later inspiring her to name her newborn son after him.

  • magician
  • death
  • komona
  • kidnapped
  • commander
Q5

Why did Komona kill the commander?

After being kidnapped and forced into becoming the commander's concubine, Komona took back her agency by killing him. This act of defiance was a turning point that represented her refusal to be victimized any longer. It marked her reclaiming control over her body and fate, enabling her subsequent escape to her uncle's home.

  • komona
  • commander
  • killing
  • concubine
  • escape
  • defiance
Q6

What was the significance of the white rooster?

The white rooster represented Komona's uncle's promise to marry her and was meant to symbolize their engagement and a path to freedom. Her uncle caught the rare bird specifically to win her consent and provide hope for a better life outside the rebel group. However, this hopeful plan was shattered when the commander discovered Komona's location.

  • white rooster
  • uncle
  • marriage
  • engagement
  • promise
  • escape plan
Q7

How did Komona escape from the rebels?

Komona escaped after killing the commander who had made her his concubine. This act of defiance gave her the opportunity to flee. She then embarked on a perilous journey to reach safety with her uncle, traveling while haunted by memories of her parents and ultimately going into labor during her escape.

  • komona
  • escape
  • rebels
  • commander
  • flee
  • journey
Q8

Why does Komona name her son Magician?

Komona names her newborn son after Magician as a tribute to their enduring love and bond. Despite the horrors they endured together and his tragic death, she wanted to preserve his memory through her child. The name represents hope and continuity amid loss, honoring the one person who showed her kindness during her trauma.

  • son
  • magician
  • naming
  • tribute
  • love
  • memory
Q9

Why do Komona's parents continue to haunt her?

Komona's parents haunt her because she was forced to kill them herself, leaving her with unbearable guilt and psychological trauma. Throughout her journey, these haunting memories represent her unresolved grief and the severe psychological damage inflicted by the rebels. She seeks to return home and lay them to rest to find closure.

  • parents
  • haunting
  • guilt
  • trauma
  • killing
  • closure
Q10

How did Komona get her visions?

Komona received her visions after drinking tree sap provided by a rebel. This strange gift from God manifested as vivid hallucinations that she initially struggled to understand. Over time, she learned to interpret these visions, which proved crucial to her survival during the constant attacks and warfare she endured.

  • tree sap
  • visions
  • gift
  • hallucinations
  • drinking

Movie threads

More Movies Like War Witch, by Mood & Story

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

Stories of Survival Under Oppression like War Witch

Characters fight to retain their humanity in the face of brutal, overwhelming systems. Find movies like War Witch that explore the brutal struggle for survival in oppressive regimes. These films focus on characters fighting to maintain their humanity against overwhelming force, often in war-torn or authoritarian settings. If you were moved by Komona's resilience, you'll appreciate these similar stories of endurance.

  • oppressive
  • resilient
  • brutal
  • harrowing
  • traumatic
  • somber
  • Tone: dark, harrowing
  • Pacing: steady, immersive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a character's descent into a system of extreme control, such as slavery, total war, or imprisonment. The central arc involves their psychological and physical struggle to endure, often finding small, fleeting moments of connection or hope that help them persevere against a backdrop of relentless brutality.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the visceral experience of oppression and the fight for personal survival. They share a dark tone, high emotional intensity, and a steady, methodical pacing that immerses the viewer in the protagonist's harrowing reality, making the moments of resilience profoundly impactful.

Movies with Fragile Love Stories in Harsh Settings like War Witch

A tender connection provides a fleeting refuge from overwhelming darkness and trauma. Discover films similar to War Witch that feature tender romantic bonds formed amidst trauma and violence. These stories focus on how love can briefly shine a light in the darkest places. If you appreciated the relationship between Komona and Magician, you'll find other movies where connection is a form of resistance.

  • bittersweet
  • haunting
  • traumatic
  • tender
  • somber
  • heartbreaking
  • Tone: bittersweet, dark
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves characters who are deeply scarred by their circumstances finding an unexpected and profound connection with another person. This relationship becomes their anchor, but its existence is precarious, constantly endangered by the violent world around them. The story balances moments of tender intimacy with the looming threat of loss.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their specific emotional mix: a heavy, dark core punctuated by a bittersweet romance that feels both essential and endangered. They share a high sadness score, a steady pacing that allows the relationship to develop authentically, and a tone that acknowledges the beauty of connection without shying away from the pain of its context.

Every angle

War Witch (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about War Witch 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app