Genre

Synopsis

The film follows Frances, a young woman preparing for a solo journey, and her strained relationship with her mother, Claudia. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the Sonoran desert in 1970, where tensions escalate when in an act of self-defence Claudia ends up killing her abusive husband, Jimmy.

Despite their turbulent relationship, Frances helps her mother by driving to an isolated area to bury the body. On their way back, they encounter Olga and Lili, a lesbian couple fleeing their troubled past. Frances gets a flat tyre from nails scattered across the road, triggering Claudia’s suspicion. Believing they have been set up by the couple, Claudia points her gun at Lili, forcing her to drive to the nearest town for a tow truck. This switch of partners allows each character to travel with a ‘stranger,’ reflecting their insecurities and trauma.

Claudia embarks on a surreal journey after a confrontation with Lili. A Witch saves her, leading her into an alternate realm where she learns valuable lessons about self-pleasure and empowerment, guided by Madame Christine. Parallel to this, Frances is left alone with Olga in the middle of nowhere, struggling with pain from her fibroids. We see the fibroids as huge jellyfish hanging from the sky, their tentacles reaching for Frances.

To ease her mind, Frances opens up to Olga about her guilt over an abortion, believing she deserves the fibroids while contradicting her belief that she wasn’t ready for motherhood. Olga helps her see the situation differently, beyond religious and political standards. They share a moment, and in this way, Frances manages to shrink the jellyfish.

As the story progresses, conflicts arise, suspicions deepen, and a mysterious figure, The Man, complicates the situation, manipulating Frances into a tense standoff with Olga and Lili. However, at the peak of tension, Frances realises the illusory nature of The Man and chooses to release herself from the chaos, leading to relief and reconciliation among the women.

In a twist of realms, Claudia and Frances face car trouble once more, but this time, Olga, despite initial hesitations, extends a helping hand. This gesture symbolises an understanding of vulnerability and marks a newfound sense of unity among the women, transcending their tumultuous journey through the desert. The film concludes on a note of healing and forgiveness as Claudia and Frances reconcile, signifying a shift in their relationship dynamics.

Throughout their multi-dimensional trip across the Sonoran Desert, the film explores themes of trauma, trust, empowerment, and reconciliation, culminating in a resolution that emphasises the strength found in vulnerability and mutual support among women.