Bliss (1997) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A troubled marriage moves from sexual frustration through unconventional therapy toward the painful discovery of buried trauma.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Marriage Without Release

Joseph and Maria have been married for six months but cannot achieve a fulfilling sex life. They seek help from Alfred, whose conventional counseling exposes the depth of their problem.

Key Events

• Six Months of Marriage — Joseph and Maria are married but unable to enjoy a fulfilling sex life. Characters: Joseph, Maria Location: Joseph and Maria's home
• Seeking Marriage Counseling — The couple asks Alfred for help with their marital and sexual difficulties. Characters: Joseph, Maria, Alfred Location: Alfred's counseling office
• Traditional Psychoanalysis — Alfred applies a traditional psychoanalytic approach to the couple's problems. Characters: Joseph, Maria, Alfred Location: Alfred's counseling office
• Maria's Unfulfilled Orgasms — Joseph learns that Maria has never experienced a genuine orgasm with him. Characters: Joseph, Maria, Alfred Location: Alfred's counseling office

The Search for Another Method

Maria becomes dissatisfied with Alfred's traditional psychoanalytic approach and contacts Baltazar. His unconventional therapeutic practice creates a new source of danger for the marriage.

Key Events

• Maria Rejects Alfred's Method — Maria becomes dissatisfied with Alfred's conventional therapeutic approach. Characters: Maria, Alfred Location: Alfred's counseling office
• Maria Contacts Baltazar — Maria turns to Baltazar for an alternative form of sexual therapy. Characters: Maria, Baltazar Location: Baltazar's practice
• Joseph at the Construction Site — Joseph works as an architect at a construction site. Characters: Joseph Location: Construction site
• An Invitation to Spy — Joseph's site colleagues invite him to spy on an old man having sex. Characters: Joseph Location: Construction site

The Telescope Revelation

At the construction site, Joseph is invited to spy through a telescope. He discovers Maria with Baltazar and learns that Baltazar uses sex with patients as part of his technique.

Key Events

• Looking Through the Telescope — Joseph looks through the telescope and sees Maria with Baltazar. Characters: Joseph, Maria, Baltazar Location: Construction site
• Baltazar's Therapeutic Technique — Joseph realizes that Baltazar has sex with patients as part of his method. Characters: Maria, Baltazar Location: Baltazar's residence
• Joseph Confronts Baltazar — Joseph angrily confronts Baltazar about his involvement with Maria. Characters: Joseph, Baltazar Location: Baltazar's residence
• Joseph Becomes a Patient — The confrontation unexpectedly leads Joseph to become Baltazar's patient. Characters: Joseph, Baltazar Location: Baltazar's practice

The Failed Experiment

Joseph confronts Baltazar but unexpectedly becomes his patient. When Joseph applies Baltazar's techniques with Maria, she suffers a seizure and is hospitalized.

Key Events

• Learning the Techniques — Baltazar teaches Joseph techniques intended to address the couple's sexual problems. Characters: Joseph, Baltazar Location: Baltazar's practice
• Joseph Practices With Maria — Joseph attempts to apply Baltazar's techniques with Maria. Characters: Joseph, Maria Location: Joseph and Maria's home
• Maria Suffers a Seizure — Joseph's attempt causes Maria to suffer a seizure. Characters: Joseph, Maria Location: Joseph and Maria's home
• Maria Is Hospitalized — Maria is taken to the hospital after the seizure. Characters: Joseph, Maria Location: Hospital

The Buried Cause

Maria's hospitalization reveals that her sexual dysfunction is connected to childhood sexual abuse. She must confront memories of the past as part of her recovery.

Key Events

• Searching for the Cause — The hospitalization brings the deeper source of Maria's dysfunction into focus. Characters: Joseph, Maria Location: Hospital
• Childhood Abuse Revealed — It is revealed that Maria suffered sexual abuse as a child. Characters: Maria, Joseph Location: Hospital
• Confronting Buried Memories — Maria is called to confront memories of her past in order to recover. Characters: Maria, Joseph Location: Hospital
• Recovery Through Confrontation — Maria's recovery becomes tied to facing the abuse underlying her dysfunction. Characters: Maria, Joseph Location: Hospital

Story Breakdown

• Troubled Marriage — Joseph and Maria begin the story as newlyweds whose intimate life is already failing.
  • Six Months Married — The couple has been married for only six months.
  • Unfulfilled Sex Life — They cannot enjoy a satisfying sexual relationship.
• Conventional Counseling — The couple turns to Alfred, but his traditional approach does not resolve Maria's problem.
  • Alfred's Treatment — Alfred provides marriage counseling and psychoanalytic treatment.
  • Maria's Dissatisfaction — Maria rejects the results of Alfred's conventional method.
• Alternative Therapy — Maria seeks Baltazar after losing faith in conventional counseling.
  • Maria Meets Baltazar — Maria reaches out to Baltazar for alternative sexual therapy.
  • Sexual Technique — Baltazar uses sex with patients as part of his therapeutic technique.
• Telescope Discovery — Joseph's work environment unexpectedly exposes Maria's involvement with Baltazar.
  • Construction Site — Joseph works as an architect at a construction site.
  • Seeing Maria — Joseph looks through a telescope and finds Maria with Baltazar.
• Joseph's Intervention — Joseph moves from anger and confrontation into Baltazar's unusual treatment process.
  • Confronting Baltazar — Joseph angrily challenges Baltazar about Maria.
  • Becoming a Patient — Joseph unexpectedly becomes a patient and learns Baltazar's techniques.
• Trauma and Recovery — A failed attempt to help Maria leads to hospitalization and the revelation of her childhood abuse.
  • Maria's Seizure — Joseph's attempt to use the technique causes Maria to suffer a seizure.
  • Buried Abuse — Maria's dysfunction is linked to sexual abuse suffered during childhood.
  • Facing the Past — Maria must confront traumatic memories in order to recover.

Directed by

Lance Young

Key Cast

• Craig Sheffer — Joseph
• Sheryl Lee — Maria
• Terence Stamp — Baltazar
• Casey Siemaszko — Tanner
• Spalding Gray — Alfred