Lantana 2001

A woman’s lifeless body is discovered among the lantana bushes in a quiet suburban area. Meanwhile, Leon, a dedicated policeman, shares an intimate encounter with Jane in a motel, before they part ways. Later, Leon and his wife, Sonja, attend Latin dance classes, where they unexpectedly find Jane—recently separated and also taking the same classes—participating. Despite the aspirations of the classes, Leon feels out of place and struggles to enjoy himself.

In his job, Leon exhibits intense emotional turmoil, leading to a savage beating of a drug dealer during an arrest. He grapples with deep-seated issues but continues to deny their existence, all while Sonja seeks therapy with Valerie, who has penned a book about her daughter’s tragic murder. Valerie feels an increasing strain in her marriage to John, which she describes as merely surviving through grief. The tension rises when another patient, Patrick, begins having an affair with a married man named Nik, forcing Valerie to confront her own emotional challenges.

Acting on impulse, Jane seeks out Leon outside the police station, leading to a physical relationship that Leon initially hesitates about. Meanwhile, Nik finds himself tormented by this new connection as he is friends with Jane’s estranged husband, Pete, who aspires to reconcile with Jane. Compounding the drama, Jane annoys Leon by pairing with Sonja in the salsa class, which leads to Leon’s decision to end their arrangement—leaving Jane distraught. Jane later invites Nik for coffee at the suggestion of Paula, his wife and Jane’s acquaintance, and offers financial assistance during their tough times—much to Paula’s growing irritation towards Jane.

As Valerie returns home late from her day, she experiences car trouble and is subsequently stranded. Hoping for support, she reaches out to John, but he is unavailable. In her attempt to hail a ride, Valerie tragically never arrives home. Leon is assigned to investigate her disappearance and discovers a file belonging to her in his wife’s therapy records. He learns from these tapes that for Sonja, an affair would not signify betrayal—as long as she is informed of it. Late at night, an emotional confrontation occurs between Leon and Sonja, where he admits to ending an affair but insists she is still the love of his life. This revelation greatly disturbs Sonja, leaving Leon to spend the night on the couch.

The following morning, their relationship reaches a new low as Sonja warns Leon he will be fortunate if she returns that evening. Leon’s inquiry leads him to John, the prime suspect in Valerie’s disappearance, where they engage in a discussion about love and fidelity. However, Leon fibs about his own infidelity. Leon then visits Jane, following her report to the police about a suspicious event she witnessed: Nik arriving home late and disposing of something in the bushes. When Leon and his colleague Claudia investigate, they find a woman’s shoe, which is later confirmed to belong to Valerie.

As the investigation unfolds, things heat up when Nik is arrested and leaves his children in Jane’s care. The police also bring Paula in for questioning. Unknown to both Nik and Paula, Jane has taken the initiative to inform the cops. Despite their mutual disdain, Paula thanks Jane for helping with the children. During Nik’s interrogation, he remains tight-lipped, constantly requesting Paula. After a tense moment, it is revealed that Valerie had car troubles, opted for a ride with Nik, and tragically jumped from his vehicle, leading to her fatal fall—evidenced by the shoe left behind.

As Leon, Paula, Nik, and John retrace Valerie’s last steps, they uncover her body at the bottom of a ravine. In the aftermath, Leon listens to the remainder of the therapy tape, where Sonja confesses her continuing love for him, bringing him to tears.

Returning home, Leon encounters Sonja, who stands under the open sky. In a poignant scene, Jane, now drinking and smoking, finds herself alone after her husband walks out. Meanwhile, Patrick watches in agony as the man he loves interacts with his unfaithful spouse—adding yet another layer to this intricate emotional web. The film culminates with Sonja and Leon finally embracing the dance that Leon once struggled with, as he gazes deeply into her eyes, capturing an intimacy that had long been missing from their relationship. Though Sonja initially falters to hold his gaze, they synchronize, and as they dance, the movie closes on this evocative and hopeful note.