The Future Is Woman (1984) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story unfolds across several distinct locations: a crowded nightclub where Malvina is first harassed, a domestic home shared by Anna and Gordon, a palasport (sports hall) hosting a live concert, and a quiet beach where Malvina ultimately gives birth. The contrast between urban nightlife and the remote beach reflects the characters' journey from vulnerability and chaos toward a more stable, protective environment.

• setting
• locations
• nightclub
• beach
• palasport
• home

The film explores three interconnected themes: motherhood, as Malvina's pregnancy becomes the catalyst that reshapes loyalty and family bonds; love and family through a non-traditional triadic relationship that defies conventional norms; and violence and instability, as a sudden attack at a concert exposes the characters' vulnerability and leads to tragedy. These themes interweave to examine responsibility, intimacy, and unconventional family formation.

• themes
• motherhood
• love
• family
• violence
• instability

Malvina is a pregnant young woman whose vulnerability draws protection from Anna and Gordon. She becomes the catalyst for the trio's intense, sexually charged bond and for decisions shaped by impending motherhood. Her journey traces from being rescued from harassment to eventually giving birth at the beach, testing and reaffirming her bond with Anna.

• malvina
• pregnant woman
• character
• vulnerability

Anna is Gordon's partner who deliberately chooses not to have children. She rescues Malvina from harassment in the nightclub and opens her home to both Malvina and Gordon. She navigates a complex, non-traditional relationship while offering care and stability, ultimately forming a deep maternal connection with the unborn child.

• anna
• character
• partner
• mother figure
• care

Gordon is Anna's long-term partner who has also chosen not to have children. He becomes part of the trio's unorthodox relationship, embodying loyalty and protective instincts. His death occurs during a sudden raid at the palasport concert while protecting Malvina, marking a defining tragic turn that shifts the surviving bond toward care for the child.

• gordon
• character
• death
• protection
• concert
• tragedy

A non-traditional triadic relationship develops between Anna, Malvina, and Gordon, illustrating love that defies conventional norms. The intimacy is both charged and protective, blurring boundaries as they support each other. After Gordon's death, the surviving bond shifts entirely toward care and responsibility for the child, forming an unconventional family unit.

• relationship
• trio
• polyamory
• unconventional family
• bond

The film's tone is dark and somber, grounded in the exploration of dysfunctional relationships, trauma, and loss. While there are erotic elements and moments of connection, the overall feeling is one of contemplation rather than romance or humor. The ending is bittersweet, a new life is born and a bond is solidified, but this follows a profound tragedy and an ambiguous departure from society.

• tone
• mood
• dark
• somber
• bittersweet
• emotional

A live concert at the palasport (sports hall) serves as a crucial setting where Pierangelo Bertoli performs. A sudden raid by drifters interrupts this live event, shattering the trio's precarious balance and leading to Gordon's death while he protects Malvina. This violence exposes the vulnerability and unpredictability of urban life, prompting the characters to retreat from the city.

• concert
• palasport
• violence
• raid
• pierangelo bertoli
• gordon death

Malvina's pregnancy anchors the entire drama and tests the bonds between the three protagonists. Anna becomes a surrogate mother figure, while the impending birth reshapes loyalty and redefines family. The baby's arrival marks a turning point that binds the women together even as they confront danger and loss, exploring motherhood beyond traditional structures.

• pregnancy
• motherhood
• birth
• family
• surrogacy

Violence enters the narrative through a sudden, brutal raid at the concert that interrupts the trio's precarious but functional dynamic. Gordon dies protecting Malvina, which forces the remaining characters to confront loss and seek stability. The film uses this violence to expose vulnerability and the unpredictability of urban life, ultimately driving the characters to retreat to a remote beach setting.

• violence
• death
• attack
• trauma
• urban danger

The ending is bittersweet: Malvina gives birth at a quiet beach, and the fragile bond between the two women is tested and reaffirmed through shared responsibility for the child. However, this new life and solidification of their bond follows Gordon's profound tragedy, and their departure from society remains ambiguous, suggesting both hope and uncertain exile.

• ending
• birth
• beach
• bittersweet
• new life
• hope