3some (2009) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Three art students sustain an unconventional relationship while love, identity, ambition, and future plans test its balance.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Attraction And Exposure

María José and Marcos develop an attraction that becomes physical. Marcos's apparent impotence introduces the first major strain.

Key Events

• Madrid Art College — The three art students are introduced within Madrid's 1980s college setting. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• María José Meets Marcos — María José and fellow student Marcos become attracted to each other. Characters: María José, Marcos Location: Art college
• Feelings Become Physical — Their romantic feelings become physical. Characters: María José, Marcos Location: Madrid
• Marcos Faces Impotence — They discover Marcos's apparent impotence, complicating their intimacy. Characters: María José, Marcos Location: Madrid

An Unusual Proposal

Jaime reveals his interest in María José and proposes a three-person relationship. María José accepts after both men express affection and respect.

Key Events

• Jaime Intervenes — Marcos's best friend Jaime enters the situation because he also likes María José. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Art college
• A Three-Way Proposal — Jaime proposes a three-person relationship to relieve Marcos's presumed stress. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• Mutual Affection Declared — Both men profess affection and respect for María José. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• María José Agrees — Initially reluctant, María José agrees to the three-person relationship. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid

Love Under Pressure

The trio lives openly at college while facing negative attitudes and internal questions about boundaries, jealousy, balance, and identity. Marcos's impotence subsides, but his depression remains troubling.

Key Events

• María José Agrees — Initially reluctant, María José agrees to the three-person relationship. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• Open College Relationship — The relationship is lived openly at college. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Art college
• Student Hostility — The trio faces negative attitudes from other students. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Art college
• Boundaries Become Difficult — The partners confront problems involving boundaries, balance, and jealousy. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Art college
• Identity Disagreement — Jaime suggests Marcos might be gay, but Marcos denies it. Characters: Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• Impotence Gradually Subsides — Marcos's impotence gradually subsides as the relationship continues. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• Marcos's Depression Returns — Marcos's recurrent depression worries María José and Jaime. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid

Graduation And Divergence

Graduation forces the partners to consider their futures. Their different levels of career promise, ambition, and talent make the relationship increasingly difficult to balance.

Key Events

• Marcos's Depression Returns — Marcos's recurrent depression worries María José and Jaime. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• Graduation Changes Stakes — Graduation makes future planning an unavoidable issue. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Art college
• Unequal Prospects Emerge — Marcos has a promising career, Jaime has ambition but little talent, and María José has talent without ambition. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• Marcos Plans Shared Future — Marcos proposes that all three live and paint together after graduation. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid

The Unresolved Future

Marcos proposes a shared life and painting arrangement, offering to cover most expenses. Jaime rejects it and María José hesitates, leaving the relationship unresolved.

Key Events

• Marcos Plans Shared Future — Marcos proposes that all three live and paint together after graduation. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• Financial Arrangement Offered — Marcos offers to pay most expenses from his work earnings. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• Love And Need Confessed — Marcos confesses his love and need for both partners. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid
• The Future Remains Open — Jaime rejects the proposal, María José hesitates, and the ending remains open. Characters: María José, Marcos, Jaime Location: Madrid

Story Breakdown

• Madrid Student World — The story begins among three art students in 1980s Madrid.
  • Art College Setting — María José, Marcos, and Jaime are connected through their college years.
  • Initial Attraction — María José and Marcos become attracted to each other.
• Marcos's Intimacy Crisis — Physical intimacy exposes Marcos's apparent impotence and unsettles the first couple.
  • Physical Relationship — María José and Marcos's feelings become physical.
  • Apparent Impotence — The couple discovers Marcos's apparent impotence.
• Jaime's Intervention — Jaime's affection for María José and concern for Marcos lead him to suggest a new arrangement.
  • Friend Joins Conflict — Jaime enters the romantic situation as Marcos's best friend.
  • Stress Relief Proposal — Jaime proposes a three-person relationship to relieve Marcos's presumed stress.
• The Shared Relationship — Mutual declarations of affection persuade María José to accept the three-person relationship.
  • Mutual Respect — Both men profess affection and respect for María José.
  • María José Agrees — María José moves from reluctance to acceptance.
• College Pressures — The relationship functions openly but encounters social judgment and internal instability.
  • Negative Attitudes — Other students react negatively to the relationship.
  • Jealousy And Boundaries — The partners struggle with boundaries, balance, jealousy, and future plans.
• Identity And Depression — Marcos's personal difficulties continue even as his impotence gradually improves.
  • Sexual Identity Debate — Jaime suggests Marcos might be gay, but Marcos denies it.
  • Recurring Depression — Marcos's depression worries both María José and Jaime.
• Unequal Artistic Futures — Graduation exposes different prospects and makes the trio's future harder to define.
  • Marcos's Career Promise — Marcos appears to have a promising career.
  • Different Ambitions — Jaime is ambitious but lacks talent, while María José is talented but lacks ambition.
• Marcos's Final Proposal — Marcos attempts to preserve the relationship through a shared artistic and domestic future.
  • Living And Painting — Marcos proposes that all three live and paint together.
  • Love And Financing — He offers his earnings for most expenses and confesses love and need.
• Open Relationship Ending — The proposal fails to secure agreement, leaving the future of the trio uncertain.
  • Jaime Rejects Proposal — Jaime refuses the proposed shared future.
  • María José Hesitates — María José does not make a definite decision, preserving the open ending.

Directed by

Salvador García Ruiz

Key Cast

• Adriana Ugarte — María José
• Nilo Mur — Marcos
• Biel Duran — Jaime
• Guillermo Eced — Zapatitos
• Patricia Plaza — Sandra