Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman

Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman

Year: 1973

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: French

Director: Roger Vadim

Drama

Jeanne, a wealthy Parisian who sees herself as the new Don Juan, confides in a priest that she has killed a man. In her flat she recounts seductive liaisons with a politician, a tycoon, and a folk singer, saying seduction is easy but destruction needs planning. She calls herself a spider, while her friend Léporella tries to be her conscience.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman (1973)

Trace every key event in Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman (1973) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Funeral encounter and confession

Jeanne arrives at the funeral service in France to visit her cousin Paul. As Paul prays and the ceremony ends, they speak of the year since they last saw each other. In their chat, Jeanne confesses that she has killed someone.

Funeral day France – funeral service
2

Inheritance and the Don Juan image

Back at her residence, Jeanne discusses her inheritance and the dead father's fortune with her secretary, Léporella. She proclaims herself the reincarnation of Don Juan and takes pride in destroying men who fall for her charms. Léporella leaves, leaving Jeanne with her schemes and ambitions.

Jeanne's residence
3

Archery competition and first affair

At an archery competition, Jeanne and Paul watch Pierre Gonzagues win the championship. Pierre drives Jeanne home and, as a married man, admits to adulterous affairs. Their affair begins that day and quickly becomes consuming.

During the competition day Archery field; Pierre's residence
4

Dinner invitation and continued affair

A week later, Jeanne is invited to a dinner hosted by Pierre's wife, joined by a playwright and his girlfriend. The gathering exposes the social circle around Pierre, while the affair with Jeanne continues in the background. The dynamic between Jeanne and Pierre grows more tangled.

One week after the start of the affair Pierre's residence
5

Love confession and rejection

Three months later, Jeanne waits outside Pierre's workplace and then later goes to his residence to press her case. She confesses her love for Pierre, but he declines to continue the affair. The rejection spurs Jeanne to engineer bolder moves.

Three months later Outside Pierre's workplace; Pierre's residence
6

Jeanne's island trap plan

Jeanne devises a scheme to trap Pierre by inviting him to a secluded mansion on an island near Sweden. They argue briefly during the visit, but days later they attend a university party where the scheme is staged. The public scandal remains part of her plan.

Secluded mansion on island near Sweden; later university party
7

University party and scandal

During the university party and an ensuing orgy, a blonde student is involved in a scuffle. Pierre is photographed helping the student, and the images are published in the French press. The scandal triggers political fallout and Pierre's wife divorces him.

Days after the island invitation University party; press coverage
8

Pierre's fall and the bar encounter

Back in France, Pierre is nearly destitute and drifts into a bar where he encounters Jeanne. He blames her for ruining him, reigniting their destructive dynamic.

After the divorce France – bar
9

Flight to London with Louis and Clara

Jeanne rides with Louis Prévost and his wife Clara, and Louis hosts a party at his suite. Clara complains about Louis's savagery, and Louis throws Clara into an interior pool before Jeanne joins them on a trip to London.

That night Louis's suite (France); train to London
10

London: Jeanne and Clara bond; Louis's jealousy

In London, Louis discovers Jeanne and Clara in bed together and tries to push for a ménage à trois. The two women walk away, mocking his demand, and Jeanne reveals she only wanted to possess him through Clara. Louis responds with a brutal slap.

In London London
11

Locked door and the storytelling continues

Inside the London house, Paul decides to leave but discovers Jeanne has locked the door from the inside. He and Jeanne argue over the house key, and Jeanne presses on with her story to keep him engaged. Their confrontation underscores the manipulation at play.

During their stay in London London residence
12

Guitarist and suicide

Jeanne recalls her relationship with the guitarist she spotted at Louis's party. After the nightclub closes, the guitarist serenades her and agrees to give up everything for her. They consummate, but the guitarist slits his wrists and dies; Jeanne calls the ambulance.

Post-nightclub Nightclub and afterward
13

Guilt and reconciliation with Paul

Jeanne confesses her guilt to Paul again, and he and Jeanne have sex, deepening their complicated bond. The scene reinforces the sexual power she wields over him and others.

After the guitarist's death London residence
14

Plan to meet Pierre again

Jeanne spots Pierre outside and arranges to meet him the next day, continuing to weave her network of encounters. The anticipation of another liaison heightens the tension between old flames.

Next day Near Jeanne's location
15

Final arson: Jeanne burns alive

Before Jeanne can reach the planned meeting, Pierre doses the floor with gasoline and lights a fire. He escapes, but Jeanne is burned alive in the blaze, ending the deadly game.

Final confrontation Pierre's residence (London/nearby)

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:32

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Movies about seductive power games like Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman

Stories where seduction is a weapon and power leads to ruin.Discover movies like *Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman* that delve into the psychosexual dynamics of power. If you liked its portrayal of a manipulative protagonist using seduction as a weapon, you'll find similar dark dramas exploring themes of control, revenge, and inevitable downfall.

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Narrative Summary

The defining pattern is a retrospective or reflective narrative structure that recounts a character's destructive journey. Starting from a point of ruin or confession, the story unfolds the events that led to a bleak endpoint, emphasizing the inevitability of the collapse rather than offering redemption.

Why These Movies?

These movies are linked by their specific narrative structure and emotional trajectory. They share a steady pacing that builds dread, a high intensity born from psychological tension, and a unifying theme of a character actively or passively engineering their own tragic fate, leaving the audience with a heavy, fatalistic feeling.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Don Juan or If Don Juan Were a Woman

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