A famous actress is kidnapped by a jealous artist, leading to a psychological battle over beauty, trauma, and survival.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
The Ardennes Holiday
Isabelle arrives at a remote villa for a holiday but is stalked and forcibly taken by Jeanne using her dog.
Key Events
Isabelle's Holiday Arrival — Isabelle arrives at a remote villa with her parents for a pre-film holiday. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Ardennes Villa
Jeanne's Stalking Begins — Jeanne observes Isabelle sunbathing and prepares to intervene. Characters: JeanneLocation: Forest Path
Forced Compliance — Jeanne uses her dog to force Isabelle to leave the villa and follow her. Characters: Isabelle, JeanneLocation: Villa to Decrepit Home
Dungeon Imprisonment — Isabelle is locked in a remote dungeon and screams for help in vain. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Dungeon
Parents Initial Alert — Isabelle's parents notice her absence and contact authorities immediately. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Villa
Captivity and Canvas
Isabelle endures dungeon imprisonment and forced nude modeling while a month-long police search fails.
Key Events
Dungeon Imprisonment — Isabelle is locked in a remote dungeon and screams for help in vain. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Dungeon
Police Investigation Fails — Parents alert authorities, but a month-long search yields no results. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Police Station
Forced Nude Modeling — Starved Isabelle is forced to pose nude for Jeanne's beauty-themed paintings. Characters: Isabelle, JeanneLocation: Studio
Jeanne's Taunts — Jeanne verbally abuses Isabelle, claiming society finds her hideous and forgettable. Characters: Isabelle, JeanneLocation: Studio
News Coverage Spreads — Isabelle's disappearance becomes major news, frequently broadcast at Jeanne's workplace. Characters: IsabelleLocation: News Studio
Obsession and Empathy
Bernard's fixation grows as Isabelle and Jeanne share trauma and survive a kitchen fire incident.
Key Events
Jeanne's Taunts — Jeanne verbally abuses Isabelle, claiming society finds her hideous and forgettable. Characters: Isabelle, JeanneLocation: Studio
Bernard's Obsession Grows — Bernard collects news articles and experiences erotic dreams about Isabelle. Characters: BernardLocation: Bernard's Home
Bernard's Unaware Visit — Bernard visits Jeanne's home without knowing Isabelle is imprisoned inside. Characters: Bernard, JeanneLocation: Jeanne's Home
Isabelle's Physical Decline — Isabelle suffers repeated fainting spells while her pleas for help are ignored. Characters: IsabelleLocation: Dungeon
Mutual Trauma Sharing — The women bond over shared insecurities and childhood trauma, softening their dynamic. Characters: Isabelle, JeanneLocation: Home Exterior
Fire and Escape
A pub clash leads to a faked suicide, Jeanne's death by fire, and Isabelle's final departure.
Key Events
Mutual Trauma Sharing — The women bond over shared insecurities and childhood trauma, softening their dynamic. Characters: Isabelle, JeanneLocation: Home Exterior
Kitchen Fire and Dog Trap — A dropped cigarette ignites a waste bin, trapping the dog inside the kitchen. Characters: Isabelle, JeanneLocation: Kitchen
Isabelle Saves the Dog — Instead of escaping, Isabelle helps extinguish the flames to save the dog. Characters: Isabelle, JeanneLocation: Kitchen
Pub Confrontation — Jeanne and Bernard exchange conflicting stories about Isabelle, triggering Jeanne's anger. Characters: Jeanne, Bernard, IsabelleLocation: Pub
Faked Suicide by Hanging — Isabelle stages her hanging to trick Jeanne and escape with Bernard. Characters: Isabelle, BernardLocation: Forest
Jeanne's Final Fire — Isabelle fails to stop Jeanne from killing herself by fire. Characters: Jeanne, IsabelleLocation: Home
Forest Departure — Isabelle and Bernard leave the Ardennes forest for civilization. Characters: Isabelle, BernardLocation: Forest Path
Bernard's Narration — Bernard reveals Isabelle regained her weight, retired, and wrote a book. Characters: BernardLocation: Narration
Story Breakdown
Holiday Disappearance — Isabelle's vacation turns into a nightmare when she is stalked and abducted.
Ardennes Retreat — Isabelle arrives at a remote villa with her parents.
Stalking Begins — Jeanne observes Isabelle and prepares her abduction plan.
Forced Captivity — Isabelle is imprisoned and used as a model against her will.
Dungeon Imprisonment — Isabelle is locked in a remote dungeon and screams for help.
Nude Modeling — Starved Isabelle poses for Jeanne's beauty-themed paintings.
External Investigation — Authorities search while an outsider becomes obsessed with the case.
Police Failure — A month-long search yields no results for Isabelle.
Bernard Obsession — Bernard collects clippings and dreams about Isabelle.
Psychological Shift — The captor and captive share trauma, altering their dynamic.
Trauma Bonding — Isabelle and Jeanne exchange personal insecurities and childhood pain.
Kitchen Fire Incident — A fire traps the dog, and Isabelle chooses to save it over escaping.
Climactic Confrontation — Tensions peak as external visitors clash and Isabelle executes her escape.
Pub Argument — Jeanne and Bernard exchange conflicting stories, triggering aggression.
Faked Suicide — Isabelle stages her hanging to trick Jeanne and flee with Bernard.
Final Resolution — The toxic cycle ends with Jeanne's death and Isabelle's recovery.
Jeanne Death — Jeanne kills herself by fire despite Isabelle's failed intervention.
Forest Departure — Isabelle and Bernard leave the forest, marking her return to civilization.
Isabelle is a famous and beloved actress from the Netherlands, who disappears when on Holiday in Belgium. She has been kidnapped by bartender Jeanne Bitor, an artist with a disfigured face. Jeanne is very bitter about her 'ugly' appearance, and she is obsessed with the process of dying and deterioration of animals and humans. Therefore, she abducts Isabelle and starves her to death, while painting her in different phases of the process.
