Samantha Casella’s film *Katabasis* is a profound psychological exploration of a woman that remains relevant across generations. The film resembles a free-verse poem, addressing all aspects of the relationship between an abuse survivor and her abusers. Its lyrical quality makes it a poignant experience that resonates deeply with its audience. The story centers on Nora, a woman who has endured prolonged abuse. Over time, she has become accustomed to her situation and, in a disturbing way, even finds a sense of enjoyment in this perverse dynamic. However, she is haunted by thoughts of her past traumas, which manifest in unique and evocative ways, much like a captivating painting that imprints itself on the mind. The film also delves into an underworld filled with characters who harbor murky agendas. Nora is constantly watched by others, but she particularly fears the masked figures that appear as nightmares—a terror she has carried with her since childhood when she first experienced abuse. Another intriguing aspect of the film is its portrayal of gender dynamics. Often, men are replaced by women and vice versa, creating an abstract reflection on their interactions. Coupled with this abstraction is a subtle humor that adds a distinctive quality to the film; for instance, one abuser lectures Nora on the importance of maintaining a nutritious diet.

Katabasis is a story about Nora who is a chain-smoking, depressed-looking woman. Her beautiful and tender body is a laboratory for the abusers which has made her an ambiguous, manipulative and dangerous woman. Through her unpredictability, she constantly seeks murky situations to relive the only condition she has deeply assimilated which is an uninterrupted flow of sorrow. This ever-growing sorrow forces her to search for solace in an empty room. Although she has been abused by almost everyone, she trusts a person who is the gardener of the house where she has been captive. She asks the gardener to tell the same story again and again. However, that happiness gets punctured when visuals of a hanging rope flash in front of her eyes. In addition to it, she hears the screaming of a woman which is quite natural in a sea of unhappy people. In her life the line between reality and alternate reality blurs. For instance, she plays with a bowl of soup as if it is a bowl of blood. She can’t distinguish between torture and pleasure. To her, pleasure is torture and torture is pleasure. She also waits for an end but doesn’t say what sort of end it would be.

Katabasis tells the story of Nora, but it is also a tormented love story between her and Aaron, which remains a closely guarded secret. Aaron is an orphan, oppressed by a star system represented by his cynical manager, Jacob. Jacob has made him a star but has also imposed a facade upon him, trapping him in a life of appearances. Both Aaron and Jacob live in the same prison-like villa, which is filled with secrets, lies, and deceptions, as well as unsettling episodes. Nora possesses the ability to communicate with souls from the afterlife, which deepens Aaron’s fear about their love story. This gilded prison symbolizes Nora’s internal darkness, one she wishes to conquer. She often tries to impose her own codes and rules on their relationship, complicating matters even further.

As told above, the idea of reality gets blurred in the film. Red wine turns into milk, a sign of motherhood. Torture in the name of pleasure raises the question of what pleasure is. Blood starts to taste like blood. But what is the taste of blood? Her existence is also doubtful. She came from the unknown. She also meets a guy who lives on the other side of the woods. Is he her boyfriend? We don’t know. However, one thing is sure she is fearless as she plays with fire, literally.

There is another angle to the entire abuse story. She voluntarily gives fellatio to her abuser. Her naked body is like a battleground for her abusers to engage in activities. That said, no one loves her body. It is also worth saying that she has a knack for exploring the male body, but not for pleasure. She knows the secrets of luring men. She wears handcuffs to lure his abuser to perform bondage. That said, she has a primal desire to have a coitus in a jungle with her abuser. While her abuser pours hot candle wax on her skin that turns pain into pleasure, she has a fetish for statues and busts.

The film reaches a crescendo when she comes to know that Aaron has a girlfriend. She is also pissed off with Aaron’s cocaine addiction. She becomes restless. She wants to kill him. It is evident from the way she caresses a hanging rope which is almost similar to playing piano. Meanwhile, she desires dead things from Aaron, as the mementos of their relationship. All these made Aaron hatch a plan to kill her. What happens at the end is just extraordinary.