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Under Her Control (2022) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Under Her Control (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 109 min · Spanish
Echo score 38
Directed by
Fran Torres
Starring
Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Adán Redondo, Alex Pastrana, Cumelen Sanz, María Fernández Prat, Mariela Martinez Campos

A determined young woman risks everything when she becomes involved with a charismatic and influential mentor. Driven by ambition, she finds herself increasingly drawn into a complex relationship, blurring professional boundaries. As she climbs the ladder of success, she must face the troubling repercussions of her choices and question the price she has paid for her career advancement.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Under Her Control
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Under Her Control (2022)

Where can you watch Under Her Control? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Under Her Control Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Under Her Control (2022), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Beatriz (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón)

    Beatriz is a powerful and successful woman, consumed by her desire for motherhood. Her character descends into obsession and manipulation as she realizes her ambitions are not easily fulfilled. Underneath her polished exterior lies a deep-seated paranoia that ultimately leads her to dangerous extremes.

    • 💼 Career-driven
    • ⚠️ Manipulative
    • 😠 Obsessive
  • Sofía (Cumelen Sanz)

    Sofía represents the struggle between ambition and personal turmoil, facing an unplanned pregnancy while trying to establish her career. Her journey is marked by emotional conflict and vulnerability as she navigates the claustrophobic control Beatriz exerts over her life. She evolves from a hopeful candidate to a fighter for her own survival.

    • 👩‍🎓 Ambitious
    • 😰 Vulnerable
    • 🤰 Expectant mother
  • Nacho (Alex Pastrana)

    Nacho is the supportive boyfriend of Sofía, aspiring to take their relationship to the next level. Unbeknownst to him, his partner is grappling with significant challenges, and he represents the emotional anchor that Sofía struggles to maintain. His character's arc takes a tragic turn, underscoring the risks involved in Beatriz's machinations.

    • ❤️ Supportive
    • 🌧️ Tragic
    • 👨‍❤️‍👨 Romantic

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:11

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Setting

Where and When Does Under Her Control Take Place?

The setting of Under Her Control (2022): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The narrative is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues related to career ambitions, personal struggles, and the implications of surrogacy. The story explores the current landscape of women's rights, reproductive health, and interpersonal relationships in today's world.

Location

Madrid

Madrid, the vibrant capital of Spain, is known for its rich cultural heritage and bustling lifestyle. It serves as a hub for education and career opportunities, attracting many young professionals. The city's dynamic environment becomes the backdrop for the complex relationship between Beatriz and Sofía.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 📚 Education

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:11

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3 major themes

Under Her Control Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Under Her Control (2022) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Motherhood

    The theme of motherhood is central to the film, as both Beatriz and Sofía navigate their complex emotional landscapes surrounding pregnancy and the desire for children. Beatriz's obsessive longing for a baby starkly contrasts with Sofía's unplanned pregnancy and her struggles with autonomy. The film ultimately challenges the audience to consider the lengths one might go to in the name of motherhood.

  • Control

    Control is a pervasive theme, especially through Beatriz's manipulative nature and her attempts to dictate every aspect of Sofía's life. This reflects broader societal issues regarding power dynamics in relationships, particularly those involving pregnancy and domestic environments. The struggle for autonomy becomes a critical point of conflict.

  • Survival

    Survival emerges as a crucial theme, particularly for Sofía as she faces the threat of Beatriz's escalating obsession. The film presents a thrilling journey of resilience, highlighting the instinct to fight against overwhelming circumstances. The climax poses an urgent question of whether Sofía can secure her safety and that of her child amidst danger.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:11

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Character & theme questions

Under Her Control Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Under Her Control (2022): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

Under Her Control is set in Madrid, the capital city of Spain. The vibrant urban environment serves as the backdrop for the complex relationship between Beatriz and Sofía, with the city's dynamic atmosphere contrasting with the claustrophobic control Beatriz exerts over Sofía's life.

  • madrid
  • spain
  • setting
  • location
  • spanish movie
Q2

What time period does the story take place in?

The narrative is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues related to career ambitions, personal struggles, and surrogacy. The story explores today's landscape of women's rights, reproductive health, and interpersonal relationships.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • current era
  • 2022
Q3

What are the main themes of the movie?

Under Her Control explores three central themes: motherhood, control, and survival. The film delves into the complex emotional landscapes surrounding pregnancy and the desire for children, while examining power dynamics in relationships and the struggle for autonomy. Survival emerges as Sofía faces the threat of Beatriz's escalating obsession.

  • themes
  • motherhood
  • control
  • survival
  • power dynamics
Q4

Who is Beatriz in the movie?

Beatriz is a powerful and successful woman portrayed by Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, consumed by her desire for motherhood. Underneath her polished exterior lies a deep-seated paranoia that leads her to manipulative and dangerous extremes as she attempts to control every aspect of her surrogate's life.

  • beatriz
  • mentor
  • character
  • aitana sánchez-gijón
Q5

Who is Sofía in the movie?

Sofía is played by Cumelen Sanz, representing the struggle between ambition and personal turmoil. She faces an unplanned pregnancy while trying to establish her career, navigating the claustrophobic control Beatriz exerts over her life. Her journey evolves from a hopeful candidate to a fighter for her own survival.

  • sofía
  • surrogate
  • character
  • cumelen Sanz
Q6

Who is Nacho in Under Her Control?

Nacho is Sofía's supportive boyfriend, portrayed by Alex Pastrana, who aspires to take their relationship to the next level. Unbeknownst to him, Sofía is grappling with significant challenges imposed by Beatriz. His character's arc takes a tragic turn, underscoring the dangerous risks involved in Beatriz's machinations.

  • nacho
  • boyfriend
  • character
  • alex pastrana
Q7

What does the movie say about motherhood?

Motherhood is central to Under Her Control, as both Beatriz and Sofía navigate their complex emotions surrounding pregnancy. Beatriz's obsessive longing for a baby starkly contrasts with Sofía's unplanned pregnancy and struggles with autonomy. The film challenges viewers to consider the lengths one might go to in the name of motherhood.

  • motherhood
  • pregnancy
  • baby
  • desire for children
  • reproductive rights
Q8

How does control function as a theme?

Control pervades the film through Beatriz's manipulative nature and her attempts to dictate every aspect of Sofía's life. This reflects broader societal issues regarding power dynamics in relationships, particularly those involving pregnancy and domestic environments. The struggle for autonomy becomes the critical point of conflict.

  • control
  • manipulation
  • power dynamics
  • autonomy
  • dominance
Q9

What genre does this movie belong to?

Under Her Control is a 2022 Spanish drama film that explores dark themes of obsession, manipulation, and survival. The film features a high intensity and dark tone, with psychological depth and moral ambiguity that create a tense, suspenseful atmosphere without any humor.

  • drama
  • spanish movie
  • 2022
  • psychological thriller
  • suspense
Q10

What is the relationship between Beatriz and Sofía?

The relationship between Beatriz and Sofía forms the dark core of Under Her Control. Beatriz is a charismatic and influential mentor who becomes obsessed with having a child through surrogacy. Sofía, driven by career ambition, becomes increasingly entangled in a complex relationship where professional boundaries blur, leading to coercion and danger.

  • beatriz
  • sofía
  • relationship
  • mentor
  • surrogacy
  • power imbalance

Movie threads

More Movies Like Under Her Control, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Under Her Control tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Manipulative Relationships like Under Her Control

Stories where mentorship or partnership becomes a suffocating trap of control. If the tense, controlling dynamic in Under Her Control captivated you, explore more movies like it. These films feature complex power struggles, often starting as mentorship, that descend into psychological manipulation and claustrophobic entrapment, perfect for fans of dark, character-driven dramas.

  • manipulative
  • claustrophobic
  • tense
  • oppressive
  • unsettling
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, tense, oppressive
  • Pacing: steady, escalating dread
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically begin with a protagonist seeking guidance or opportunity from a charismatic figure. This relationship becomes increasingly controlling and invasive, escalating from subtle manipulation to overt coercion. The story follows the protagonist's struggle to reclaim their identity and freedom against a backdrop of oppressive psychological pressure.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared exploration of toxic power imbalances, their consistently high-tension and dark tone, and their ability to create a sense of claustrophobia even in open spaces, focusing on the psychological unraveling caused by a manipulative relationship.

Slow Burn Psychological Thrillers like Under Her Control

Films where tension builds methodically towards an ambiguous, unsettling conclusion. Fans of the steady, oppressive tension in Under Her Control will find more movies like it here. These slow burn thrillers and dramas prioritize psychological depth over action, methodically building a sense of dread and leading to morally complex or ambiguous endings that stick with you long after the credits roll.

  • slow burn
  • tense
  • unsettling
  • dread
  • psychological
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, unsettling, tense
  • Pacing: steady, slow burn
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a linear but steadily escalating series of events that increase psychological pressure on the main character. There are few relief valves; the focus is on a constant, growing threat—often emotional or psychological—that culminates in a climax reflecting the heavy cost of the journey, frequently leaving key questions unresolved.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their masterful control of pacing and mood. They share a steady rhythm that deliberately fosters anxiety, a dark or tense tone, heavy emotional weight, and a preference for endings that are ambiguous or bleak, prioritizing a powerful, lingering emotional impact over tidy resolutions.

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Movies Like Under Her Control

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Every angle

Under Her Control (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Under Her Control in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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