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Yes, God, Yes (2019) movie poster

Timeline

Yes, God, Yes (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 78 mins · English
Echo score 52
JustWatch #10,155 8
Directed by
Karen Maine
Starring
Alisha Boe, Natalia Dyer, Wolfgang Novogratz, Donna Lynne Champlin, Myles Evans, Timothy Simons

Alice, a seemingly innocent Catholic teenager, discovers pleasure through online chat and begins masturbating, a secret she struggles to reconcile with her religious beliefs. Torn between guilt and newfound sensation, she navigates the complexities of adolescence and faith while exploring her sexuality in a private and conflicted way.

Drama Comedy Cast, crew & box office
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 Yes, God, Yes (2019)

Where can you watch Yes, God, Yes? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Kanopy and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Yes, God, Yes Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Yes, God, Yes (2019) 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. Fall 2000 — Alice's conflict between faith and desire

    In Fall 2000, Alice is a sexually curious junior at a strict Midwestern Catholic high school. Father Murphy teaches that sex is only for procreation within marriage, which seeds a sense of sin and shame about her growing feelings. She begins to struggle to reconcile her desires with the rules she has learned.

    When
    Fall 2000
    Where
    Midwestern Catholic High School

  2. Rumor about Alice spreads

    That Monday a rumor accuses Alice of a sexual act she did not commit. She denies the claim and admits she does not know what the phrase implies. The rumor reaches Mrs. Veda, who forbids her from serving at Mass and marks her with social suspicion.

    When
    Following Monday
    Where
    Catholic High School

  3. Confession and light penance

    Later that day Alice confesses venial sins during reconciliation and receives a light penance of twenty prayers. She dutifully fulfills the prayers in the school chapel, trying to quiet the moral noise in her head. The exchange deepens her sense of guilt and internal conflict.

    When
    Same day
    Where
    School Chapel

  4. Decision to attend a Kirkos retreat

    Alice and Laura decide to attend the next Kirkos spiritual retreat. Alice hopes to return to a righteous path, while Laura seeks acceptance from Nina, a popular senior. The decision marks a shift toward seeking guidance outside the classroom.

    When
    That week
    Where
    School to Kirkos retreat site

  5. Retreat begins and Chris appears

    At the retreat campgrounds Nina is a retreat leader and Alice is assigned to Chris's group. The two begin to bond as they participate in group activities, setting up a tension between desire and the retreat’s moral framework. Laura watches from the sidelines as the dynamics unfold.

    When
    First day
    Where
    Kirkos retreat campgrounds

  6. First night of retreat and awakening feelings

    That night Alice becomes aware of her evolving feelings and the complexity of desire. The experience unsettles her, because it conflicts with the moral rules she has been taught. She wrestles with how to process these new sensations.

    When
    First night
    Where
    Retreat house

  7. Second day ruse and forbidden questions

    On the second day Alice fakes an injury to get closer to Chris and to test boundaries. Nina confiscates her phone, and Father Murphy assigns cleaning duties as a punishment. In the retreat office she tries to learn what a provocative phrase means, but is interrupted by footsteps.

    When
    Second day
    Where
    Kirkos retreat grounds

  8. Third day pressure to confess and Wade's role

    On the third day Father Murphy discovers a message on a computer and presses Alice to confess her involvement in the rumors about Wade. Wade refuses to acknowledge his role, feeding the growing tension among the students. The retreat atmosphere grows tense as trust frays further.

    When
    Third day
    Where
    Retreat site and Father Murphy's office

  9. Nina and Laura clash; friendship strained

    Alice witnesses Nina in intimate interactions with another senior and shares what she sees with Laura. Laura accuses Alice of breaking into Father Murphy's office, and their friendship collapses as trust erodes between them. The retreat becomes a crucible for their loyalties.

    When
    Third day
    Where
    Retreat grounds

  10. Discovery of troubling behavior and distrust

    Alice encounters troubling events involving a leader at the retreat and grows distrust toward the adults enforcing the rules. The experience intensifies her sense that authority figures are fallible and that secrets are widespread. She feels increasingly isolated within the retreat environment.

    When
    Third day
    Where
    Retreat site

  11. A moment of closeness and leaving the retreat

    In a moment of impulse, Alice shares a moment of closeness with Chris and feels the weight of what she wants versus what is allowed. The tension and confusion drive her to leave the retreat grounds that night. She seeks space to think about what comes next.

    When
    That night
    Where
    Retreat grounds

  12. Crisis and counsel at a bar

    Seeking guidance, Alice ends up at a bar where the owner offers support and practical advice. The encounter helps her see a possible future beyond the retreat's strict moral code and encourages exploration of college options on the West and East Coasts. The encounter emphasizes the importance of curiosity and self-respect.

    When
    That night
    Where
    Lesbian bar

  13. Last day: accountability and reconciliation

    On the retreat's last day Wade faces consequences for the rumors and the group shares session moves toward honesty. Laura makes peace with Alice, and they acknowledge that everyone hides parts of themselves. The group recognizes the value of open, respectful communication.

    When
    Last day
    Where
    Retreat campgrounds

  14. Return to school and heavier penance

    Back at school, Alice and Chris agree to remain friends and return to reconciliation with Father Murphy. She reveals that she learned about the sexual dynamics during the retreat, and Father Murphy imposes a heavier penance of 100 prayers. She chooses to walk away from the chapel and focus on her future.

    When
    Post retreat
    Where
    School

  15. Reflection and plans for the future

    After the retreat, Alice contemplates her evolving sense of self and what lies ahead. She considers colleges on the West and East Coasts and resolves to pursue personal growth while navigating complex feelings. The experience leaves her determined to seek a path that respects her future ambitions.

    When
    Post retreat
    Where
    Home and future college prospects

Last updated: December 06, 2025 at 16:32

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Timeline questions answered

Yes, God, Yes Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Yes, God, Yes (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Alice banned from serving at Mass?

Alice was banned from serving at Mass because a rumor spread through the school hallways accusing her of performing a sexual act on a classmate named Wade at a party. Although Alice denied the rumor and didn't even understand what the phrase meant, Mrs. Veda still forbade her from serving at Mass, marking her with social suspicion within the Catholic school community.

  • Alice
  • Mass
  • Mrs. Veda
  • rumor
  • suspension
Q2

What does "tossed the salad" mean that Alice doesn't understand?

"Tossed the salad" is slang for a sexual act involving one person using their mouth on another person's anus. Alice is confused because she is sexually inexperienced and has never heard the phrase before, which is why she genuinely doesn't understand what she's being accused of doing.

  • tossed the salad
  • meaning
  • slang
  • rumor
  • Wade
Q3

Why does Alice fake an injury at the Kirkos retreat?

Alice fakes an injury on the second day of the retreat to get closer to Chris, a tall friendly senior who leads one of the groups. She uses the ruse as a way to test boundaries and spend time with him, revealing her growing attraction despite the religious environment.

  • Alice
  • Chris
  • fake injury
  • retreat
  • crush
Q4

What is Alice trying to learn on the computer at the retreat?

While assigned to cleaning duties in the retreat office, Alice logs onto an AOL chat room to ask what "tossing salad" means, hoping to finally understand the phrase that started the rumor about her. She's interrupted before she can get a clear answer as footsteps approach.

  • computer
  • AOL chat
  • tossed salad
  • question
  • retreat
Q5

Why does Father Murphy give Alice 100 prayers as penance at the end?

When Alice returns to reconciliation after the retreat and tells Father Murphy that she saw a video of people having sex during the retreat, he responds with a heavier penance of 100 prayers instead of the 20 prayers she received earlier. This harsher punishment reflects his view that her exposure to sexual content requires more religious correction, though Alice ultimately chooses not to complete it.

  • Father Murphy
  • penance
  • 100 prayers
  • confession
  • sex video
Q6

Why does Chris run away after kissing Alice?

After Alice and Chris share a kiss outside the retreat grounds, Chris becomes overwhelmed and runs away. The retreat's environment of religious accountability and moral pressure, combined with his position as a senior leader, creates conflict between his personal desires and the expectations placed on him as a role model.

  • Chris
  • kiss
  • retreat
  • run away
  • overwhelmed
Q7

What advice does Gina give Alice at the lesbian bar?

Gina, the owner of the lesbian bar Alice stumbles into, speaks frankly about how fear of damnation distorts growing up. She advises Alice to look into colleges on both the West and East Coasts to broaden her horizons beyond the restrictive environment of her Catholic school, encouraging exploration and self-acceptance.

  • Gina
  • bar
  • advice
  • college
  • broaden horizons
  • damnation
Q8

Why does Alice choose masturbation instead of completing her penance?

After receiving the heavier penance of 100 prayers, Alice walks out of the chapel and goes home. Instead of praying, she rewatches Titanic's sex scene and embraces masturbation as a way to process what she learned and felt during the retreat. This choice symbolizes her rejection of religious guilt and her decision to accept her own sexuality on her own terms.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the retreat, Alice discovered her capacity for self-pleasure through a vibrating phone but stopped due to guilt when seeing the crucifix.

  • masturbation
  • Titanic
  • penance
  • self-acceptance
  • sexuality
Q9

What happens between Alice and Laura during the retreat?

Alice tells Laura that she witnessed Nina (a retreat leader) kissing and performing oral sex on another senior leader. Laura refuses to believe her and accuses Alice of being a "pervy psycho," causing their friendship to fracture. They only make peace on the retreat's last day when Laura acknowledges that everyone hides parts of themselves.

  • Alice
  • Laura
  • Nina
  • fight
  • friendship
  • reconciliation
Q10

Why does Alice tell the group they are all "hiding stuff"?

During the final group sharing session, Alice urges everyone to be honest and treat one another with respect, stating that they are all "hiding stuff." This speech reflects her journey of recognizing that everyone, students and retreat leaders alike, keeps secrets and that true honesty requires acknowledging this universal human condition.

  • Alice
  • group sharing
  • honesty
  • hiding
  • speech
Q11

Why does Alice leave the retreat to go to a bar?

After her confusing kiss with Chris, who runs away, Alice leaves the retreat grounds in search of answers and support. She stumbles upon a lesbian bar where Gina welcomes her without judgment. The bar represents a space outside the religious framework where Alice can explore her questions about sexuality without fear of condemnation.

  • Alice
  • bar
  • lesbian bar
  • leave retreat
  • Gina
Q12

What triggers Alice's final acceptance of her sexuality?

Alice's acceptance builds through a series of experiences: discovering masturbation at the retreat, witnessing Hypocrisy in the retreat leaders, receiving judgment from Father Murphy, and getting supportive advice from Gina. The final trigger is Father Murphy's harsh response to her confession, assigning 100 prayers, which convinces her that the religious framework cannot accommodate her truths, leading her to embrace self-acceptance instead.

  • Alice
  • sexuality
  • acceptance
  • triggers
  • Father Murphy
  • Gina

Movie threads

More Movies Like Yes, God, Yes, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about religious teen angst like Yes, God, Yes

Stories of teens grappling with faith, desire, and the guilt in between. If you enjoyed Yes, God, Yes, you'll find similar stories here about teenagers navigating the complex terrain of faith and sexuality. These movies explore the specific anxieties of coming of age within religious communities, blending moments of humor with genuine emotional weight.

  • awkward
  • conflicted
  • anxious
  • nostalgic
  • hopeful
  • liberating
  • Tone: bittersweet, awkward
  • Pacing: steady, character-focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a young protagonist awakening to their own sexuality or individuality, which directly conflicts with the rigid beliefs of their religious upbringing. This internal struggle is often externalized through conflicts with authority figures (priests, teachers, parents) and peers, leading to a crisis of faith that culminates in a personal, often private, reconciliation or act of defiance.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific focus on the intersection of burgeoning teenage sexuality and religious indoctrination. They capture a unique blend of awkward humor, genuine anxiety, and the profound emotional weight of questioning deeply held beliefs for the first time.

Yes, God, Yes movie poster

Yes, God, Yes

2019
Heaven Help Us movie poster

Heaven Help Us

1985
Wide Awake movie poster

Wide Awake

1998
Yes, God, Yes movie poster

Yes, God, Yes

2017
American Teen movie poster

American Teen

2008
Edge of Seventeen movie poster

Edge of Seventeen

1998
The Wise Kids movie poster

The Wise Kids

2012
New Waterford Girl movie poster

New Waterford Girl

2000

Bittersweet self-discovery stories like Yes, God, Yes

Character-driven stories where liberation is hard-won but ultimately hopeful. Fans of Yes, God, Yes will appreciate these films that chart a similar emotional course from internal conflict to hopeful self-acceptance. These movies balance difficult emotional moments with an ultimately uplifting and liberating conclusion, focusing on personal growth over external validation.

  • hopeful
  • liberating
  • introspective
  • conflicted
  • earned
  • bittersweet
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, introspective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative arc is a linear progression from a state of confinement—be it emotional, social, or ideological—toward a hard-won freedom. The protagonist faces significant obstacles, often their own insecurities or a repressive environment, and the resolution is not a total victory but a meaningful step toward peace and self-understanding, leaving the past behind without erasing its scars.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their bittersweet emotional tone and a steady, introspective pacing that allows for deep character connection. They deliver a medium emotional weight, blending serious themes with moments of levity, and consistently end on a note of hopeful, earned liberation rather than uncomplicated joy.

Endings, Beginnings movie poster

Endings, Beginnings

2019
Am I OK? movie poster

Am I OK?

2024
200 Pounds Beauty movie poster

200 Pounds Beauty

2017
Double Happiness movie poster

Double Happiness

1994
Driving Lessons movie poster

Driving Lessons

2019
Life Is Sweet movie poster

Life Is Sweet

1991
Keeping the Faith movie poster

Keeping the Faith

2000
Hello I Must Be Going movie poster

Hello I Must Be Going

2012

Every angle

Yes, God, Yes (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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