And God Created Woman (1988) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place in New Mexico, primarily split between a correctional facility where Robin Shea is imprisoned and the surrounding small town where she begins her reintegration. Key locations include Billy Moran's home and workshop, a local bar where Robin performs with her band, a museum, and James Tiernan's political campaign headquarters. The New Mexico setting provides a desert backdrop that contrasts the confinement of prison life with the open spaces of the town.

• new mexico
• setting
• prison
• small town
• locations

The story unfolds across two distinct environments: the restrictive prison system and a more open small-town setting. The New Mexico correctional facility shows the routines and pressures of inmate life, while the town, centered around Billy's home, his carpentry workshop, and local venues, represents possibility and reinvention. The contrast between these spaces underscores the film's themes of freedom, second chances, and the challenge of rebuilding a life.

• prison environment
• new mexico desert
• small town
• settings

The film explores three interconnected themes: redemption and second chances, the relationship between power and public image in politics, and the concept of family. Redemption examines whether genuine reform is possible or merely a performance. Power & Image critiques how political campaigns craft narratives for public approval. Family focuses on the makeshift bonds Robin forms with Billy, his brother Peter, and his son Timmy, exploring what it means to find belonging.

• redemption
• power
• image
• politics
• family
• themes
• second chances

Robin's arc centers on whether people can truly change or whether society only accepts curated images of reform. After marrying Billy Moran for parole, she enters a world where her past defines public perception. As politician James Tiernan uses her rehabilitation story for his campaign, the film questions whether Robin's transformation is genuine or just another performance, ultimately asking what it really means to be given a second chance.

• reform
• redemption
• second chances
• second chance
• personal freedom
• labels

Politics functions as a form of performance in the film. James Tiernan, a candidate for state governor, actively leverages Robin's rehabilitation narrative as a campaign tool to demonstrate his commitment to reform. The film critiques how media visibility and public image can shape political fortunes, often at the expense of truth. Robin's story becomes a banner for Tiernan's ambitions, blurring the lines between genuine redemption and political theater.

• politics
• campaign
• power
• image
• governor
• media
• public perception

Robin Shea is the film's protagonist, portrayed by Rebecca De Mornay, a charismatic convict released from a New Mexico prison through a marriage-for-parole arrangement with carpenter Billy Moran. She balances wild, artistic impulses with a genuine longing for stability. Her journey represents a struggle to shape her own fate while navigating the expectations placed on her by society, political figures, and personal relationships.

• robin shea
• protagonist
• character
• convict
• rebeca de mornay

Billy Moran is a carpenter and handyman who offers Robin shelter after their marriage arrangement, providing a stable home and the possibility of a genuine relationship. He is protective and serious by nature, yet harbors a growing desire for lasting commitment. As the father of young Timmy, Billy represents the potential for a domestic life that contrasts with Robin's free-spirited ambitions, testing whether their different outlooks can find common ground.

• billy moran
• carpenter
• character
• vincent spano
• husband

James Tiernan is an ambitious politician running for state governor who uses Robin's rehabilitation story as a campaign narrative to promote his image as a reformer. His public persona centers on helping ex-convicts reintegrate society, but his private motivations reveal jealousy and control when Robin's relationship with Billy threatens his political image. He represents the intersection of power, public perception, and personal desire.

• james tiernan
• politician
• governor
• character
• frank langella
• campaign

A makeshift family forms around Robin, comprising Billy Moran, his young son Timmy, and Billy's brother Peter who joins Robin's band. The film explores how trust and stability emerge from shared struggle, with Billy's serious nature clashing against Robin's free-spirited ambitions. Through scenes at the workshop and around the kitchen table, the story examines what it means to belong somewhere and whether these chosen bonds can withstand external pressures.

• family
• billy moran
• peter moran
• timmy moran
• makeshift family
• home

The film is set in the late 1980s, reflecting its 1988 release year. While no specific era is emphasized in the setting descriptions, the political campaign storyline and the characters' circumstances align with late 20th-century America. The absence of modern technology in the described scenes suggests a straightforward contemporary setting without specific period details dominating the narrative.

• 1980s
• time period
• era
• late 1980s
• contemporary

Through Robin's journey, the film explores whether second chances are genuine opportunities for change or merely performances acceptable to society. Robin's marriage to Billy opens doors to a new life, but her story becomes politicized by Tiernan's campaign. The movie suggests that true redemption requires more than public approval, it demands authentic choice and personal accountability, questioning whether the system allows ex-convicts to truly start over.

• second chances
• redemption
• rehabilitation
• fresh start
• second chance
• reform

Robin's relationships form the core of her development. Her arrangement with Billy offers stability and a potential home, while her connection to Peter provides artistic fulfillment through their band. Her entanglement with James Tiernan highlights how her past gets used for political purposes. These relationships force Robin to choose between continuing her rebellious patterns or embracing the genuine connection Billy offers, ultimately defining her path toward or away from lasting change.

• relationships
• robin shea
• billy moran
• james tiernan
• peter moran
• character arc