Killing Zoe (1993) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A safe-cracker's reunion with a violent childhood friend becomes a catastrophic heist, while a brief romance offers a path toward survival.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Dangerous Paris Reunion

Zed arrives in Paris to help his childhood friend Eric rob a bank. A taxi driver's offer leads him to Zoe, with whom he quickly forms an affectionate connection.

Key Events

• Zed Arrives in Paris — Zed arrives in Paris to help Eric with a bank heist. Characters: Zed Location: Paris taxi
• The Driver's Offer — The driver offers to procure a sex worker for Zed. Characters: Zed, Cab Driver Location: Paris taxi
• Zoe Reaches the Hotel — Zoe arrives at Zed's room after the driver's arrangement. Characters: Zed, Zoe Location: Hotel room
• An Intimate Encounter — Zed and Zoe have sex and begin speaking amicably. Characters: Zed, Zoe Location: Hotel room
• Zoe Shares Her Dreams — Zoe reveals her art studies and boring day job. Characters: Zed, Zoe Location: Hotel room

Friendship Under Pressure

Eric interrupts Zed's meeting with Zoe and brings him into the robbery circle. Eric explains the Bastille Day plan while their night of partying reveals his HIV diagnosis.

Key Events

• Eric Interrupts Them — Eric barges in and brusquely sends Zoe away. Characters: Zed, Zoe, Eric Location: Hotel room
• Return to Eric's Residence — Eric takes Zed to his residence to meet the robbery associates. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Eric's residence
• The Bastille Day Plan — Eric explains that the closed holiday leaves a holding bank vulnerable. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Eric's residence
• Night at the Jazz Club — Zed abandons rest and parties with Eric and his associates. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Seedy jazz club
• Eric Reveals His HIV — Eric tells Zed that intravenous drug use caused his HIV. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Seedy jazz club

The Violent Heist

Eric awakens Zed for the masked bank robbery, where violence begins immediately. Police arrival traps the thieves inside, while an explosive opens the vault to reveal gold bars.

Key Events

• Eric Reveals His HIV — Eric tells Zed that intravenous drug use caused his HIV. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Seedy jazz club
• Heist Morning — Eric awakens Zed and prepares the crew for the robbery. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Eric's residence
• Masked Entry — Eric's masked team enters the bank and threatens anyone who resists. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Holding bank
• The Safe Is Reached — Zed is escorted to the safe while the robbery proceeds violently. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Bank safe area
• Police Arrive — Police arrival destroys the crew's expectation of an easy escape. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Holding bank
• The Vault Explodes — Eric uses an explosive to open the vault and finds gold bars. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Bank vault

Love Inside the Crossfire

Zed recognizes Zoe among the bank workers and tries to protect her. Eric's fury intensifies the conflict as the thieves and police exchange gunfire.

Key Events

• The Vault Explodes — Eric uses an explosive to open the vault and finds gold bars. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Bank vault
• Zoe Is Recognized — Zed recognizes Zoe as a bank worker and tries to protect her. Characters: Zed, Zoe, Eric Location: Holding bank
• Eric Turns Furious — Eric reacts furiously to Zed's attempt to protect Zoe. Characters: Zed, Zoe, Eric Location: Holding bank
• The Bank Gunfight — Eric's team exchanges gunfire with police as Zed is caught between them. Characters: Zed, Zoe, Eric Location: Holding bank
• The Crew Falls — Most of the thieves are killed, leaving Zed and Eric isolated. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Holding bank

Escape from the Ruins

Most of the thieves die, and Zed fights Eric before police kill Eric. Zoe saves the injured Zed by claiming he is a customer and driving him away with a hopeful promise.

Key Events

• The Crew Falls — Most of the thieves are killed, leaving Zed and Eric isolated. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Holding bank
• Friends Become Enemies — Zed and Eric fight each other after the robbery collapses. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Holding bank
• Eric Is Killed — Police kill Eric during the final violent confrontation. Characters: Zed, Eric Location: Holding bank
• Zoe Extracts Zed — Injured Zed is led away quickly by Zoe. Characters: Zed, Zoe Location: Bank exit
• The False Customer Story — Zoe falsely tells authorities that Zed is a bank customer. Characters: Zed, Zoe Location: Bank exit
• A Promise of Paris — Zoe drives Zed away and promises to show him the real Paris. Characters: Zed, Zoe Location: Zoe's car

Story Breakdown

• Paris Arrival — Zed enters Paris and is drawn toward both Eric's robbery and Zoe.
  • Taxi Introduction — The cab driver offers to procure a sex worker for Zed.
  • Hotel Encounter — Zed meets Zoe, has sex with her, and forms an affectionate connection.
• Zoe Connection — Zed and Zoe establish intimacy before Eric forcibly separates them.
  • Shared Conversation — Zoe discusses her art studies and boring day job.
  • Eric Interrupts — Eric barges in and sends Zoe out of the room.
• Heist Preparation — Eric recruits Zed into a Bastille Day bank robbery and exposes personal vulnerability.
  • Holiday Target — Eric identifies the closed holding bank as the robbery target.
  • HIV Confession — Eric tells Zed about his HIV and intravenous drug use.
• Bank Invasion — The masked crew enters the bank and uses lethal violence to control the situation.
  • Masked Entry — Eric's team dons carnival masks and attacks the bank.
  • Safe-Cracking — Zed is escorted to the safe as the robbery unfolds.
• Heist Collapse — Police arrival traps the thieves and turns the robbery into a desperate fight.
  • Vault Explosion — Eric opens the vault with an explosive and finds gold bars.
  • Zoe Recognized — Zed recognizes Zoe working at the bank and tries to protect her.
  • Crossfire — The thieves and police exchange gunfire inside the bank.
• Final Escape — The friendship ends violently, but Zoe creates a chance for Zed to survive.
  • Eric's Death — Zed and Eric fight before police kill Eric.
  • False Identity — Zoe claims that injured Zed is a bank customer.
  • Hopeful Departure — Zoe drives Zed away and promises to show him the real Paris.

Directed by

Roger Avary

Key Cast

• Eric Stoltz — Zed
• Julie Delpy — Zoe
• Jean-Hugues Anglade — Eric
• Tai Thai — François
• Bruce Ramsay — Ricardo