Caprice (2015) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film unfolds primarily between two main locations: the theatre where Alicia performs, and her elegant house where visitors gather and rehearse. These spaces create a contrast between stage fantasy and domestic reality, with the theatre representing emotional aspiration and the house symbolizing real-life relationships.

• theatre
• alicia's house
• setting
• locations

Theatre serves as both a literal setting and a metaphorical lens in the film. Clément is drawn to Alicia's stage presence, and the performances mirror the characters' real desires, blurring the lines between fiction and life. The film explores how performance can reveal longing, vulnerability, and power dynamics in relationships.

• theatre
• performance
• stage
• acting
• theme

Clément is a divorced primary school teacher who is shy and compassionate, particularly with children. He is drawn to Alicia's performances at the theatre and becomes entangled in a complex emotional situation with both Alicia and Caprice. His sense of loyalty is tested as his life changes significantly throughout the story.

• clément dussaut
• main character
• teacher

Alicia is a renowned actress who lives alone in an elegant house. She exudes regal beauty and rare talent, and she is moved by Clément's quiet charm and his rapport with children. She navigates a web of affection between Clément and Thomas, remaining central to both the theatre world and the story's emotional core.

• alicia bardery
• actress
• main character

Caprice is a cheerful would-be actress who also works delivering pizzas. She uses optimism and boldness to pursue Clément romantically, despite his existing connection with Alicia. Her persistence strains the boundaries between friendship and romance, and her story spirals toward a crisis that leaves her fate ambiguous.

• caprice
• aspiring actress
• pizza delivery

The film explores a three-way emotional tension between Clément, Alicia, and Caprice that tests trust and fidelity. Thomas's involvement adds further complexity, with secrecy and competing loyalties shaping the characters' choices. The story shows how desire can destabilize relationships and blur moral boundaries.

• love
• jealousy
• desire
• relationships
• infidelity

The film examines how lies, closeted feelings, and fragile loyalties create instability in the characters' social circle. Caprice's overdose scene marks a crisis that exposes the cost of unspoken longing. The ending leaves Caprice's fate unresolved, underscoring the price of pursuing love at all costs.

• consequences
• overdose
• unresolved ending
• 代价

Thomas is a headteacher whose wife has left him. He serves as a confidant for Clément and becomes entangled in the emotional dynamics among the group. He shares drinks with Alicia and participates in the late-night dramas that unfold, adding another layer of complexity to the relationships.

• thomas
• headteacher
• confidant

The film has a bittersweet tone that blends romantic fulfillment with lingering sadness. While Clément finds love with Alicia, the story carries melancholy from Caprice's unresolved situation and the underlying solitude of the characters. The mood is serious and reflective, with emotional weight coming from themes of infidelity, obsession, and unfulfilled desires.

• tone
• mood
• bittersweet
• melancholy

Mia is Caprice's flatmate and fellow aspiring performer. She appears in the social circle that gathers around the theatre and the apartment, participating in casual encounters and nightlife that frame the characters' dynamics. Her role helps reveal the entourage surrounding Caprice's artistic ambitions.

• mia
• flatmate
• aspiring performer

The film uses theatrical performance as a device to explore how imagination and real desire intersect. Alicia's stage roles mirror her emotional life, and the characters' pursuit of romantic fulfillment echoes the performances they give. This creates a recurring motif where the characters cannot easily distinguish between acting and genuine emotion.

• fiction
• reality
• performance
• acting
• desire