Daniel (played by Wes Bentley) is a protagonist in The Time Being.
Daniel is a struggling painter, husband to Olivia, and father to Marco. In need of money, he accepts unusual filming assignments from Warner Dax, whose demands draw him away from his family. He challenges Warner's decision to abandon his daughter and ultimately returns to reconnect with Marco. Warner Dax (played by Frank Langella) appears in The Time Being.
Warner Dax is a wealthy art collector who commissions Daniel to film specific scenes and artworks. Facing a terminal illness, he reveals that he left his daughter and her mother years earlier, claiming he wanted his work to outlast him. Daniel challenges his reasoning, and Warner eventually recognizes the cost of losing his family. Sarah (played by Sarah Paulson) appears in The Time Being.
Sarah is a museum guide whom Daniel secretly films while she leads a tour at the de Young museum. She is also Winona's mother and is connected to Warner as the mother of his daughter. Daniel encounters Sarah and Winona again at the bluff where he completes Warner's sunset assignment. Eric (played by Corey Stoll) appears in The Time Being.
Eric is Daniel's gallery contact. He tells Daniel that the collector Warner Dax wants to meet him personally about a commission, connecting Daniel to the assignments that become central to the story. The plot summary identifies his role in arranging this opportunity but gives no further actions or relationship details. Olivia (played by Ahna O'Reilly) appears in The Time Being.
Olivia is Daniel's wife and Marco's mother. As Daniel becomes absorbed in Warner's assignments, their marriage deteriorates. She takes Marco to her mother's house and tells Daniel she cannot continue living as they have, making the strain on Daniel's family life clear. Anjelica (played by Gina Gallego) appears in The Time Being.
After Warner's death, Anjelica speaks to Daniel and tells him that Warner lived through his paintings and admitted Daniel was right. Her message gives Daniel confirmation of Warner's change in perspective, linking Warner's final realization to Daniel's confrontation with him. Marco (played by Aiden Lovekamp) appears in The Time Being.
Marco is Daniel and Olivia's young son. Olivia takes him with her when she leaves Daniel for her mother's house, and his separation from Daniel reflects the damage to their family. After Warner's death, Daniel returns to Marco, who is overjoyed to see him, and embraces reconnecting with his son. Winona (played by Mila Brener) appears in The Time Being.
Winona is Sarah's daughter and is connected to Warner through his past with Sarah and their family. Daniel encounters her with Sarah while filming Warner's assignments, including at the bluff in Santa Monica. The summary presents her as part of the family Warner had left behind.
The Time Being (2012) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Daniel
(played by Wes Bentley) — protagonist
Daniel is a struggling painter, husband to Olivia, and father to Marco. In need of money, he accepts unusual filming assignments from Warner Dax, whose demands draw him away from his family. He challe...
Warner Dax
(played by Frank Langella) — supporting
Warner Dax is a wealthy art collector who commissions Daniel to film specific scenes and artworks. Facing a terminal illness, he reveals that he left his daughter and her mother years earlier, claimin...
Sarah
(played by Sarah Paulson) — supporting
Sarah is a museum guide whom Daniel secretly films while she leads a tour at the de Young museum. She is also Winona's mother and is connected to Warner as the mother of his daughter. Daniel encounter...
Eric
(played by Corey Stoll) — supporting
Eric is Daniel's gallery contact. He tells Daniel that the collector Warner Dax wants to meet him personally about a commission, connecting Daniel to the assignments that become central to the story....
Olivia
(played by Ahna O'Reilly) — supporting
Olivia is Daniel's wife and Marco's mother. As Daniel becomes absorbed in Warner's assignments, their marriage deteriorates. She takes Marco to her mother's house and tells Daniel she cannot continue...
Anjelica
(played by Gina Gallego) — supporting
After Warner's death, Anjelica speaks to Daniel and tells him that Warner lived through his paintings and admitted Daniel was right. Her message gives Daniel confirmation of Warner's change in perspec...
Marco
(played by Aiden Lovekamp) — supporting
Marco is Daniel and Olivia's young son. Olivia takes him with her when she leaves Daniel for her mother's house, and his separation from Daniel reflects the damage to their family. After Warner's deat...
Winona
(played by Mila Brener) — supporting
Winona is Sarah's daughter and is connected to Warner through his past with Sarah and their family. Daniel encounters her with Sarah while filming Warner's assignments, including at the bluff in Santa...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Warner Dax → Winona
(Family Connection)
Daniel encounters Sarah and Winona at the Santa Monica bluff and learns more about Sarah's connection to Warner after Warner abandoned Sarah and her m...
Sarah → Winona
(Family Mother)
The plot identifies Winona as Sarah's daughter, and the two appear together during Daniel's assignments.
Warner Dax → Sarah
(Family Father)
Warner admits that he abandoned his daughter and her mother years earlier, and Daniel later learns Sarah's connection to him.
Daniel → Warner Dax
(Professional Commissioned Artist)
Warner hires Daniel to film children, a museum exhibition, and a sunset while giving him precise instructions.
Daniel → Eric
(Professional Gallery Contact)
Eric is Daniel's gallery contact and tells him that Warner Dax wants to meet him about a commission.
Olivia → Marco
(Family Mother)
Olivia takes Marco to her mother's house after telling Daniel she cannot continue living with him this way.
Daniel → Marco
(Family Father)
Daniel worries about supporting his young son, Marco, and later returns to him after Warner's death.
Daniel → Olivia
(Romantic Husband)
Olivia is identified as Daniel's wife, but their marriage begins to collapse as Daniel becomes absorbed in Warner's assignments.
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Warner Dax → Anjelica
(Social Posthumous Confidante)
After Warner's death, Anjelica tells Daniel that Warner lived through his paintings and admitted Daniel was right.
Daniel → Sarah
(Social Acquaintance)
Daniel secretly records Sarah leading a tour at the de Young museum and later encounters her at the Santa Monica bluff.
Story Analysis
A struggling painter confronts the cost of artistic isolation and learns to choose family before it is too late.
Plot Progression
A Painter Without Buyers
Warner's Strange Assignments
A Family Under Strain
The Cost of Isolation
Choosing Family Over Legacy
Directed by Nenad Cicin-Sain
The Time Being (2012) · 5.3/10 · mystery
Content sources
Related entry on
Wikidata
(Q16615266), public domain (CC0).
Plot breakdown and analysis on this page are AI-generated from the title's synopsis and metadata.
