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Timeline

Wingwomen (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 1 h 56 m · French
Echo score 60
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Starring
Mélanie Laurent, Philippe Katerine, Isabelle Adjani, Félix Moati, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Manon Bresch

Two experienced thieves and longtime partners, Mélanie Laurent and Adèle Exarchopoulos, recruit a spirited young woman, Sam, portrayed by Manon Bresch, to join them in their most ambitious and challenging heist. The plan involves a complex and risky operation, testing their skills and their partnership as they navigate a high-stakes game of deception and strategy.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Wingwomen Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Wingwomen (2023) 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. Introduction of Carole and Alex

    Carole and Alex are introduced as skilled thieves working under an enigmatic figure known as The Godmother. Their lives revolve around pulling off heists, highlighting their strong partnership and criminal lifestyle.

  2. Carole learns she is pregnant

    Carole discovers that she is pregnant, a revelation that profoundly impacts her perspective on their life of crime. This leads her to make the difficult decision to quit the business for the sake of her unborn child.

  3. Escape to a secret retreat

    In an effort to leave their criminal past behind, Carole and Alex escape to a secluded retreat. However, their peace is short-lived as mercenaries sent by The Godmother launch an attack on their hideout.

    Where
    Secret retreat
  4. Confrontation with The Godmother

    Carole decides to confront The Godmother, where tensions escalate dramatically. The Godmother threatens to kill an innocent person unless Carole agrees to return and name her price for coming back.

    Where
    The Godmother's hideout
  5. Decision for one last heist

    Facing pressure from The Godmother, Carole and Alex opt to pull off one final heist to secure their freedom. They involve Sam, a recently widowed race car driver, to serve as their getaway driver.

  6. Alex's initial confrontation with Sam

    Initially, Alex feels anger about Sam being brought into their heist plan, worried that it may jeopardize their operation. However, she gradually begins to warm up to Sam as they work together in planning the heist.

  7. Backstory of Carole and Alex

    As the heist preparations unfold, Sam learns more about Carole's history with Alex. Carole had met Alex when she was a troubled 14-year-old, forming the foundation of their close friendship and partnership.

  8. The heist is successfully executed

    The trio successfully pulls off the heist, showcasing their skills and teamwork. This success, however, sets the stage for an intense confrontation with The Godmother following their return.

  9. Betrayal and assassination

    In a shocking twist, Carole tells Alex to assassinate The Godmother during their meeting. This act of betrayal complicates their relationships and sets off a chain reaction of events leading to unforeseen consequences.

    Where
    The Godmother's location
  10. Carole's sacrifice

    After the assassination, Carole implores Alex to surrender to the police, insisting that it is the only way for them to truly be free. Tragically, while trying to protect Alex's future, Carole is shot by the police.

  11. Alex's escape with Sam

    In the aftermath of Carole's death, Sam helps a distraught Alex escape from the scene. The two devise a plan to get away from the chaos, marking the start of new uncertainties in their lives.

  12. Four years later: Alex's new life

    Four years pass, and Alex has managed to leave her criminal past behind, living a life devoid of crime. However, her past comes knocking when Sam approaches her with an unexpected proposition.

  13. Revelation of Carole's survival

    Sam's visit reveals that Carole is actually alive, having been in hiding with her daughter Raoule. This revelation changes everything for Alex, reopening old wounds and complicating her life's direction.

  14. Naming the daughter

    The daughter of Carole is named Raoule, the name suggested by Alex during their time together. This connection to the past highlights the bond that still unites the three women despite the turmoil they have faced.

Last updated: December 03, 2024 at 14:27

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Timeline questions answered

Wingwomen Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Wingwomen (2023): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Carole want to quit the criminal life after becoming pregnant?

Carole's pregnancy triggers a profound change in her priorities. After years of living as a thief, she realizes she wants a different life for her unborn child and decides to leave her criminal lifestyle behind. This decision is what sets the entire plot in motion, as she and Alex retreat to a secret hideaway seeking peace.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Carole and Alex's comfortable partnership in crime, making her sudden desire for change more impactful.

  • carole pregnancy
  • quit crime
  • motivations
  • unborn child
Q2

What ultimatum does The Godmother give Carole?

The Godmother threatens to kill an innocent stranger unless Carole agrees to return to criminal work and names her price for coming back. This forces Carole's hand, as she has no choice but to participate in one final heist to protect the innocent hostage.

Foreshadowing: The Godmother's control over Carole and Alex is established early, showing she won't let her operatives simply walk away.

  • the godmother ultimatum
  • threat
  • coerce
  • final heist
Q3

Why does Carole recruit Sam for the heist?

Carole and Alex need a getaway driver for their dangerous operation, and Sam, a recently widowed race car driver, has the exact skills they require. Additionally, Sam is in financial difficulty, making her willing to take the risk in exchange for money.

Foreshadowing: Sam's profession as a race car driver is introduced early, establishing her driving skills before they're needed for the heist.

  • sam recruitment
  • getaway driver
  • race car driver
  • heist team
Q4

Why does Carole have Alex kill The Godmother?

Carole orchestrates The Godmother's assassination as a way to free herself and Alex from her control permanently. By betraying The Godmother during their meeting, Carole removes the criminal boss who has been manipulating them, allowing both women to finally escape the life they were trapped in.

Foreshadowing: Carole's confrontational meeting with The Godmother builds tension, hinting that Carole has a hidden agenda beyond simply completing the heist.

  • assassination
  • the godmother
  • betrayal
  • freedom
  • escape criminal life
Q5

What does Carole mean when she says "Unless you surrender, we can never be free"?

Carole means that both she and Alex need to fully break away from their criminal past by turning themselves in. She believes that only by facing legal consequences and surrendering can they truly be free from The Godmother's influence and the cycle of crime that has defined their lives.

Foreshadowing: This line echoes Carole's earlier desire to quit crime after discovering her pregnancy, showing her commitment to a new life.

  • surrender
  • freedom
  • sacrifice
  • carole death
  • police
Q6

How does Carole survive being shot by the police?

Carole's death is staged. She coordinates with Alex and Sam beforehand to fake her death during the police confrontation. By appearing to sacrifice herself, she allows Alex to escape while Carole disappears to start a new life with her daughter, unseen by anyone including Alex.

Foreshadowing: The four-year time jump and Alex's grief set up the eventual reveal that Carole's death was not what it seemed.

  • carole survival
  • fake death
  • alive
  • plot twist
  • daughter
Q7

Why is Carole's daughter named Raoule?

Carole names her daughter Raoule, which is the name Alex once suggested for Carole's child when they were together. This choice reflects the deep bond between Carole and Alex, even after everything that happened, and serves as a lasting tribute to their relationship.

Foreshadowing: Alex's suggestion of the name is revealed during Sam's backstory learning moment, creating emotional setup for the final revelation.

  • raoule name
  • daughter name
  • alex suggestion
  • carole alex bond
Q8

What happens to Alex after Carole's supposed death?

After Carole's death, Alex is devastated but eventually leaves her criminal past behind. She lives without crime for four years until Sam approaches her with what appears to be another heist proposition. Alex has genuinely tried to honor Carole's sacrifice by changing her life.

Foreshadowing: The emotional scene of Carole being shot and Alex's escape sets up her transformation in the four-year time jump.

  • alex life after
  • four years later
  • new life
  • redemption
Q9

Does Carole actually die in the movie?

No, Carole does not actually die. Her death is faked as part of her plan to escape The Godmother and the police. She survives and goes into hiding with her daughter, keeping her survival secret from even Alex for four years until Sam reveals the truth.

Foreshadowing: The movie's ending carries a bittersweet tone despite the apparent tragedy, setting up the hopeful twist.

  • carole alive
  • carole death fake
  • twist ending
  • reveal
Q10

Why does Sam approach Alex four years later?

Sam approaches Alex under the pretense of involving her in another heist, but her real purpose is to reveal that Carole is actually alive. This is Sam's way of bringing the three women back together and finally telling Alex the truth about Carole's survival.

Foreshadowing: Sam's initial proposition mirrors the earlier recruitment, creating narrative symmetry before the reveal.

  • sam reunion
  • four years later
  • carole reveal
  • heist proposition
Q11

Why does Alex agree to the final heist with Carole?

Alex agrees to the final heist primarily because The Godmother has coerced them by threatening an innocent person's life. Additionally, Alex wants to protect Carole and support her partner, so she goes along with the dangerous plan to secure their freedom from The Godmother's control.

Foreshadowing: Alex's loyalty to Carole is established early in their partnership, making her willingness to participate understandable.

  • final heist
  • alex decision
  • protect carole
  • coerced
Q12

How did Carole and Alex first meet?

Carole met Alex when Alex was a troubled teenager at age 14. Carole became a stabilizing figure in Alex's life, and they have been partners in crime and life ever since. Their relationship spans years, with Carole essentially raising Alex and building the partnership that defines the movie.

Foreshadowing: Sam learning this backstory during heist preparations reveals the depth of Carole and Alex's bond.

  • carole alex meeting
  • backstory
  • teenage alex
  • partnership origin

Movie threads

More Movies Like Wingwomen, by Mood & Story

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

Bittersweet Heist Movies Like Wingwomen

High-stakes crime stories where loyalty and found family matter more than the score. If you liked the blend of high-stakes action and emotional partnership in Wingwomen, you'll find similar vibes in these movies. They feature complex heists driven by characters who form a found family, leading to thrilling yet bittersweet conclusions that focus on redemption and sacrifice.

  • tense
  • action-packed
  • melancholic
  • loyal
  • cathartic
  • desperate
  • Tone: tense, melancholic
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a crew of skilled individuals planning and executing a dangerous job. The central conflict often comes from external pressures testing the group's loyalty, with a climax that resolves the heist but leaves emotional scars or a bittersweet victory, emphasizing the value of connection over material gain.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the emotional core of a heist crew. They balance tense, fast-paced action sequences with meaningful character development, exploring themes of trust, betrayal, and the sacrifices made for one another, resulting in a poignant, impactful experience.

Thrillers About Partnerships Under Pressure Like Wingwomen

Stories where a tight-knit duo's bond is tested by extreme danger and deception. For viewers who enjoyed the intense dynamic between the partners in Wingwomen, this list features movies with similar high-tension partnerships. These stories focus on duos facing overwhelming odds, where their loyalty and combined skills are the key to navigating a fast-paced, dangerous plot.

  • tense
  • action-packed
  • desperate
  • loyal
  • strategic
  • chaotic
  • Tone: tense, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a core duo, often equals in skill, who are confronted with a sudden, severe threat that dismantles their normalcy. The plot is a rapid escalation of action and strategy as they work together to outmaneuver their pursuers, with the relationship itself being the ultimate source of strength and tension.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their focus on a central, high-stakes partnership. The similarity lies in the intense, fast-paced tone where the chemistry and conflict between the two leads drive the narrative forward, creating a compelling mix of strategic action and deep interpersonal drama.

Every angle

Wingwomen (2023) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Wingwomen 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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