Alice, Through the Looking (2021) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A young student's search for a seemingly erased lover unfolds across an upside-down London and a self-reflexive film-planning reality.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Vanishing Night

Alice, a young student, spends a night with her newfound lover Rabbit during the UK's 2016 EU referendum. Rabbit and the night then appear to have never existed.

Key Events

• Alice as a Young Student — Alice is introduced as a young student at the beginning of the story. Characters: Alice Location: London
• Referendum Evening — Alice and Rabbit's night takes place during the UK's 2016 EU membership referendum. Characters: Alice, Rabbit Location: London
• Alice Meets Rabbit — Alice spends a night with Rabbit, her newfound lover. Characters: Alice, Rabbit Location: London
• The Missing Night — The night with Rabbit suddenly appears never to have happened. Characters: Alice, Rabbit Location: London
• Alice Notices the Rupture — Alice confronts the unexplained disappearance of her recent experience with Rabbit. Characters: Alice Location: London

Through Altered London

Alice stumbles into a bizarre, upside-down version of London. She searches through this transformed setting for Rabbit.

Key Events

• Bizarre London — Alice stumbles into a strange version of London after the rupture. Characters: Alice Location: A bizarre version of London
• Upside-Down London — The altered city becomes the setting for Alice's search for Rabbit. Characters: Alice Location: An upside-down version of London
• The Search Begins — Alice begins searching through the altered city for Rabbit. Characters: Alice Location: An upside-down version of London
• Rabbit Becomes the Goal — Rabbit becomes the central objective of Alice's movement through the strange city. Characters: Alice, Rabbit Location: An upside-down version of London
• Wonderland Adaptation Layer — The film presents Alice's search as an Alice in Wonderland adaptation narrative. Characters: Alice, Rabbit Location: An upside-down version of London

The Story Watches Itself

The film periodically shifts from Alice's Wonderland adaptation narrative to a satirical real-world scenario. Philosophers and the director react to the film they are planning.

Key Events

• Narrative Layer Shift — The film periodically shifts away from Alice's adaptation narrative. Characters: Alice, Adam Location: Unspecified narrative space
• The Real-World Scenario — A satirical real-world scenario frames reactions to the film being planned. Characters: Adam, Self Location: The film's satirical real-world layer
• Philosophers React — Philosophers react to the film that is being planned. Characters: Self, Adam Location: The film's satirical real-world layer
• The Director Reacts — Adam, identified as the director, reacts to the film being planned. Characters: Adam Location: The film's satirical real-world layer
• Planned Film Examined — The real-world layer reflects on the film containing Alice's search for Rabbit. Characters: Adam, Self, Alice, Rabbit Location: The film's satirical real-world layer

Nested Narratives

Alice's search for Rabbit is placed beside the film's self-reflexive planning and reaction layer. The two narrative levels define the film's structure.

Key Events

• Reality and Adaptation Intersect — The adaptation narrative and satirical real-world scenario are placed in relation to each other. Characters: Alice, Rabbit, Adam, Self Location: Unspecified narrative space
• Alice's Quest Reframed — Alice's search is viewed through the film's shifting narrative levels. Characters: Alice, Rabbit, Adam, Self Location: Unspecified narrative space
• The Film Watches Itself — The planning and reaction scenario makes the film's own construction part of its subject. Characters: Adam, Self Location: The film's satirical real-world layer
• Alice and Rabbit Remain Central — Alice's search for Rabbit remains the central thread of the adaptation narrative. Characters: Alice, Rabbit Location: An upside-down version of London
• Layered Narrative Convergence — The film's Alice narrative and self-reflexive real-world layer stand together as its defining structure. Characters: Alice, Rabbit, Adam, Self Location: Unspecified narrative space

Story Breakdown

• Alice and Rabbit — Alice's relationship with Rabbit provides the emotional and narrative trigger.
  • Newfound Romance — Alice spends a night with Rabbit, described as her newfound lover.
  • Erased Encounter — Their night suddenly appears never to have happened.
• Referendum Context — The opening relationship event occurs against the UK's 2016 EU membership referendum.
  • 2016 Referendum — The night in question coincides with the UK's referendum on EU membership.
  • Political Backdrop — The referendum supplies the stated historical context for Alice and Rabbit's night.
• Upside-Down London — Alice enters a bizarre version of London and searches for Rabbit there.
  • Bizarre City — The film places Alice in a strange version of London.
  • Rabbit Search — Alice's movement through the altered city is organized around finding Rabbit.
• Wonderland Adaptation — The main fictional layer adapts the logic of Alice in Wonderland.
  • Alice Narrative — Alice remains the central figure of the adaptation narrative.
  • Unstable Reality — The changed city and vanished night create the layer's surreal instability.
• Satirical Real World — A second layer shows reactions to the film that is being planned.
  • Philosophers React — Philosophers are shown reacting within the satirical real-world scenario.
  • Director Reacts — Adam, identified as the director, also reacts to the planned film.
• Self-Reflexive Structure — The film periodically moves between its fictional search narrative and its commentary on filmmaking.
  • Layer Shifts — The narrative periodically changes between different levels of reality.
  • Film Within Discussion — The planned film becomes an object of reaction inside the film itself.

Directed by

Adam Donen

Key Cast

• Vanessa Redgrave — Narrator
• Steven Berkoff — Executive Producer
• Slavoj Žižek — Self
• Adam Donen — Adam
• Saskia Axten — Alice