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 – Passion (2013)

Trace every key event in Passion (2013) 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

Isabelle's affair and the smartphone idea

Isabelle secretly has an affair with Christine's boyfriend Dirk, introducing a dangerous personal complication into the campaign. She also comes up with a well-received marketing idea for the new smartphone.

Germany (Advertising agency)
2

Idea ownership dispute in the agency

Christine later claims Isabelle's idea as her own, denying her protégé credit. Isabelle feels insulted and demoralized, but their tension eases when Christine shares the story of her twin sister's death.

Agency office
3

Reconciliation after personal revelation

Christine's story about her twin sister's death creates a moment of vulnerability between them. Isabelle senses the shift and the two briefly reconcile.

Agency office
4

Self-made ad goes viral online

Isabelle uploads a self-made version of the ad to the web, and it quickly goes viral. The online buzz thrusts Isabelle into the spotlight while Christine watches with mixed feelings.

Online
5

Sex tape taunts ignite a feud

Christine taunts Isabelle with the sex tape she had made with Dirk, publicly humiliating her. The confrontation deepens the rift and pushes Isabelle toward a retaliatory mindset.

Agency office
6

Parking garage car crash

Isabelle crashes her car in the company's parking garage, a dramatic consequence of the escalating feud. The accident underscores how personal vendetta has spilled into dangerous, real-world actions.

Company parking garage
7

Public humiliation and Isabelle's decline

Christine screens the security footage for the entire company, publicly humiliating Isabelle in front of colleagues. Isabelle spirals into depression and begins abusing pills as the humiliations pile up.

Agency office
8

Revenge note and Dani's stake

Christine tries to get Dani fired and types a revenge note on Isabelle's computer that vows vengeance. The scheming tightens the control Christine holds over the situation.

Agency office
9

Christine's death and Isabelle's arrest

Christine is found dead, marking a shocking turn in the case. Isabelle is arrested and confesses to the murder while in a drug-induced stupor.

Company building
10

Ballet sighting and scarf discovery lead to dropped charges

Charges against Isabelle are dropped after a ballet-goer confirms Isabelle was seen at the ballet that night, and Dani discovers Isabelle's scarf undamaged in her apartment. The conflicting evidence begins to clear Isabelle of the murder, at least temporarily.

Ballet venue / Isabelle's apartment
11

Dirk's embezzlement revealed

The investigation reveals Dirk had been embezzling money and that Christine had begun to uncover this. A bloody scarf is found in Dirk's car, leading to his arrest.

Dirk's car
12

Isabelle's murder reveal and video evidence

It is revealed that Isabelle murdered Christine and framed Dirk to cover her own guilt. Dani reveals she secretly captured Isabelle on video during the night of the murder.

Investigation site
13

Dani's blackmail attempt

Dani, secretly in love with Isabelle, tries to blackmail her into becoming her lover. She uses the captured video as leverage, turning their relationship into a dangerous game.

Office
14

Video sent and a nightmare sequence

That night, Dani sends the incriminating video to the investigating detective, escalating the stakes. Isabelle endures a feverish dream in which she strangles Dani after being seduced by her.

Investigation office
15

Twin sister's attack and final nightmare

Christine's twin sister appears and strangles Isabelle from behind with a bloodstained scarf. Isabelle then awakens in her own bedroom, only to face a new nightmare with Dani dead at the foot of the bed.

Night Isabelle's apartment

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:21

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Thrillers about toxic professional rivalry like Passion

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.

manipulativesuspensefulcorrosiveunsettlingobsessiveclaustrophobicparanoid

Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

Movies about moral collapse like Passion

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.

unsettlingcorrosivesuspensefulpsychologicaldarkbleakmethodical

Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

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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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Passion

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Passion

Passion Spoiler-Free Summary

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Passion Spoiler-Free Summary

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