Cleo (2019) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A grieving teenager navigates family responsibility, a complicated bond with the man connected to her parents' deaths, and a choice to move toward a feared future.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Grief at Home

Cleo lives with her grandmother and younger brother after losing her parents. Grief makes her distant from school, while her grandmother asks her to take more responsibility.

Key Events

• Cleo's Bereaved Household — After losing her parents, Cleo lives with her grandmother and younger brother. Characters: Cleo, Bruno, Cleo Location: Family home
• A Call for Responsibility — Cleo's grandmother asks her to take more responsibility for the family. Characters: Cleo, Cleo Location: Family home
• Cleo Drifts from School — Grief leaves Cleo increasingly distant from school. Characters: Cleo Location: School

A Night Outside

Myra encourages Cleo to go out, and Cleo meets Leos at Club 7. Their closeness begins after he takes her to his apartment, though their age difference and emotional pain complicate it.

Key Events

• Myra Encourages an Outing — Myra encourages Cleo to go out instead of remaining withdrawn at home. Characters: Cleo, Myra Location: Unspecified
• Meeting at Club 7 — Cleo meets Leos after he intervenes when a woman is being hit. Characters: Cleo, Leos Location: Club 7
• Closeness at Leos's Apartment — Leos takes Cleo to his apartment, and they grow close despite their age difference and pain. Characters: Cleo, Leos Location: Leos's apartment

The Truth About the Crash

Cleo learns that Leos was involved in the crash that killed her parents and that he drove too fast before running away. The revelation intensifies her anger and fear around cars as grief continues to disrupt school and home life.

Key Events

• The Crash Revelation — Cleo learns Leos drove too fast in the crash that killed her parents and then ran away. Characters: Cleo, Leos Location: Unspecified
• Fear Around Cars — The revelation deepens Cleo's anger and fear, especially around cars. Characters: Cleo Location: Unspecified
• School Strain Intensifies — Cleo's grief affects her attendance and grades, causing concern from teachers. Characters: Cleo Location: School
• Sibling Reconciliation — After an argument at home, Cleo and Bruno make up. Characters: Cleo, Bruno Location: Family home

Distance and Music

Leos withdraws and suggests ending their relationship, while Cleo tries to offer help. She continues pursuing music and performs Rachmaninoff at her piano academy, where Leos is present.

Key Events

• Leos Pulls Away — Leos withdraws and suggests that he and Cleo stop seeing each other. Characters: Cleo, Leos Location: Unspecified
• Cleo Offers Help — Cleo says she wants to help, but Leos believes she cannot understand his struggle. Characters: Cleo, Leos Location: Unspecified
• Rachmaninoff Recital — Cleo performs Rachmaninoff at her piano academy, and Leos attends. Characters: Cleo, Leos Location: Piano academy

Choosing the Road

Cleo and Leos reconnect after the recital, and she invites him to a concert in Paris using tickets originally meant for her parents. Despite her fear of cars, she insists on going and leaves word for her grandmother before setting off with him.

Key Events

• An Invitation to Paris — After reconnecting, Cleo invites Leos to a Paris concert using tickets meant for her parents. Characters: Cleo, Leos Location: Piano academy
• Departure Toward Paris — Cleo leaves word for her grandmother and sets off with Leos despite her fear of cars. Characters: Cleo, Leos, Cleo Location: On the way to Paris

Story Breakdown

• Life After Loss — Cleo's family life is shaped by the loss of her parents and the effort to keep the household together.
  • Shared Household — Cleo lives with her grandmother and younger brother, Bruno.
  • Family Responsibility — Her grandmother asks Cleo to take on more responsibility.
• School and Grief — Cleo's grief affects her engagement with school and creates concern.
  • Distant from School — Cleo becomes increasingly distant from school.
  • Attendance and Grades — Her attendance and grades suffer, prompting concern from her teachers.
• Myra's Encouragement — Myra encourages Cleo to step outside her withdrawn home life.
  • Invitation to Go Out — Myra encourages Cleo to go out.
  • Club 7 Meeting — Cleo meets Leos at Club 7 after taking that step.
• Bond with Leos — Cleo and Leos grow close, but their connection is complicated by age, pain, and the truth about the crash.
  • Growing Closeness — Leos takes Cleo to his apartment, and the two grow close.
  • Crash Confession — Leos admits that he drove too fast and ran away after the crash that killed Cleo's parents.
• Family Tensions — Cleo's grief and place in the household strain family relationships, though she and Bruno reconcile.
  • Household Tension — Cleo struggles with her place at home amid her grandmother's expectations.
  • Sibling Reconciliation — Cleo and Bruno make up after an argument.
• Music and Separation — As Leos pulls away, Cleo continues to pursue music and they later reconnect.
  • Offer of Help — Cleo wants to help Leos, but he says she cannot understand his struggle and suggests they stop seeing each other.
  • Rachmaninoff Recital — Cleo performs Rachmaninoff at her piano academy, with Leos in attendance.
• Journey Toward Paris — After reconnecting, Cleo chooses to travel with Leos despite her fear of cars.
  • Concert Invitation — Cleo invites Leos to a Paris concert using tickets originally intended for her parents.
  • Departure — Cleo leaves word for her grandmother and sets off with Leos toward Paris.

Directed by

Eva Cools

Key Cast

• Anna Franziska Jäger — Cleo
• Roy Aernouts — Leos
• Yolande Moreau — Jet
• Lucie Debay — Jeanne
• Natali Broods — Arianne