A family confronts hidden faith, political violence, inherited secrets, and the limits of protection when Anaïs disappears into an uncertain future.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Memories Beneath The Surface
The film introduces Isabelle through a lecture, a memorial service, and questioning about a Palestinian activist. A former colleague reconnects her with a concealed past.
Key Events
Ossification Lecture — A lecture on intramembranous ossification opens the film before an interruption changes the atmosphere. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Lecture hall
Train Announcement — A train announcement interrupts the lecture and connects the present with a troubling past. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Lecture hall
Memorial Service — A memorial describes a Palestinian activist's life as a sacrifice for Palestinians. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Memorial service
Isabelle Questioned — Isabelle is questioned about the activist's travels and the events surrounding his life. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Interview setting
Past Recalled — A former colleague reminds Isabelle of their shared past, opening the film's second timeline. Characters: Isabelle, IsabelleLocation: Past timeline
The Secret Conversion
Léa reveals that Anaïs may have secretly converted to Islam and describes her concealed religious practices. Isabelle and Léa confront Dalila, who confirms the conversion but defends Anaïs's privacy.
Key Events
Family Conversation — Isabelle speaks with Léa as family concerns begin to surface. Characters: Isabelle, LéaLocation: Isabelle's home
Hidden Conversion Revealed — Léa reveals that Anaïs may have secretly converted to Islam and has worn a jilbab. Characters: Isabelle, Léa, AnaïsLocation: Isabelle's home
Mosque Observation — Léa recalls seeing Anaïs wearing a jilbab at a mosque in Geneva. Characters: Léa, AnaïsLocation: Mosque in Geneva
Train Clothing Change — Léa reports that Anaïs changed clothes on a train, reinforcing the secrecy around her conversion. Characters: Léa, AnaïsLocation: Train
Request For Help — Léa asks Isabelle for help because she fears Anaïs may be hiding dangerous radicalization. Characters: Isabelle, LéaLocation: Isabelle's home
Dalila Confronted — Isabelle and Léa confront Dalila about Anaïs's religious life. Characters: Isabelle, Léa, DalilaLocation: Dalila's meeting place
Conversion Confirmed — Dalila confirms Anaïs converted but insists that religious secrets should remain private. Characters: Dalila, AnaïsLocation: Dalila's meeting place
A Network Of Silence
Anaïs becomes involved with a militant network and receives instructions concerning obedience, secrecy, and secure communication. Arrests, disappearances, and widowhood deepen her isolation.
Key Events
Conversion Confirmed — Dalila confirms Anaïs converted but insists that religious secrets should remain private. Characters: Dalila, AnaïsLocation: Dalila's meeting place
Network Instruction — Nour instructs Anaïs about marriage and obedience within the militant network. Characters: Anaïs, NourLocation: Private meeting place
Trust No One — Abou Kassam warns network members not to trust anyone. Characters: Anaïs, Abou KassamLocation: Secure communication channel
Arrest And Erasure — After an arrest, Anaïs is told to erase digital traces and keep only secure communication channels. Characters: Anaïs, Abou KassamLocation: Secure communication channel
Militant Widowhood — After arrests and disappearances, Anaïs becomes the widow of a militant. Characters: AnaïsLocation: Anaïs's home
Request To Fight — Anaïs asks Abou Kassam to let her fight, but he says women must remain hidden. Characters: Anaïs, Abou KassamLocation: Meeting place
The Flight Into Uncertainty
Isabelle's surveillance attempt produces no evidence, while Anaïs announces that she is leaving. The family follows her toward an airport confrontation that ends with her disappearance into a bathroom.
Key Events
Computer Surveillance — Isabelle asks a former police contact to monitor Anaïs's computer, but the surveillance reveals nothing. Characters: Isabelle, AnaïsLocation: Isabelle's home
Anaïs Announces Departure — Anaïs returns at three in the morning, admits she is in love, and announces that she is leaving. Characters: Isabelle, Léa, AnaïsLocation: Family home
Airport Pursuit — Anaïs plans to fly to Montreal with Léa's family while Isabelle secretly follows them. Characters: Isabelle, Léa, AnaïsLocation: Airport
Warning On The Plane — A message warns that Anaïs has been identified and may be arrested at the airport. Characters: Isabelle, Léa, AnaïsLocation: Airplane
Bathroom Disappearance — Léa finds Isabelle on the plane, while Anaïs disappears into the bathroom and leaves her fate unresolved. Characters: Isabelle, Léa, AnaïsLocation: Airplane bathroom
Story Breakdown
Isabelle's Buried Past — The opening links Isabelle's present life to a concealed history of political violence and personal loss.
Memorial Questions — Isabelle attends a memorial service and is questioned about a Palestinian activist's travels.
Past Timeline — A former colleague recalls Isabelle's shared past, while the younger Isabelle appears in the earlier timeline.
Anaïs's Secret Faith — Léa discovers signs that Anaïs has converted to Islam and is hiding the change from her family.
Mosque Sighting — Léa saw Anaïs wearing a jilbab at a mosque in Geneva.
Train Disguise — Anaïs changed clothes on a train, reinforcing the secrecy surrounding her religious identity.
Family Investigation — Isabelle and Léa investigate Anaïs's conversion and seek information from Dalila.
Help Requested — Léa asks Isabelle to help because she fears dangerous radicalization.
Dalila Confronted — Dalila confirms the conversion but argues that religious matters should remain private.
Militant Network — Anaïs enters a secretive network governed by obedience, distrust, and restricted communication.
Rules Of Obedience — Nour instructs Anaïs about marriage and obedience.
Secure Channels — Abou Kassam warns members to trust no one and directs Anaïs toward secure communication.
Loss And Resistance — Arrests and disappearances transform Anaïs's position, while she seeks a more active role.
Digital Erasure — Anaïs is told to erase her digital traces after contact with the network leads to arrests.
Demand To Fight — After becoming a militant's widow, Anaïs asks to fight but is told women must remain hidden.
Airport Uncertainty — The family tries to prevent Anaïs's departure, but the final journey leaves her destination and fate unresolved.
Failed Surveillance — Isabelle asks for Anaïs's computer to be monitored, but the surveillance reveals nothing.
Bathroom Disappearance — After a warning about police identification, Anaïs disappears into the airplane bathroom.
Three women, three generations, two secrets. In the early 1970s, a bomb exploded on board the Swissair flight 330 to Tel Aviv. Isabelle's husband also died. The young, very pregnant widow feared that her lover, the Palestinian activist Djibril, might be entangled in it ... Now, 47 years later, Isabelle finds out that her granddaughter Anaïs has converted to Islam. But why does the young student keep her new faith secret from the family? Anaïs's mother, Léa, immediately rings the alarm.
