Complete Unknown (2016) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A woman who repeatedly reinvents herself revisits a connection to her former life, while her companion confronts the allure and cost of her deceptions.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Invented Return

Alice enters New York under an assumed identity and tells Clyde she is a biologist recently returned from Tasmania. Clyde brings her to a birthday gathering, where she charms Ramina and the guests with her stories.

Key Events

• Lives Under Many Aliases — Alice is shown living different lives under different assumed identities. Characters: Alice Manning Location: Various cities
• Cafeteria Introduction — Alice arranges a meeting with Clyde and introduces herself as a biologist. Characters: Alice Manning, Clyde Goodwin Jr. Location: New York City cafeteria
• Tasmania Story — Alice says she has returned from an extended project in Tasmania. Characters: Alice Manning, Clyde Goodwin Jr. Location: New York City cafeteria
• Birthday Party Invitation — Clyde brings Alice to a birthday gathering where she meets Ramina and the guests. Characters: Alice Manning, Clyde Goodwin Jr., Ramina Brayton Location: Birthday party
• Guests Hear Alice's Tales — Alice charms Ramina and guests with stories about Tasmania and her work. Characters: Alice Manning, Ramina Brayton Location: Birthday party
• Ramina Announces Fellowship — Ramina announces she has received a jewelry design fellowship in California. Characters: Ramina Brayton Location: Birthday gathering

The Past Breaks Through

At dinner, Alice's account of leaving for Mexico without telling her family draws questions. She later admits that she is Jenny, a vanished college girlfriend, and describes her years of adopting and abandoning identities.

Key Events

• Ramina Announces Fellowship — Ramina announces she has received a jewelry design fellowship in California. Characters: Ramina Brayton Location: Birthday gathering
• Mexico Story at Dinner — Alice describes leaving for a year in Mexico without informing her family. Characters: Alice Manning, Dinner Patron Location: Dinner gathering
• Guests Question Her Choices — Some guests challenge Alice's choices after hearing about her move to Mexico. Characters: Alice Manning, Dinner Patron Location: Dinner gathering
• Jenny Identity Revealed — Alice admits she is Jenny, a vanished college girlfriend, and explains her assumed identities. Characters: Alice Manning Location: Birthday gathering

Impersonation Under Scrutiny

At a nightclub, Alice performs a magic trick and adds a story about working in China, prompting doubts about her background. Afterward, she and her companion help Nina and continue the deception at Nina and Roger's apartment.

Key Events

• Nightclub Magic Trick — Alice performs a magic trick and says she learned it in China as an assistant. Characters: Alice Manning, Clyde Goodwin Jr. Location: Nightclub
• Her Stories Are Questioned — Alice's account of China makes Clyde and others question her background. Characters: Alice Manning, Clyde Goodwin Jr. Location: Nightclub
• Nina Sprains Her Ankle — Alice and her companion encounter Nina while she walks her dog; Nina sprains her ankle. Characters: Alice Manning, Nina Location: Street near Nina's apartment
• False Medical Identities — Alice claims to be a surgeon and introduces her companion under a false name as an osteopath. Characters: Alice Manning, Nina, Roger Location: Nina and Roger's apartment
• Roger Requests an Examination — Roger urges the introduced osteopath to examine Nina's injured ankle. Characters: Nina, Roger Location: Nina and Roger's apartment
• Unease Ends the Visit — The deception helps the companion understand its appeal, but discomfort prompts them to leave. Characters: Alice Manning Location: Nina and Roger's apartment

A Real Thread of Work

Alice insists that her work with animals is genuine and takes her companion to Long Island to see frogs hatching. As she prepares to leave and adopt another identity, she invites him to join her, but he refuses.

Key Events

• Alice Defends Her Animal Work — Alice says that although she adopts identities, she really does work with animals. Characters: Alice Manning Location: New York City
• Frogs Hatch on Long Island — Alice takes her companion to meet a coworker and see frogs hatching. Characters: Alice Manning Location: Long Island
• Invitation to Leave Together — As Alice prepares to assume a new identity, she invites her companion to come with her; he refuses. Characters: Alice Manning Location: Alice's apartment

The Identity Continues

Her companion returns home to discuss California with his wife. Alice discards her credit cards, preserves her driver's license in a scrapbook of identities, and appears again in different clothes as someone new.

Key Events

• California Discussed at Home — After leaving Alice, her companion returns home to discuss California with his wife. Characters: Ramina Brayton Location: New York City apartment
• Identity Scrapbook Preserved — Alice discards her credit cards but keeps her driver's license in a scrapbook of identities. Characters: Alice Manning Location: Public restroom
• A New Identity Appears — Alice walks into the crowd, then reappears in different clothes as a new identity. Characters: Alice Manning Location: Crowd

Story Breakdown

• New York Arrival — Alice enters the city using an assumed identity and seeks contact with someone connected to her past.
  • Cafeteria Meeting — Alice arranges a meeting with Clyde and claims to be a biologist returned from Tasmania.
  • Birthday Gathering — Clyde brings Alice to a party, where she charms Ramina and the guests with her stories.
• Dinner Doubts — Alice's account of her past choices leads the dinner guests to question her.
  • Mexico Anecdote — Alice describes moving to Mexico for a year without informing her family.
  • Guest Questions — Some guests challenge the choices Alice describes.
• Jenny Revealed — Alice discloses her former identity and explains her repeated changes of name and life.
  • College Connection — Alice admits she is Jenny, a college girlfriend who disappeared.
  • Escaping Identities — She says she abandons assumed identities when she begins to feel trapped.
• Nightclub Skepticism — Alice's performance and stories make those around her question what is true.
  • Magic Trick — Alice performs a trick and says she learned it while working in China.
  • Background Questioned — Clyde and others doubt her account after hearing the China story.
• Nina's Apartment — A chance encounter leads Alice to extend her impersonation into another household.
  • Ankle Injury — Alice and her companion help Nina after she sprains her ankle while walking her dog.
  • False Medical Roles — Alice claims to be a surgeon and introduces her companion as an osteopath under a false name.
• The Genuine Work — Alice distinguishes her real work with animals from the identities she invents.
  • Animal Work Claimed — Alice assures her companion that she really does work with animals.
  • Frogs Hatching — She takes him to Long Island to meet a coworker and see frogs hatch.
• Departure and Refusal — Alice prepares to leave, but her invitation to share her next life is declined.
  • New Identity Prepared — Alice gets ready to leave and assume another identity.
  • Invitation Refused — Alice invites her companion to come with her, and he refuses.
• Identity Preserved — Alice keeps a record of former identities and continues her pattern of reinvention.
  • Cards Discarded — In a public restroom, Alice throws away her credit cards but keeps her driver's license.
  • Scrapbook Kept — She places the license in a scrapbook containing her old identities, then reappears in different clothes.

Directed by

Joshua Marston

Key Cast

• Rachel Weisz — Alice Manning
• Michael Shannon — Tom Brayton
• Kathy Bates — Nina
• Danny Glover — Roger
• Michael Chernus — Clyde Goodwin Jr.