Synopsis/Details
Melanie, a young girl working as a washerwoman in 1500s France, struggles to care for her sickly younger brother. Her budding relationship with coworker Emeline opens her up to a world of sapphic possibilities, but she is frustrated by the stifling expectations of society.
Melanie meets a mysterious Girl claiming to be from another world. The Girl fills her ears with stories of an otherworldly paradise full of wonder and temptation, promising Melanie that she can bring her to a place beyond her wildest imaginings. Her strangeness and wildness, as well as the peculiar rules she follows, drive Melanie to distraction. Slowly, this faerie girl (will-o-the-wisp, or feu follet, in French) draws Melanie away from the gritty realities of her world and towards the fantasy of her own creation.
Walking home with Emeline under the darkness of a new moon, the Girl appears at the edge of a cliff, beckoning Melanie towards her. Emeline begs Melanie to stay, warning her that the Girl appears monstrous and completely inhuman, but Melanie shakes her off and takes off towards the cliff.
Their fingers touch as Emeline cries out in horror. Cut to black.
Story & Logistics
Story Type:
Pursuit
Story Situation:
Fatal imprudence
Story Conclusion:
Ambiguous
Linear Structure:
Linear
Moral Affections:
Dereliction of Duty, Innocence, Intemperance, Selfishness, Temperance, Vice
Cast Size:
Few
Locations:
Few
Characters
Lead Role Ages:
Female Young Adult
Hero Type:
Ordinary
Villian Type:
Femme/Homme Fatale
Stock Character Types:
Dark Lady, Femme fatale, Manic Pixie Dream Girl, Princesse lointaine, Vice
Advanced
Subgenre:
Fairy Tale, Gay and Lesbian, Period
Subculture:
Queer culture
Equality & Diversity:
Female Centric, Female Protagonist, LGBT+ Focused, Passes Bechdel Test
Life Topics:
Coming of Age
Time Period:
Early modern period
Country:
France
Relationship Topics:
Same-sex, Sexuality
