Passion

Passion

Year: 2013

Runtime: 102 min

Language: Swedish

Director: Brian De Palma

DramaMysteryThrillerCrime

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.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Passion (2013)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Passion (2013). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 2010s

Set in contemporary times, the story reflects a media-saturated era where viral videos and surveillance shape careers. It showcases a modern European advertising environment, with smartphones and web content driving reputations. The period is defined by digital immediacy and cutthroat corporate politics.

Location

Germany, Advertising agency offices

The action centers on a sleek advertising agency in Germany, illustrating the high-stakes world of brand image and power. Corporate offices, hallways, and a parking garage frame a ruthless power struggle between rivals. The setting emphasizes precision, control, and public perception in the modern ad industry.

🏢 Corporate environment 🇩🇪 Germany 🗺️ Urban setting

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:45

Main Characters – Passion (2013)

Meet the key characters of Passion (2013), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Christine (Rachel McAdams)

An American advertising executive in Germany, Christine is charismatic yet calculating. She uses manipulation to claim credit, protect her status, and control those around her, especially Isabelle. Her drive for power leads to escalating games of revenge and deceit within a high-stakes corporate world.

💼 Ambition 🗣️ Manipulation ⚖️ Power

Isabelle (Noomi Rapace)

Christine's protégé who becomes entangled in a dangerous power struggle. She starts with ambition and vulnerability, then navigates sexual and professional entanglements that threaten her position. Her actions trigger a chain of chaos culminating in deception and murder.

💼 Ambition ❤️‍🔥 Romantic entanglements 🗡️ Revenge

Dani (Karoline Herfurth)

Christine's loyal assistant who is secretly in love with Isabelle. She quietly documents key moments and becomes a pressure point in the plan, attempting to manipulate outcomes through video evidence and blackmail. Her devotion pulls her into a dangerous game of loyalty and exposure.

🤝 Loyalty 💔 Forbidden love 🎥 Surveillance

Dirk (Paul Anderson)

Christine's boyfriend who is involved in the affair with Isabelle and embroiled in embezzlement. He becomes a suspect as bloody clues surface, and his attempt to cover tracks illustrates the corruption at the core of the relationships in play.

💔 Infidelity 💰 Embezzlement 🔎 Suspicion

Detective (Rainer Bock)

A police detective leads the investigation into Christine's murder, uncovering the tangled lies surrounding the case. He challenges the suspects and pieces together the truth as new evidence shifts the narrative. His findings reveal Isabelle as the mastermind behind the broader frame-up until the final twists.

🕵️ Detective ⏳ Investigation

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:45

Major Themes – Passion (2013)

Explore the central themes of Passion (2013), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Power & Perception

Ambition fuels manipulation as Christine fights to control credit and status. The characters stage competing narratives to protect or seize influence, revealing how easily perception can be weaponized. Reputations hinge on what is seen, who controls the story, and who pays the price.

🕵️ Truth vs Deception

The plot threads truth through clues, confessions, and surveillance footage that can be interpreted multiple ways. Investigations expose lies and misdirection, while characters craft alibis to shield themselves. The film questions how reliable evidence is when narratives are controlled by powerful players.

💔 Love, Loyalty & Betrayal

Dani's secret love for Isabelle complicates loyalties and bargaining power within the group. Romantic entanglements collide with professional ambition, intensifying manipulation and conflict. The human cost reveals itself through jealousy, coercion, and dangerous closeness.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:45

Unlock the Full Story of Passion

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.

Passion Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Passion, 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.

Passion Summary

Passion Timeline

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.

Passion Timeline

Passion Spoiler-Free Summary

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.

Passion Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Passion

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Passion: 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 Passion

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