Liebestraum

Liebestraum

Year: 1991

Runtime: 112 mins

Language: English

Director: Mike Figgis

MysteryRomanceThrillerThrillers and murder mysteriesNoir and dark crime dramas

A story of lust, murder and dreams. A man returns to his hometown and a series of dark secrets are revealed.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Liebestraum yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Liebestraum (1991)

Trace every key event in Liebestraum (1991) 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

Opening tragedy at the Ralston department store

An unseen man and woman share a clandestine affair as a silhouette of a man closes in. The couple are shot, suggesting a fatal conclusion to the liaison and implying a deadly connection to the past. The opening sequence hints at the long shadow that will haunt the story.

Night of the initial murder-suicide Ralston department store
2

Nick arrives in Elderstown to be with his dying birth mother

Thirty years after the events at the store, Nick, an architecture professor, travels to Elderstown, Illinois. He was adopted and has never met his birth mother, and he carries questions about his origins. He senses the past is reaching out to him as he steps into the town.

Now / Thirty years later Elderstown, Illinois
3

Nick notices the striking cast-iron building across from his hotel

On his first night, Nick becomes obsessed with a beautiful cast-iron building across the street. He decides to study it before demolition, sensing that its history might reveal something about his own past. The building becomes the central thread linking the film's mysteries.

Night of arrival Across from Nick's hotel
4

Paul's demolition project of the old downtown department store

Paul, a college friend, explains that his construction company is tearing down the old downtown department store where the murder-suicide occurred thirty years earlier. He worries about erasing a key piece of the town's history, even as progress presses forward. The project sets the stage for the intersecting paths of Nick, Paul, and Jane.

Day 1 Downtown Elderstown / old downtown department store
5

Nick saves Paul from a collapsing façade

A section of the building’s façade crumbles, and Nick acts quickly to push Paul out of harm’s way. The moment forges a bond of gratitude that pulls Nick into Paul’s social circle. The incident reinforces Nick’s resolve to study the building before it disappears.

Day 1 Cast-iron building
6

Nick is invited to Jane’s birthday party

Paul invites Nick to celebrate his wife Jane's birthday, offering him a chance to meet her in a social setting. The invitation marks the shift from casual acquaintance to potential involvement with both Paul’s circle and the building’s mystery. The party becomes the crucible for the evolving relationships.

Evening of Day 1 Paul’s house / birthday party
7

Nick meets Jane, a photographer drawn to the building

At the party, Paul introduces Nick to Jane, a photographer who wants to document the same historic building. Their conversation hints at a shared curiosity and unspoken tension between them. The meet-cute quickly blossoms into a subtler, malevolent undertone as attraction grows.

Evening of Day 1 Birthday party
8

Four days of growing attraction and past echoes

Over the next four days, Nick’s attraction to Jane deepens while he continues to explore the building’s decaying interiors. He also spends time with his dying mother and unravels memories that tie his family to the town’s old tragedy. The lines between professional curiosity and personal longing blur as past and present converge.

Days 2-4 Old building; Nick's mother's bedside
9

Revelation: the killer from the past is Nick's father

It is revealed that the man who shot the couple in the opening scene is Nick’s father, and that the woman survived but lives in a fragile state. The discovery ties Nick’s current choices to his bloodline and the town’s cycle of violence. Flashbacks or discoveries illuminate how the past directly informs the present.

Discovery during investigation Flashback / Past events
10

The third gunshot: Nick’s mother silences the investigator

The investigation reveals that Nick’s mother killed the private investigator hired to uncover the affair. The act confirms that the family’s history remains dangerous and unresolved. The private investigator’s death closes the door on that particular inquiry and intensifies the family tragedy.

Investigation uncovering the affair Investigative setting (unknown location)
11

Nick and Jane begin an affair, echoing the past

Nick and Jane’s relationship turns romantic, paralleling the original illicit affair from thirty years earlier. Paul discovers their growing bond and the potential parallels to the town’s tragedy. The parallel romance deepens the film’s structural echo of fate and choice.

Days 2-4 Old building and Jane’s photography sessions
12

Paul confronts the lovers and chooses not to act violently

Paul confronts Nick and Jane about the affair, but instead of reacting with anger or violence, he breaks down in tears and walks away. His response underscores the film’s theme of breaking the cycle of murder and letting the past rest. The emotional confrontation shifts the balance of power among the trio.

Confrontation after discovery Paul’s home
13

Birth mother’s death ends the deadly cycle

As Nick’s birth mother dies, the film closes with a quiet, somber note that the cycle of murder may finally break. Nick faces his origins with a new sense of responsibility, choosing to live beyond the town’s haunted history. The ending offers a fragile sense of resolution while leaving some questions unresolved.

End Birth mother’s hospital room

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:01

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Liebestraum Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Liebestraum, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Liebestraum Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Liebestraum

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Liebestraum

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