This Is Love (2009) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A story of loss, guilt, and missed chances in which Maggie and Chris move toward a new commitment while caring for Jenjira.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

An Apartment Filled with Absence

Maggie's husband disappears, leaving her with their young daughter and a home marked by unfinished traces of their shared life. Sixteen years later, she remains lonely and fears losing the apartment.

Key Events

• The Husband Disappears — Maggie's husband fails to return home, leaving her and their young daughter behind. Characters: Maggie, Nina Location: Maggie's apartment
• Life Among the Remnants — Sixteen years later, Maggie still lives among traces of her former life. Characters: Maggie Location: Maggie's apartment
• The Threat of Losing Home — Maggie faces loneliness and the prospect of losing her apartment. Characters: Maggie Location: Maggie's apartment
• Nina Returns as an Adult — Grown Nina introduces Maggie to the man she is dating. Characters: Maggie, Nina Location: Maggie's apartment

The Dangerous Arrangement

Chris's involvement in illegal child sales becomes clear, and Holger is also implicated in the arrangements. When prospective buyers reject Jenjira and demand a child or a refund, Chris comes under pressure.

Key Events

• A Fragile Connection — Their conversation reveals how much time has passed and how fragile Maggie's connections have become. Characters: Maggie, Nina Location: Maggie's apartment
• Chris Admits His Involvement — Chris admits to having sold children to adoptive families in Europe five times. Characters: Chris Location: Unspecified
• Holger's Involvement — The plot identifies Holger as also involved in the arrangements. Characters: Chris, Holger Location: Unspecified
• The Buyers Reject Jenjira — Prospective buyers change their minds about Jenjira because of her appearance. Characters: Chris, Jenjira (as Lisa Nguyen) Location: Unspecified
• A Demand for Money or Child — The buyers demand either Jenjira or their money back. Characters: Chris, Jenjira (as Lisa Nguyen) Location: Unspecified
• Chris Pressures Others — Broke and under pressure, Chris tries to get others to help. Characters: Chris Location: Unspecified
• Maggie Warns Chris — Maggie objects to Chris's schemes and warns him that he is playing with something dangerous. Characters: Maggie, Chris Location: Unspecified

Jenjira's Escape

Maggie warns Chris about his schemes, while Jenjira runs away and is found alone at a train station. Chris takes her in and promises not to send her back to those seeking to reclaim her.

Key Events

• Maggie Warns Chris — Maggie objects to Chris's schemes and warns him that he is playing with something dangerous. Characters: Maggie, Chris Location: Unspecified
• Jenjira Runs Away — Jenjira runs away and is found alone at a train station. Characters: Jenjira (as Lisa Nguyen) Location: Train station
• Chris Takes Jenjira In — Chris takes Jenjira in and promises they will stay together. Characters: Chris, Jenjira (as Lisa Nguyen) Location: Unspecified
• A Promise Against Return — Chris promises not to send Jenjira back to the people seeking to reclaim her. Characters: Chris, Jenjira (as Lisa Nguyen) Location: Unspecified
• Seeking a Safe Family — Chris tries to find Jenjira a safe adoptive family. Characters: Chris, Jenjira (as Lisa Nguyen) Location: Unspecified

A Fragile New Family

Chris tries to find Jenjira a safe adoptive family as he and Maggie grow close, share a home, and plan a future. Jenjira worries that Chris will abandon her when she grows up, and he reassures her.

Key Events

• Seeking a Safe Family — Chris tries to find Jenjira a safe adoptive family. Characters: Chris, Jenjira (as Lisa Nguyen) Location: Unspecified
• Maggie and Chris Grow Close — Maggie and Chris grow close and share a home. Characters: Maggie, Chris Location: Unspecified
• Plans for a Shared Future — Maggie and Chris make plans for a future together. Characters: Maggie, Chris Location: Unspecified
• Jenjira Fears Abandonment — Jenjira fears Chris will abandon her when she grows up, and he reassures her. Characters: Chris, Jenjira (as Lisa Nguyen) Location: Unspecified
• Maggie Sees Roland Again — Seven years after her husband vanished, Maggie sees Roland again with Nina and feels erased from their lives. Characters: Maggie, Roland, Nina Location: Unspecified

The Past and a New Commitment

Maggie's history with Roland resurfaces, including the pain of seeing him again with Nina and their later confrontation about the silence that ended their relationship. A wedding ceremony suggests that Maggie and Chris choose a shared life while continuing to care for Jenjira.

Key Events

• Maggie Sees Roland Again — Seven years after her husband vanished, Maggie sees Roland again with Nina and feels erased from their lives. Characters: Maggie, Roland, Nina Location: Unspecified
• A Wedding and New Commitment — A wedding ceremony suggests Maggie and Chris choose a life together while caring for Jenjira. Characters: Maggie, Chris, Jenjira (as Lisa Nguyen) Location: Unspecified

Story Breakdown

• Maggie's Absent Past — Maggie's present remains shaped by the disappearance of her husband and the life they once shared.
  • The Empty Kitchen — Maggie finds groceries and half-eaten spaghetti after her husband fails to come home.
  • Sixteen Years Later — Maggie remains among the remnants of her former life and faces loneliness.
• A Fragile Motherhood — Maggie's bond with Nina spans childhood, separation, and Nina's adulthood.
  • Nina Grows Up — Nina is now grown and introduces Maggie to the man she is dating.
  • Distant Connections — Their conversation makes clear how much time has passed and how fragile Maggie's connections have become.
• Chris's Illegal Schemes — Chris is involved in illegal child sales to adoptive families in Europe, and Holger is also involved in the arrangements.
  • Repeated Sales — Chris admits to having sold children five times.
  • Buyers Reject Jenjira — Prospective buyers change their minds about Jenjira because of her appearance.
• Pressure and Warning — The buyers' demand and Chris's lack of money intensify the danger surrounding the arrangements.
  • Child or Refund — The buyers demand either Jenjira or their money back.
  • Maggie Objects — Maggie warns Chris that he is playing with something dangerous.
• Jenjira's Escape — Jenjira runs away, and Chris responds by taking her in and promising not to send her back.
  • Found at the Station — Jenjira is found alone at a train station.
  • A Promise to Stay — Chris tells Jenjira they will stay together rather than return her to those seeking to reclaim her.
• A Shared Future — Chris seeks a safe adoptive family for Jenjira as his relationship with Maggie deepens.
  • Fear of Abandonment — Jenjira fears Chris will abandon her when she grows up, and he reassures her.
  • Wedding Commitment — A wedding ceremony suggests Maggie and Chris choose a life together while continuing to care for Jenjira.

Directed by

Matthias Glasner

Key Cast

• Corinna Harfouch — Maggie
• Jürgen Vogel — Holger
• Jens Albinus — Chris
• Devid Striesow — Roland
• Jördis Triebel — Hatina