La Habanera

The narrative spans two eras: 1927, when Astrée visits Puerto Rico and falls into a passionate but precarious life, and 1937, when the story returns to Stockholm and confronts unresolved longing and impending consequences. The 1920s mood emphasizes openness and romantic adventure, while the late 1930s bring a sense of stakes and looming change. Across these years, the film juxtaposes tropical liberation with European restraint, culminating in a decisive shift in fortunes.

Puerto Rico is the tropical stage where Astrée first arrives, drawn to the island's climate, open people, and the local habanera rhythms. The island features a powerful landowner world led by Don Pedro, where social dynamics and wealth shape danger and desire. Stockholm later serves as a stark counterpoint, contrasting the island's warmth with a colder, orderly European environment and presenting the option of return to Sweden. The island's fever and the doctors' investigation provide a backdrop that intensifies the sense of place across the story.

💘 Love & Freedom

Astrée's romance with Don Pedro and later rekindled feelings with Dr. Nagel drive the plot, testing personal liberty against marital obligation. The relationship exposes how wealth and power attempt to define love and control the future. The tension between staying with a loveless marriage and pursuing true affection frames the moral choices of the characters. Ultimately, love collides with duty, pushing Astrée toward a chance at freedom.

💼 Power & Control

Don Pedro wields enormous influence to protect his business interests, including suppressing the Puerto Rico fever to avoid economic damage. The Doctors' investigation is resisted at every turn, revealing a corrupt system that values profit over lives. The narrative shows how power can shield wrongdoing and endanger communities. The culmination signals a shift when Don Pedro's empire is dismantled rather than maintained.

🧪 Science & Ethics

Dr. Nagel and Dr. Gomez pursue a cure for Puerto Rico fever, conducting clandestine experiments in a hotel room. Their work faces legal and personal danger as they confront a conspiracy to suppress the truth. The doctors' determination highlights the tension between scientific progress and political pressure. The ethical stakes rise as lives hang in the balance and the antidote is threatened by sabotage.

🕊️ Escape & Return

Astrée schemes to return to Sweden with her son, seeking escape from a controlling marriage and a life she did not choose. The final act frames departure as both a personal liberation and a reintegration into a homeland. The resolution transforms Don Pedro's mansion into a charitable institution, symbolizing a bedrock for future freedom. The theme emphasizes the possibility of rebuilding and returning to a life chosen by love and justice.