This House (2022) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A hybrid documentary-drama explores how Tessa's suspicious death continues to shape her grieving mother and family.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Suspicious Loss

The film establishes Tessa as a teenager whose suspicious death in 2008 affects her family. Valeska is introduced through her position as Tessa's grieving mother.

Key Events

• Tessa's Family Story — The film introduces a family story centered on Tessa and her mother Valeska. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Family context
• Teenage Tessa — Tessa is established as a teenager at the center of the story. Characters: Tessa Location: 2008
• The Suspicious Death — The narrative centers on Tessa's suspicious death in 2008. Characters: Tessa Location: Not specified
• A Family Shock — Tessa's death becomes a defining shock for her family and mother. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Family context
• Valeska Begins Mourning — Valeska is portrayed as grieving after the death of her daughter. Characters: Valeska Location: Not specified
• Family Impact Emerges — The film examines how the death continues to affect Tessa's family. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Family context

Grief In Two Forms

The story examines the family's response to Tessa's death. Documentary footage and scripted drama combine to approach the event from different forms.

Key Events

• Family Impact Emerges — The film examines how the death continues to affect Tessa's family. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Family context
• Documentary Footage Appears — Documentary footage becomes part of the film's hybrid form. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Documentary frame
• Scripted Drama Begins — A scripted drama presents Tessa and Valeska within the film's reconstruction. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Scripted drama frame
• Adult Tessa Appears — An adult version of Tessa appears within the scripted narrative. Characters: Tessa Location: Liminal space
• Between Life And Death — Tessa's adult version exists in a liminal space between life and death. Characters: Tessa Location: Space between life and death
• Mother And Daughter Reunite — The adult Tessa continues to interact with her grieving mother Valeska. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Liminal space

Between Two States

An adult version of Tessa appears in a liminal space between life and death. She continues to interact with Valeska, keeping their relationship active within the drama.

Key Events

• Mother And Daughter Reunite — The adult Tessa continues to interact with her grieving mother Valeska. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Liminal space
• Grief Meets Presence — The film places Valeska's grief alongside Tessa's continued narrative presence. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Liminal space
• The Death Reconsidered — The suspicious nature of Tessa's death remains central to the film's reflection. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Liminal space
• Memory And Reconstruction — Documentary material and scripted scenes jointly revisit the family's experience. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Hybrid documentary-drama frame
• Tessa's Ongoing Interaction — Tessa continues interacting with Valeska beyond the boundary of ordinary life. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Liminal space
• Family Grief Deepens — The emotional consequences of Tessa's death remain focused through Valeska's grief. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Family context

A Continuing Bond

The film sustains the encounter between Tessa and her grieving mother while returning to the impact of the suspicious death. Its hybrid form turns personal grief into a final reflection on loss and presence.

Key Events

• Family Grief Deepens — The emotional consequences of Tessa's death remain focused through Valeska's grief. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Family context
• Life And Death Overlap — The film sustains its overlap between Tessa's absence and her continued presence. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Space between life and death
• A Mother's Encounter — Valeska's relationship with the adult Tessa remains the emotional center of the drama. Characters: Valeska, Tessa Location: Liminal space
• The Family's Loss — The film returns to the lasting impact of Tessa's death on her family. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Family context
• Liminal Reflection — The hybrid drama concludes its reflection on death, grief, and continued connection. Characters: Tessa, Valeska Location: Space between life and death

Story Breakdown

• Tessa's Life — The narrative begins with Tessa as a teenager before focusing on the death that defines the film.
  • Teenage Identity — Tessa is established as a teenager at the center of the story.
  • 2008 Setting — The suspicious death is specifically located in 2008.
• Suspicious Death — Tessa's death provides the central mystery and emotional rupture.
  • Central Mystery — The death is described as suspicious.
  • Family Rupture — The death becomes the event affecting Tessa's family.
• Valeska's Grief — Valeska's mourning gives the family aftermath its emotional focus.
  • Mourning Mother — Valeska is identified as Tessa's grieving mother.
  • Lasting Impact — The film examines the death's continuing impact on her family.
• Hybrid Film Form — The film combines documentary material with a scripted dramatic reconstruction.
  • Documentary Footage — Documentary footage is one component of the film's structure.
  • Scripted Drama — A scripted drama depicts the continuing relationship between Tessa and Valeska.
• Liminal Tessa — An adult version of Tessa occupies a narrative space beyond ordinary life and death.
  • Adult Version — The scripted drama presents an adult version of Tessa.
  • Between States — Tessa exists in a space between life and death.
• Continuing Bond — Tessa and Valeska continue to interact, transforming grief into an ongoing encounter.
  • Mother Daughter Contact — Adult Tessa continues interacting with her grieving mother.
  • Emotional Reflection — Their interaction sustains the film's reflection on loss and presence.

Directed by

Miryam Charles

Key Cast

• Schelby Jean-Baptiste — Tessa
• Florence Blain Mbaye — Valeska
• Ève Duranceau — Mathilde
• Mireille Metellus — Mireille
• Matthew Rankin — Dr. Densmore