Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon

The story revolves around Francis Bacon's private studio apartment, a space where art and life collide. The film also takes the characters into social pubs where Bacon's circle gathers, and follows a trip that includes a New York hotel rooftop scene and a later stay in Paris. These locations trace the arc from intimate creative space to high-society art-world settings.

💞 Open relationship

A volatile, open relationship drives the narrative, revealing how desire and connection coexist with jealousy and possessiveness. The dynamic lets Bacon invite others into his life while Dyer struggles to navigate his place in this unconventional arrangement. The arrangement reflects the film's exploration of freedom versus control in art-world circles. It shows how trust, attraction, and power shift over time.

🎨 Art and identity

The film frames Francis Bacon's art as inseparable from his personal identity and relationships. As Bacon pushes his own boundaries, his fame and open life bleed into his creative process and public image. Dyer's presence in the studio and social circles highlights how art, ego, and vulnerability intertwine. The tension between creator and muse underscores the costs of genius.

💊 Addiction and decline

Drinking, drugs, and emotional strain thread through the relationship, accelerating a downward spiral. Dyer's dependency and insomnia clash with Bacon's drive to produce and perform in social spaces. The film tracks how addiction complicates love, fidelity, and artistic ambition. The later Paris chapters amplify the tragedy as both men confront mortality and memory.