Tristana

After her mother's death, Tristana is taken in by the notorious nobleman Don Lope Garrido in Toledo. He presents himself as a protector, but his aging charm masks a predatory interest in her innocence. As Lope clings to an old code of honour, he preys on her vulnerability while maintaining a flamboyant, playboy lifestyle.

The old nobleman preaches that he defends the weak and even fancies himself a defender of justice. Meanwhile, he behaves as lover and guardian to Tristana, treating her as wife and daughter. This hypocrisy sets the tone for the relationship that will shape her future.

By the age of 21, Tristana starts to demand education in music, art, and other subjects to become independent. She resents Lope's belief that women belong at home and yearns for opportunity. Her growing voice marks a turning point in their dynamic.

While sneaking out, Tristana encounters Horacio, a young artist from Catalonia, and they fall in love. Against the looming presence of Don Lope, their bond offers a path to escape from the old world. The romance becomes central to her future choices.

Horacio challenges Don Lope to a duel after Lope slaps him, asserting his authority over Tristana. Horacio responds with a punch, and the lovers leave the area the next day. The incident crystallizes the clash between Lope’s code and Tristana’s longing for autonomy.

Five years after the escape, Tristana returns having fallen ill and asks to be remanded to Lope's house so she can die there. She endures a lengthy illness but survives, losing a leg in the process, which alters her prospects. The return tests Lope's control and her resilience.

She breaks up with Horacio and becomes more independent, openly defying Don Lope's authority. The illness shifts her perspective, and she refuses to return to subservience. Lope's health also worsens, diminishing his grip on her life.

Don Lope unexpectedly inherits money from his sister, changing the balance of power and wealth between them. Tristana covets the inheritance as a means to secure her future. The prospect heightens the tension and foreshadows the arranged marriage.

Tristana agrees to a marriage of convenience with Don Lope to correct a previously sinful situation, but she makes clear she harbours no romantic or sexual feelings for him. The arrangement grants Lope control and gives Tristana financial security, though the relationship remains emotionally distant. The social compromise exposes both their vulnerabilities.

One night, Don Lope suffers a heart attack in bed. Tristana pretends to search for help, then allows him to fall unconscious and finishes him by opening the window to the winter cold. With Lope dead, her conquest of control over her life concludes in an act of cold calculation.

The film ends with a montage of scenes played in reverse, recapping key moments of their turbulent relationship. It returns to the moment Don Lope first seduced Tristana, underscoring the cyclical nature of power and desire. The finale frames the tragedy as the repetition of a single pattern rather than a single ending.