Film Language Tag: retrospective plot
A plot that tells of past events from the perspective of the present or future.
10086 Sunset Boulevard , Sunset Boulevard
After giving the repo-men the slip, Joe (William Holden) stumbles upon old Hollywood actress Norma Desmond's (Gloria Swanson) mansion.
A Coming Storm, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) and Heloise (Adèle Haenel) talk about music.
A Loose Lamb, All About Eve
Margo (Bette Davis) sees Bill (Gary Merrill) off, but Eve (Anne Baxter) briefly interrupts their farewells.
A Night Between Battles, Saving Private Ryan
In the French town of Neuville-au-Plain, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and his remaining men (Edward Burns, Jeremy Davies, Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper, Giovanni Ribisi, Tom Sizemore) spend a night in a church. They discuss the rationalization of sacrifice for a mission and memories from back home.
A Son, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Lisa (Joan Fontaine) gives birth to a son whom she gives his father's name, Stefan (Louis Brand).
Aftermath of an Explosion, The Battle of Algiers
Algerians carry bodies from a wrecked building after a French attack and riot in the streets.
Aftermath of the Revolution, Persepolis
Marji's family (Francois Jerosme, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, and Simon Abkarian) reports the horrors of the revolution. Uncle Ahoush is arrested and Marji (Gabrielle Lopes Benites) visits him in jail. Afterwards, she yells at God for letting her uncle die.
All American Football Team, Forrest Gump
Forrest (Tom Hanks) travels to D.C. to meet President Kennedy as a member of the All-American Team
Ambushed in Vietnam, Forrest Gump
Forrest (Tom Hanks) and the others face are ambushed, and Forrest tries to save as many of the other men as possible.
An Actor Can't Be Ordinary, All About Eve
Eve (Anne Baxter), DeWitt (George Sanders), and Bill (Gary Merrill) talk about what it means to be an actor.
Apartment Music, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Lisa Berndle (Joan Fontaine) quietly admires Stefan (Louis Jourdan), eventually sneaking into his apartment.
Ausgang, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Lisa (Joan Fontaine) and Stefan (Louis Jourdan) go on a date, with a carriage ride, a "train ride", and dancing.
Benny's Farewell, City of God
Blacky (Rubens Sabino), in an attempt to kill Li'l Ze (Leandro Firmino), kills Benny (Phellipe Haagensen) at his farewell party.
By the Firelight, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Sophie (Luàna Bajrami) helps Marianne (Noémie Merlant) get settled.
Clementine the Tangerine, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Hearing Patrick's voice during the procedure triggers Joel to relive various memories, including the first time he called Clementine "Tangerine."
Closing Sequence, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Stefan (Louis Jourdan) finishes reading Lisa's (Joan Fontaine) letter, learning that both she and their son (Leo B Pessin) have died of typhus, and decides to engage in his duel with Johann (Marcel Journet).
Closing Sequence, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) recalls the last time she saw Heloise (Adèle Haenel).
Closing Sequence, Sunset Boulevard
During their fight, Norma (Gloria Swanson) shoots Joe (William Holden).
Closing Sequence, Saving Private Ryan
Alongside Private Ryan's (Matt Damon) crew, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and his men fight a bloody battle to defend a French bridge from the Germans.
Closing Sequence, Double Indemnity
Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) finds Walter (Fred MacMurray) recording his confession on the office's dictaphone
Closing Sequence, City of God
Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) captures Li'l Ze's (Leandro Firmino) dead body on camera, and his photo lands him an internship at the newspaper. The Runts take over the City of God in light of Li'l Ze's passing.
Closing Sequence, Persepolis
After her friend dies fleeing the fundamentalist police, Marji (Chiara Mastroianni) leaves her husband, Reza, (Arie Elmaleh), her family (Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, & Simon Abkarian) and Iran.
DeMille's Set, Sunset Boulevard
Joe (William Holden) and Max (Erich von Stroheim) accompany Norma (Gloria Swanson) to Paramount Pictures to see what Cecil DeMille (himself) has to say about the script.
Dreaming of Running, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) and Heloise (Adèle Haenel) meet and go for their first walk.
Dressing Room, All About Eve
Bill (Gary Merrill) arrives at Margo's (Bette Davis) dressing room to collect her before he leaves for Hollywood, and he meets Eve (Anne Baxter) for the first time.
Drive-By Attack, The Battle of Algiers
Two boys attack pieds-noirs in the streets.
Eugene and Vincent, Gattaca
Vincent steals Eugene's identity to work at the Gattaca space corporation.
Farewells, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) says her goodbyes.
Final Day of the Strike, The Battle of Algiers
On the last day of the strike, French paratroopers roam through the streets, attacking Algerians.
Finding Private Ryan, Saving Private Ryan
Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and his remaining soldiers (Edward Burns, Jeremy Davies, Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper, Tom Sizemore) find Private Ryan (Matt Damon), who refuses to abandon his post.
Fire and Music, All About Eve
Margo (Bette Davis) and Bill (Gary Merrill) get into a fight about her attitude towards Eve.
For Instance, You!, All About Eve
Bill (Gary Merrill) arrives early to the welcome home party Margo (Bette Davis) and Eve (Anne Baxter) have put together.
Forgotten Star, Sunset Boulevard
Joe (William Holden) and Norma (Gloria Swanson) watch one of Norma's old films.
Forrest's Run, Forrest Gump
After Jenny leaves, Forrest (Tom Hanks) goes on a run for over three years.
Hedwig Plays in the Oven, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell) used to play in an oven when she was little.
Heloise's Fate, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) and Heloise (Adèle Haenel) talk on the beach.
Hide Me Somewhere Really Buried, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Joel takes Clementine into a particularly humiliating and repressed memory from his childhood.
Homecoming, Persepolis
After a health scare, Marji (Chiara Mastroianni) returns to her family in Tehran. Her parents (Catherine Deneuve and Simon Abkarian) tell her of the post-war reality. Her grandmother (Danielle Darrieux) updates her on the family gossip. She is visited by many relatives.
Hotel Break In, City of God
Shaggy (Jonathan Haagensen), Clipper (Jefechander Suplino), and Goose (Renato de Souza) rob occupants of a hotel while Li'l Dice (Douglas Silva) is on lookout for the police.
I'm A Man, City of God
Steak n' Fries (Darlan Cunha) tells Carrot (Matheus Nachtergaele) that he must kill Knockout Ned (Seu Jorge).
I'm Erasing You and I'm Happy!, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Joel confronts Clementine about erasing her during the memory of their break-up and Stan and Patrick continue their 'work.'
Jack's Birth, The Tree of Life
Mrs. O'Brien (Jessica Chastain) gives birth to Jack (Sean Penn).
Joe's First Night, Sunset Boulevard
Joe (William Holden) spends the night at Norma's (Gloria Swanson) and wakes up to all his belongings in the guest room.
Keyes' Hunch, Double Indemnity
Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) shows up at Walter's (Fred MacMurray) apartment and tries to talk through the case. Unbeknownst to Keyes, Phyllis (Barbara Stanwyck) is also on her way to visit Walter.
Keyes' Little Man, Double Indemnity
Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) catches a client before he can commit insurance fraud. After, Keyes and Walter (Fred MacMurray) talk about the company.
Killing One of the Runts, City of God
Li'l Ze (Leandro Firmino) forces Steak n' Fries (Darlan Cunha) to kill a member of the Runts.
Li'l Ze's Backstory, City of God
Li'l Ze (Leandro Firmino) begins killing people as a child, and he is given protection in his adulthood in a Candomblé ceremony.
Like Peas and Carrots, Forrest Gump
Forrest (Tom Hanks, Michael Conner Humphreys) recounts his first day at school and meeting his first friend Jenny (Hanna R. Hall).
Like Peas and Carrots Again, Forrest Gump
Jenny (Robin Wright) returns to Alabama and spends time with Forrest (Tom Hanks).
Linz, Letter from an Unknown Woman
In Linz, Lisa's (Joan Fontaine) parents arrange for her to meet Lt. von Kaltnegger (John Good), who proposes to her.
Lover's Invention, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) and Heloise (Adèle Haenel) share an intimate moment at night.
Madame D's Will, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Monsieur Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) and Zero (Tony Revolori) arrive at Madame D's estate to pay their respects.
Marji Grows Up, Persepolis
Marji (Chiara Mastroianni) transitions into her teenage years. At a bar, she lies about her Iranian identity.
Marji's Depression, Persepolis
After returning to Tehran, Marji (Chiara Mastroianni) struggles with depression.
Me Thinks, Me Breathes, Me Laughs, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Zero (Tony Revolori) and Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) confront J. G. Jopling (Willem Dafoe) on the mountaintop.
Milk Bar Café Bombing, The Battle of Algiers
Djamila Bouhired (Magda Al-Sabahi), Zohra Drif Bitat (Fouzia El Kader), and Hassiba Ben Bouali (Fusia El Kader) all bring parts of a bomb into French territory in Algiers to make an attack.
Moonlighting , Sunset Boulevard
While Norma (Gloria Swanson) undergoes an intense makeover for her "comeback," Joe (William Holden) sneaks out at night to write a script with Betty (Nancy Olson).
Mrs. Dietrichson, Double Indemnity
Walter (Fred MacMurray) meets Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) for the first time while looking for her husband to renew their car insurance.
Murder, Double Indemnity
Phyllis (Barbara Stanwyck) and Walter (Fred MacMurray) execute their plan.
New Haven, All About Eve
Eve (Anne Baxter) and DeWitt (George Sanders) talk about her upcoming stage performance.
New Year's at Artie's, Sunset Boulevard
Joe (William Holden) arrives at Artie's (Jack Webb) New Year's party after fleeing Norma's (Gloria Swanson) and finds Betty (Nancy Olson) there.
New Year's at Norma's, Sunset Boulevard
Joe (William Holden) attends Norma's (Gloria Swanson) lavish New Year's Eve "party."
Nothing Left, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Lisa (Joan Fontaine) leaves her mother (Mady Christmas) at the train station to go back to the apartment and see Stefan (Louis Jourdan) once more before leaving for Linz.
Noticed, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Now working as a dress model in Vienna, Lisa (Joan Fontaine) is noticed by Stefan (Louis Jourdan)
Oh My God, Deja Vu, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Stan and Patrick begin the erasing procedure and Joel re-enters his memory of the pre-procedure doctor's appointment.
Omaha Beach Invasion, Saving Private Ryan
US soldiers arrive on the German-occupied Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Captain John Miller of the 2nd Ranger Battalion (Tom Hanks) leads surviving men to the sea wall to attack the German forces.
Opening Credits and Sequence, Persepolis
Instead of boarding her flight to Tehran, Marjane ("Marji") (Chiara Mastroianni) reflects on her youth in Iran. Living with her mom (Catherine Deneuve), dad (Simon Abkarian), and grandmother (Danielle Darrieux), young Marji (Gabrielle Lopes) witnesses the start of the Iranian Revolution.
Opening Sequence, In the Heights
Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) introduces el barrio.
Opening Sequence, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Concert pianist Stefan Brand (Louis Jourdan) enlists his mute butler John (Art Smith) in helping him evade a duel, and sits down to read a letter from an unknown woman (Joan Fontaine).
Opening Sequence, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) instructs her students on how to paint a portrait.
Opening Sequence, Sunset Boulevard
Joe Gillis (William Holden) begins the story of his demise.
Opening Sequence, It's a Wonderful Life
Clarence (Henry Travers), an angel, reviews the key moments in George Bailey's (Bobbie Anderson) life in an effort to come to his aid in his hour of need.
Opening Sequence, Saving Private Ryan
A veteran (Harrison Young) and his family visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.
Opening Sequence, Double Indemnity
Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) stumbles into his office late at night with a gunshot wound in his shoulder.
Opening Sequence, City of God
Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) gets stuck between the police, an escaped chicken, and Li'l Ze (Leandro Firmino) and his gang.
Opening Sequence, The Battle of Algiers
An informant tells the French Army the spot where Ali la Pointe (Brahim Hadjadj) is hiding. Opening credits roll.
Opening Sequence, Forrest Gump
In 1981, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) waits at a bus stop where he begins to talk to other passengers about his life and what brought him to Savannah.
Orpheus and Eurydice, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant), Sophie (Luàna Bajrami), and Heloise (Adèle Haenel) read the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.
Page 28, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) finishes the second portrait and gives Heloise (Adèle Haenel) a goodbye gift.
Plans of Her Own, Double Indemnity
Walter (Fred MacMurray) confronts Phyllis (Barbara Stanwyck) about her motives.
Post Internet, Transcendence
Max Waters reminisces about his friends Will and Evelyn Caster in a post-internet world.
Press Interviews, The Battle of Algiers
FLN leader Larbi Ben M'hidi (Si Mohamed Baghdadi) and French Lieutenant-Colonel Phillippe Mathieu (Jean Martin) are interviewed by the press.
Print the Legend (Closing Sequence), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Ransom (James Stewart) finishes recounting to newspaper editor Maxwell (Carleton Young), who rips up the written record. Ransom and Hallie (Vera Miles) return to D.C.
Sam Cooke's Boston Performance, One Night in Miami...
Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Anir) recounts the story of Sam Cooke's (Leslie Odom Jr.) performance for an angry crowd in Boston.
Si Larbi Talks to Ali la Pointe, The Battle of Algiers
Si Larbi (Si Mohamed Baghdadi) explains his rationale for a strike to Ali la Pointe (Brahim Hadjadj)
Sophie, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) and Heloise (Adèle Haenel) accompany Sophie (Luàna Bajrami).
The Bonfire, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant), Sophie (Luàna Bajrami), and Heloise (Adèle Haenel) attend a bonfire.
The First Painting, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) shows Heloise (Adèle Haenel) and the Countess (Valeria Golino) the painting.
The French Kill Ali la Pointe, The Battle of Algiers
Ali la Pointe (Brahim Hadjadj) and others are killed in a bombing by the French paratroopers.
The Fruit of the Sea, Forrest Gump
Forrest (Tom Hanks) enlists in the army and begins boot camp where he meets Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue (Mykelti Williamson).
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Opening Sequence), The Grand Budapest Hotel
The author (John Wilkinson, Jude Law) introduces The Grand Budapest Hotel.
The Iranian Revolution, Persepolis
Marji's family (Catherine Deneuve, Simon Abkarian, and Danielle Darrieux )grows disillusioned with the violence of the Iranian Revolution. Marji (Gabrielle Lopes Benites) and her friends plan to punish a classmate whose father worked for the Shah.
The Last Night of Liberty Valance (Part 2), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Ransom (James Stewart) faces Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin) in a gunfight and kills him.
The Mekong Delta, Forrest Gump
Forrest (Tom Hanks) and Bubba (Mykelti Williamson) follow Lieutenant Dan's (Gary Sinise) lead while marching through Vietnam.
The Missing Goddess, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Lisa (Joan Fontaine) visits Stefan (Louis Jourdan) at his apartment, and leaves when she realizes he doesn't recognize her.
The Monastery, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Zero (Tony Revolori) and Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) arrive at a monastery in their search for Segre X (Mathieu Amalric).
The One on the Edge of Your Memory, Letter from an Unknown Woman
May years later, Lisa (Joan Fontaine), now married to Johann (Marcel Journet), runs into Stefan (Louis Jourdan) at the opera.
The Scheme, Double Indemnity
Phyllis (Barbara Stanwyck) shows up at Walter's (Fred MacMurray) apartment. The two of them talk about Phyllis' husband.
The Shrimp Boat, Forrest Gump
Forrest (Tom Hanks) and Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise) try to find success on the shrimp boat.
The Society of the Crossed Keys, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Freshly out of prison, Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) calls upon The Society of Crossed Keys for assistance.
The Truth Comes Out, Sunset Boulevard
After finding out about Joe's (William Holden) sneaking around, Norma (Gloria Swanson) calls Betty (Nancy Olson) and taunts her.
Think Back, Pilgrim, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Ransom (James Stewart) rejects his nomination at the territorial convention, only for Tom (John Wayne) to arrive and reveal that he is one that killed Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin), not Ransom.
Three French Officers Killed, The Battle of Algiers
On July 20, 1956, the FLN organized the quick, subtle assassinations of three French officers in Algiers.
Vienna, Persepolis
After her family (Catherine Deneuve, Simon Abkarian) decides Iran is no longer safe for her, Marji (Gabrielle Lopes Benites) says her goodbyes and moves to Vienna. In 2000, adult Marji (Chiara Mastroianni) reflects on the move.
Vincent Bests Anton, Gattaca
Vincent plays chicken with his genetically superior brother.
Voices of the Gods, In the Heights
Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) shows Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) her work and Usnavi decides to stay in Washington Heights.
We Left Him, Black Panther
Zuri tells T'Challa what happened to his uncle and cousin.
Western Law, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Ransom (James Stewart) recounts about his arrival West on stagecoach, and being beaten and robbed by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin).
Where Were You? You Let a Boy Die. , The Tree of Life
After Jack's (Hunter McCracken) friend drowns in a pool, he questions God's benevolence.
Zero and Agatha, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Zero (F. Murray Abraham, Tony Revolori) recounts his and Agatha's (Saoirse Ronan) love story.
