Leaving (2009) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A dissatisfied wife abandons domestic stability for a consuming passion, whose pressures culminate in crime, murder, and a desperate reunion.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Life Without Purpose

Suzanne lives comfortably with Samuel in southern France but feels depressed by her idle bourgeois existence. She decides to return to work and has a treatment room prepared.

Key Events

• Bourgeois Life in Southern France — Suzanne lives a comfortable married life with Samuel and their two children. Characters: Suzanne, Samuel Location: Southern France
• Suzanne Rejects Idleness — Her idle bourgeois lifestyle depresses her and motivates a return to work. Characters: Suzanne Location: Southern France
• Treatment Room Planned — Samuel agrees to build a treatment room so Suzanne can work as a physiotherapist. Characters: Suzanne, Samuel Location: Back yard
• Ivan Arrives to Build — Ivan, a Spanish ex-con, is hired to build Suzanne's treatment room. Characters: Suzanne, Ivan Location: Back yard

The Dangerous Attraction

Ivan arrives to build Suzanne's treatment room, and their mutual attraction becomes immediate and intense. Their secret trysts destabilize Suzanne's marriage.

Key Events

• Violent Mutual Attraction — Suzanne and Ivan experience an immediate and overwhelming mutual attraction. Characters: Suzanne, Ivan Location: Back yard
• Secret Trysts — They begin meeting secretly and pursue multiple trysts. Characters: Suzanne, Ivan Location: Southern France
• Affair Confessed — Suzanne tells Samuel about the affair and promises to end it. Characters: Suzanne, Samuel Location: Family home
• Suzanne Cannot Let Go — Suzanne discovers that she cannot abandon her relationship with Ivan. Characters: Suzanne, Ivan Location: Southern France

Choosing the Affair

Suzanne confesses the affair but cannot abandon Ivan. She leaves her established life, facing rejection from her daughter and continued connection with her son.

Key Events

• Suzanne Cannot Let Go — Suzanne discovers that she cannot abandon her relationship with Ivan. Characters: Suzanne, Ivan Location: Southern France
• Leaving the Household — Suzanne chooses to give up her established life for her passion with Ivan. Characters: Suzanne, Samuel Location: Family home
• Family Rejection — Suzanne's daughter rejects her, while her son remains connected to her. Characters: Suzanne Location: Family home

Desperation and Arrest

Suzanne and Ivan experience severe financial problems and resort to stealing from Samuel's house. Ivan is arrested when he attempts to fence the stolen goods.

Key Events

• New Couple Faces Poverty — Suzanne and Ivan soon face severe financial problems. Characters: Suzanne, Ivan Location: Their new life together
• Card Declined — When her credit card is rejected, Suzanne sells her Cartier watch at a gas station. Characters: Suzanne Location: Gas station
• House Burglary — Suzanne and Ivan steal paintings and valuables from Samuel's house. Characters: Suzanne, Ivan, Samuel Location: Samuel's house
• Ivan Attempts to Fence Goods — Ivan tries to sell the stolen goods and is arrested. Characters: Ivan Location: Unspecified location

The Irreversible Choice

Samuel offers Ivan's freedom in exchange for Suzanne's return, forcing her into an unbearable dilemma. After returning home, Suzanne kills Samuel and escapes to Ivan.

Key Events

• Suzanne Claims Responsibility — Suzanne tells Samuel she was solely responsible and took only what belonged to her. Characters: Suzanne, Samuel, Ivan Location: Samuel's house
• Samuel's Ultimatum — Samuel says Ivan will be free if Suzanne returns home. Characters: Suzanne, Samuel Location: Samuel's house
• Suzanne Faints — Overwhelmed by the choice between Ivan and returning home, Suzanne faints. Characters: Suzanne Location: Samuel's house
• Return to Family Home — Suzanne returns home but remains distant from her family. Characters: Suzanne, Samuel Location: Family home
• Nighttime Murder — Suzanne takes a rifle and shells from a closet and kills Samuel as he sleeps. Characters: Suzanne, Samuel Location: Bedroom
• Flight Through the Night — Suzanne drives through the night after killing Samuel. Characters: Suzanne Location: Roads through the night
• Reunion at Ruined House — Suzanne reunites with Ivan, embraces him, and sobs as a distant police siren sounds. Characters: Suzanne, Ivan Location: Ruined house in the hills

Story Breakdown

• Domestic Dissatisfaction — Suzanne's comfortable family life no longer fulfills her.
  • Bourgeois Ennui — Her idle lifestyle in southern France depresses her.
  • Return to Work — She decides to become a physiotherapist again.
• Treatment Room Encounter — A practical construction project introduces the person who transforms Suzanne's life.
  • Samuel's Agreement — Samuel agrees to prepare a treatment room in the back yard.
  • Ivan's Arrival — Ivan is hired to carry out the building work.
• Forbidden Passion — Suzanne and Ivan develop an immediate affair that overwhelms her existing commitments.
  • Sudden Attraction — Their mutual attraction is described as sudden and violent.
  • Secret Trysts — They continue meeting despite Suzanne's marriage.
• Marriage and Family Rupture — Suzanne's choice creates emotional and practical damage within her family.
  • Confession to Samuel — Suzanne admits the affair and promises to give it up.
  • Children's Responses — Her daughter rejects her while her son remains connected.
• Descent into Crime — Financial hardship pushes the new couple toward increasingly desperate actions.
  • Selling the Watch — Suzanne sells her Cartier watch after her credit card is rejected.
  • Robbing Samuel's House — Suzanne and Ivan steal paintings and valuables from Samuel's house.
• Arrest and Ultimatum — Ivan's arrest gives Samuel leverage over Suzanne's decision.
  • Ivan Arrested — Ivan is arrested while attempting to fence the stolen goods.
  • Conditional Freedom — Samuel offers Ivan's freedom if Suzanne returns home.
• Irreversible Violence — Suzanne returns home temporarily but resolves the conflict through murder.
  • Nighttime Shooting — She kills Samuel while he sleeps using a rifle.
  • Escape to Ivan — She drives to the ruined house and reunites with Ivan.

Directed by

Catherine Corsini

Key Cast

• Kristin Scott Thomas — Suzanne
• Sergi López — Ivan
• Yvan Attal — Samuel
• Bernard Blancan — Rémi
• Daisy Broom — Marion