Year: 2013
Runtime: 102 min
Language: Swedish
Director: Brian De Palma
Within the competitive world of advertising, a powerful and controlling executive finds her position threatened by a young, ambitious newcomer. Their rivalry escalates into a dangerous power struggle, marked by manipulation and deception. As the competition intensifies, a shocking incident reveals the ruthless lengths to which both women will go to achieve their ambitions and maintain their place at the top.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Passion (2013), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Christine, an American advertising executive in Germany, teams up with her protégé Isabelle on an ad campaign for a new smartphone. Isabelle, who is secretly having an affair with Christine’s boyfriend Dirk, comes up with a clever marketing idea that earns widespread praise. When Christine claims the concept as her own, Isabelle feels betrayed, but she softens the moment by hearing about Christine’s past: the story of how her twin sister died.
Encouraged by her loyal assistant Dani, Isabelle uploads a self-made version of the ad to the web, and it quickly goes viral. The attention unsettles Christine, who vows revenge and taunts Isabelle with a sex tape that Isabelle had made with Dirk. After a fit of anger, Isabelle crashes her car in the company’s parking garage, and Christine shares the security footage with the entire company, publicly humiliating Isabelle. The humiliation triggers a downward spiral for Isabelle, who battles depression and begins abusing pills. In response, Christine tries to push Dani out of the loop and even threatens Isabelle with a revenge letter she typed on Isabelle’s computer.
When Christine is found dead, Isabelle is arrested and confesses to the murder while in a drug-induced stupor. Based on her confessions, the revenge note, and fibers matching a scarf Isabelle was seen wearing, the police charge Isabelle with murder. The charges are dropped, however, when a ballet-goer who saw Isabelle that night emerges and when Dani discovers Isabelle’s scarf, undamaged, in her apartment. The police then uncover that Dirk had been embezzling money and that Christine had discovered this; a bloody scarf found in his car leads to his arrest.
The true reveal comes when it’s shown that Isabelle murdered Christine and staged the events to convince others that she was unraveling. Dani, secretly in love with Isabelle, reveals she captured Isabelle on video at various moments during the night of the murder and tries to blackmail Isabelle into becoming her lover. That night, Isabelle experiences a strange dream in which she strangles Dani after being seduced, but Dani sends the incriminating footage to the investigating detective. Then Christine’s twin sister appears and strangles Isabelle from behind with a bloodstained scarf. Moments later, Isabelle wakes up in her own bedroom from the nightmare, only to confront a second nightmare: Dani lying dead at the foot of her bed.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:21
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.
Stories where professional ambition curdles into psychological warfare and ruin.If you liked the fierce, manipulative power struggle in Passion, explore more movies about professional rivals whose ambition leads to psychological destruction. These stories feature characters locked in a battle of wits where the corporate ladder becomes a stage for deception, blackmail, and a complete erosion of morals.
The narrative follows a similar arc: a seemingly professional competition is ignited, often between two highly capable individuals. This rivalry quickly escalates through acts of psychological manipulation, theft of ideas, and public humiliation, blurring the lines between professional and personal warfare. The conflict inevitably leads to a point of no return, such as a crime or a mental breakdown, resulting in the mutual destruction of the protagonists.
Movies are grouped here based on their core conflict—a toxic, escalating professional rivalry—and the dark, psychological tone it creates. They share a focus on character-driven tension, a steady pacing that builds dread, and an emotionally heavy viewing experience where ambition becomes a corrosive force.
Narratives where characters methodically descend into ethical ambiguity and collapse.Fans of Passion's depiction of a steady moral downfall will find similar stories here. These films explore how ambition, jealousy, or circumstance can slowly corrupt individuals, leading them from deception to serious crime. They are complex character studies with a heavy emotional weight and a pervasive sense of dread.
The narrative pattern is defined by a gradual but inevitable erosion of a character's morals. The story begins with a seemingly minor ethical breach or a strong temptation. Each subsequent act of deception or manipulation is a step down a slippery slope, building tension as the character becomes trapped by their own actions. The journey typically ends not with redemption, but with a stark realization of their own corruption or a complete loss of self.
These films are unified by their central theme of moral decay and the specific pacing used to explore it. They share a steady, deliberate build-up of tension, a dark and complex tone, and a focus on the psychological interiority of a character losing their grip on right and wrong, resulting in a profoundly bleak emotional impact.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Passion 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 Passion is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Passion with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Passion. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Passion 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.
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