Losing Ground

Losing Ground

Year: 1982

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: Kathleen Collins

DramaComedy

Sara, a cold college professor, and her husband, an ecstatic painter, spend a summer away from the city, straining their rocky relationship.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Losing Ground 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 & Setting – Losing Ground (1982)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Losing Ground (1982). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Summer

The action unfolds over a single summer, moving between the rented house and Sara's work in the city. The heat of the season amplifies tensions as artistic ambitions clash with personal boundaries. Victor's jealousy and Sara's pursuit of autonomy drive the drama.

Location

Rented house in a small town, The city

The primary setting is a rented house in a small town where Victor can focus on his art. Sara worries that a rural setting will limit her access to books and resources for her research. The house becomes the backdrop for artistic obsession, jealousy, and the unraveling of their marriage.

🏡 Rural setting 🏙️ City access

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:14

Main Characters – Losing Ground (1982)

Meet the key characters of Losing Ground (1982), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Duke (Duane Jones)

Duke is the filmmaker's uncle who plays Sara's love interest in the film. He is immediately attracted to Sara and becomes a focal point of tension as Victor's jealousy grows.

🎭 Love Interest 🧭 Enigmatic 🎬 Film Within Film

Sara (Seret Scott)

Sara Rogers is a well-loved philosophy professor who worries that a summer in a small town will limit her research resources. She is drawn into the complex dynamics of love, art, and autonomy, and ultimately chooses to leave Victor after he harasses Celia.

🎓 Intellectual 💪 Independent 💔 Jealous

Victor (Bill Gunn)

Victor is a successful painter who rents the house to focus on his art. He becomes obsessed with Celia, and his jealousy intensifies as Celia and Carlos flirt with her. He crosses lines by harassing Celia, revealing a controlling streak.

🎨 Artist 💢 Jealous 🧭 Controlling

Celia (Maritza Rivera)

Celia is a Puerto Rican woman who forms a connection with Victor. She becomes the object of his obsession and faces his intrusive behavior while also catalyzing Sara's decision to confront Victor.

💃 Seductive 🧭 Targeted 🤝 Complex

Mother (Billie Allen)

Sara's mother provides support and counsel during the turmoil. She represents a grounding influence for Sara as she navigates marriage, autonomy, and personal safety.

👩 Guidance 💪 Supportive ❤️ Family

Carlos

Victor's friend and mentor, who flirts with Celia and heightens the sexual tension at the rented house.

💬 Mentor 🧭 Flirtation 🔥 Tension

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:14

Major Themes – Losing Ground (1982)

Explore the central themes of Losing Ground (1982), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💢 Jealousy

Jealousy fuels the central conflict as Victor fixates on Celia and grows possessive when Sara forms connections with others. The tension between Victor's art and his control over the relationship reveals a power imbalance. The theme examines how romantic rivalries can erode trust and threaten personal autonomy.

🌟 Autonomy

Sara asserts her own intellectual and personal agency, challenging Victor's plans and insisting on boundaries. Her decision to leave the house and pursue her film work demonstrates a push for independence. The narrative contrasts her steady, contemplative nature with Victor's impulsive artistry.

🎨 Gaze & Art

Victor's painting of local women and Celia reflects the male gaze and objectification that permeates the story. The dynamic between art, desire, and ownership underlines how creative pursuits can collide with personal consent. Sara's filmmaking also reframes agency through art, contrasting the two worlds.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:14

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about marital strife and intellectual tension like Losing Ground

Stories of strained relationships and intellectual clashes in close quarters.If you liked the relational dynamics in Losing Ground, explore these dramas that focus on intellectual couples navigating jealousy, midlife crises, and artistic rivalry. These movies capture the quiet, tense unease of marriages under strain.

introspectivetenseunsettlingreflectivemelancholicquiet

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows couples, often in academia or the arts, as their relationship frays under the pressure of professional rivalry, personal dissatisfaction, or external temptations. The conflict is internal and conversational, unfolding through dialogue and subtle emotional shifts.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on the dynamics of intellectual or artistic partnerships, a TENSE tone driven by interpersonal conflict, and a MEDIUM emotional weight that explores serious themes without melodrama.

Slow burn dramas with a tense mood like Losing Ground

Where unease builds steadily through psychological realism and ambiguous endings.Find movies like Losing Ground that share a quietly tense and introspective vibe. These films use a steady pace to build psychological unease, featuring reflective characters and often ending on an ambiguous note.

quietunsettlingintrospectivetensemelancholicreflectiveslow burn

Narrative Summary

Stories unfold at a deliberate, STEADY pace, focusing on the internal states of characters as they navigate situations that create a growing sense of discomfort or dread. The climax is often more psychological than physical, leaving the resolution open to interpretation.

Why These Movies?

They share a specific mood mix: a STEADY pacing that allows tension to simmer, a TENSE and INTROSPECTIVE tone, a MODERATE intensity focused on emotional realism, and an AMBIGUOUS ending feel that lingers with the viewer.

Unlock the Full Story of Losing Ground

Don't stop at just watching — explore Losing Ground in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Losing Ground is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Losing Ground Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Losing Ground, 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.

Losing Ground Summary

Losing Ground Timeline

Track the full timeline of Losing Ground with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Losing Ground Timeline

Losing Ground Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Losing Ground that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Losing Ground Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Losing Ground

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Losing Ground: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Losing Ground

Similar Movies to Losing Ground

Discover movies like Losing Ground that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.