A Woman in Flames

A Woman in Flames

Year: 1983

Runtime: 106 mins

Language: German

Director: Robert van Ackeren

Drama

Eva, an upper‑class housewife, leaves her arrogant husband and decides to become a call girl. She learns the basics from Yvonne, a prostitute, and they start taking clients together. Eva later begins an affair with Chris, who turns out to be a call boy, and moves into his penthouse, where each continues offering their services separately.

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Timeline & Setting – A Woman in Flames (1983)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Woman in Flames (1983). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:02

Main Characters – A Woman in Flames (1983)

Meet the key characters of A Woman in Flames (1983), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Eva (Gudrun Landgrebe)

An upper-class housewife discontent with her marriage, Eva seeks freedom by entering the world of sex work and domination. She gradually discovers a powerful sense of identity through control and pain, embracing a dominatrix role. Her journey centers on autonomy, desire, and the consequences of pursuing a nonconformist path.

🧠 Intense 💃 Independent 💪 Dominant

Chris (Mathieu Carrière)

A charming but insecure gigolo who partners with Eva. He becomes increasingly jealous of her power and attention, attempting to return to a conventional life and invest in a restaurant. His possessiveness escalates as their relationship deepens in the upstairs world of domination.

💘 Romantic 🔄 Jealous 🧭 Ambitious

Kurt (Hanns Zischler)

Eva's arrogant husband who embodies old-money entitlement. His control and manipulation contribute to the relationship's fragility, and his actions push Eva toward a dangerous confrontation with violence and humiliation.

👔 Aristocrat 🗡️ Toxic 💥 Violent

Yvonne (Gabriele Lafari)

A street-smart prostitute and friend who helps Eva enter the world of paid companionship. She provides guidance and camaraderie in a perilous industry, representing female solidarity within exploitation.

🤝 Friend 💄 Madam 🔥 Sensual

Markus (Matthias Fuchs)

A client or associate within Eva's expanding circle, illustrating the transactional nature of desire and the commodification of power. He serves as a witness to Eva's ascent and the evolving dynamic of their world.

💼 Client 🧭 Observer

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:02

Major Themes – A Woman in Flames (1983)

Explore the central themes of A Woman in Flames (1983), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗝️ Power and Control

Eva's journey marks a shift from a constraining marriage to a world where she wields power over others. The narrative gradually reveals how dominance becomes a source of identity, pleasure, and autonomy. Scenes of control illustrate the complexity of desire, pain, and agency in shaping personal freedom. The theme explores how power can redefine relationships and self-perception.

🔥 Sexual Liberation

Eva leaves her conventional life to explore sexual independence, aided by Yvonne. The film centers on women's agency to choose their own paths, even when society judges those choices. The ascent into paid companionship is portrayed as both liberating and dangerous. This theme highlights the costs and possibilities of embracing one's sexuality on one's own terms.

💔 Jealousy and Betrayal

Chris grows uneasy as Eva gains power and attention, leading to tension and controlling impulses. His attempts to pull her back into a traditional life clash with her new reality. The relationship destabilizes under possessiveness and fear, culminating in violent conflict. Jealousy acts as a pressure that tests both partners' boundaries.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:02

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A Woman in Flames Summary

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A Woman in Flames Summary

A Woman in Flames Timeline

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A Woman in Flames Timeline

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