Lying and Stealing (2019) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Two indebted criminals pursue freedom through a final scheme that transforms coercion into deception and escape.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Debts Behind The Heists

Ivan steals art for the elite while remaining trapped by Dimitri's demands. Elyse's failed acting career and stolen necklace create a second burden that must be resolved.

Key Events

• Ivan Steals Art — Ivan steals art from wealthy Los Angeles targets. Characters: Ivan Location: Los Angeles
• Elyse Loses Her Career — Elyse steals a valuable necklace after accepting a producer's invitation. Characters: Elyse Location: Producer's room
• Necklace Is Sold — Elyse sells the necklace for far less than its stated value. Characters: Elyse Location: Los Angeles
• Dimitri Demands More — Dimitri tells Ivan that another job is needed to repay his father's debts. Characters: Ivan, Dimitri Location: Los Angeles

The Hidden Portrait

Ivan and Elyse design a final scheme for freedom. Ivan steals the Hitler self-portrait but hides it when he realizes that the FBI is following him.

Key Events

• Dimitri Demands More — Dimitri tells Ivan that another job is needed to repay his father's debts. Characters: Ivan, Dimitri Location: Los Angeles
• Final Heist Proposed — Ivan and Elyse plan one last heist and con to gain freedom. Characters: Ivan, Elyse Location: Los Angeles
• Hitler Portrait Targeted — Ivan carries out the job to steal the Hitler self-portrait. Characters: Ivan Location: Los Angeles
• Painting Remains Hidden — Ivan hides the painting because the FBI is following him. Characters: Ivan Location: Ivan's flat
• Dimitri Threatens Ivan — Dimitri threatens Ivan and allows his flat to be searched. Characters: Ivan, Dimitri Location: Ivan's flat

No Safe Escape

Dimitri threatens Ivan and searches his flat without finding the painting. An FBI offer forces Ivan to choose between betrayal and a more dangerous solution.

Key Events

• Dimitri Threatens Ivan — Dimitri threatens Ivan and allows his flat to be searched. Characters: Ivan, Dimitri Location: Ivan's flat
• Search Finds Nothing — The search fails to locate the hidden painting. Characters: Ivan, Dimitri Location: Ivan's flat
• FBI Offers A Deal — An FBI representative offers Ivan a deal for betraying Dimitri. Characters: Ivan Location: Los Angeles
• Ivan Rejects Betrayal — Ivan chooses not to betray Dimitri through the FBI arrangement. Characters: Ivan, Dimitri Location: Los Angeles
• Dimitri Targeted — Ivan and Elyse plan to eliminate Dimitri instead. Characters: Ivan, Elyse Location: Los Angeles

The Fatal Invitation

Ivan and Elyse decide to eliminate Dimitri. Elyse lures him from a bar to his home, where the plan places cocaine in his wine.

Key Events

• Dimitri Targeted — Ivan and Elyse plan to eliminate Dimitri instead. Characters: Ivan, Elyse Location: Los Angeles
• Elyse Baits Dimitri — Elyse pretends to be interested in Dimitri at a bar. Characters: Elyse, Dimitri Location: Bar
• Drive To Dimitri's Home — Elyse and Dimitri travel from the bar to his home. Characters: Elyse, Dimitri Location: Road to Dimitri's home
• Wine Is Drugged — The plan places cocaine in Dimitri's wine. Characters: Ivan, Elyse Location: Dimitri's home
• Dimitri Drinks Wine — Dimitri consumes the cocaine-laced wine despite his high blood pressure. Characters: Elyse, Dimitri Location: Dimitri's home
• Dimitri Dies — Dimitri dies after consuming the drugged wine. Characters: Elyse, Dimitri Location: Dimitri's home

Freedom With A Cost

Dimitri dies and the case is treated as self-inflicted. Ivan preserves one family-linked painting and repays the necklace debt so Elyse can return to acting.

Key Events

• Dimitri Dies — Dimitri dies after consuming the drugged wine. Characters: Elyse, Dimitri Location: Dimitri's home
• Case Written Off — Dimitri's death is written off as self-inflicted. Characters: Ivan, Elyse Location: Los Angeles
• Artworks Are Returned — The stolen artworks are returned to their owners, except one earlier painting. Characters: Ivan Location: Los Angeles
• Ivan Keeps First Painting — Ivan takes the first painting stolen by his father. Characters: Ivan Location: Los Angeles
• Debt Is Repaid — Ivan gives the producer money for Elyse's stolen necklace. Characters: Ivan, Elyse Location: Los Angeles
• Elyse Can Work Again — The repayment allows Elyse to get acting jobs again. Characters: Elyse Location: Los Angeles

Story Breakdown

• Criminal Foundations — Ivan's thefts and Elyse's failed con establish the burdens driving their choices.
  • Art Theft Routine — Ivan steals art from wealthy Los Angeles targets.
  • Necklace Scandal — Elyse steals and sells a producer's wife's necklace, damaging her acting prospects.
• Dimitri's Debt Trap — Dimitri keeps Ivan working by tying every new assignment to his father's debts.
  • Endless Job Demand — Dimitri repeatedly insists that Ivan needs one more job.
  • Threatened Investigation — Dimitri threatens Ivan and permits a search of his flat.
• The Hidden Portrait — The Hitler self-portrait becomes the immediate object of pressure and suspicion.
  • Portrait Heist — Ivan steals the self-portrait during a criminal assignment.
  • Painting Concealed — Ivan hides the painting while the FBI follows him.
• Final Freedom Scheme — Ivan and Elyse unite around one final operation to escape their obligations.
  • Shared Criminal Plan — They plot a final heist and con for mutual freedom.
  • Targeting Dimitri — They shift from evasion to eliminating the crime boss.
• Fatal Wine Trap — Elyse's deception brings Dimitri into the setting where the plan can be completed.
  • Barroom Deception — Elyse pretends to be interested in Dimitri at a bar.
  • Drugged Wine — Cocaine is mixed into the wine at Dimitri's home.
• Aftermath And Release — Dimitri's death removes the central threat, while repayment repairs Elyse's professional future.
  • Death Ruled Self Inflicted — Dimitri dies and the case is written off as self-inflicted.
  • Acting Career Restored — Ivan pays the necklace debt so Elyse can get jobs again.

Directed by

Matt Aselton

Key Cast

• Theo James — Ivan
• Emily Ratajkowski — Elyse
• Fred Melamed — Dimitri
• Aris Alvarado — Pool Man
• Fernanda Andrade — Mary