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Blueprint (2003) Plot Summary & Timeline

Blueprint (2003) movie poster

Blueprint is a 2003 sci-fi and drama film directed by Rolf Schübel, running 1 hour 48 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 258 words (about 1 minute to read) and covers 12 key events in order, 5 characters, where and when it is set and 3 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for Blueprint.

to read the plot summary
1 min
key events in the timeline
12
characters profiled
5
themes explained
3
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Blueprint (2003) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 48m
Director
Rolf Schübel
Genres
Sci-Fi, Drama
Original language
German
No spoilers

What Is Blueprint About?

The premise of Blueprint in 312 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In a near‑future where scientific ambition brushes against strict moral borders, a celebrated pianist confronts a looming, irreversible silence. The world knows her music, but a diagnosis of a degenerative nerve disease forces her to consider what will echo after she can no longer play. The film opens on the quiet urgency of a woman determined to outlive the limits of her own flesh, setting a tone that blends clinical precision with haunting lyricism.

Iris Sellin is a virtuoso whose life has been built on the fragile perfection of sound. Faced with the impending loss of her craft, she turns to an old friend, a pioneering reproductive researcher, to explore a radical solution—one that skirts the law and defies conventional ethics. Dr. Martin Fischer embodies the promise and peril of cutting‑edge science, offering a chance to capture not just a genetic imprint but the very essence of artistic genius. Their collaboration feels both intimate and unsettling, hinting at the fragile line between love, obsession, and the quest for immortality.

From this daring experiment comes Siri, a child whose appearance and innate musicality mirror her mother’s in uncanny detail. Raised with the knowledge that she is a living blueprint, she occupies a space between identity and artifact, constantly negotiating the weight of expectation and the mystery of her own origins. The revelation that she is the world’s first human clone hangs over her like a quiet chord, promising both awe and inner turbulence.

The story unfolds with a reflective, almost elegiac mood, inviting the audience to contemplate the price of legacy and the definition of self when creation blurs the line between mother and mirror. As the characters navigate their intertwined futures, the film balances delicate emotional currents with a sleek, contemporary visual style, leaving the viewer perched on the edge of possibility, eager to hear what will resonate when the music stops.

Full plot

What Happens in Blueprint?

The complete story of Blueprint, from the first scene to the last, in 258 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

Iris Sellin, a world-famous pianist and composer, learns she has multiple sclerosis, a degenerative nerve disorder that will gradually steal her ability to perform. She turns to Dr. Martin Fischer, a pioneering reproductive researcher, to help her create a clone so she can pass on her music to a daughter. Although cloning humans is illegal, Fischer agrees, hoping to secure his place in history. The procedure succeeds, and Iris gives birth to Siri, who closely resembles her mother in both looks and musical talent.

At thirteen, Siri discovers that she is Iris’s clone, and the once close and tender bond between mother and daughter begins to crack under strain. Their relationship becomes a tense battleground as they contend with jealousy, ambition, and the pressure of living up to a shared musical legacy. They find themselves vying for the same man and competing in their careers, and their conflicts mount to moments that feel perilously close to breaking them both.

To escape the heartbreak and disappointment of a life defined by others’ expectations, Siri relocates to Canada, choosing a solitary life in the woods where she photographs deer and wrestles with a profound sense of isolation. In this quiet exile, fate offers a glimmer of release when she meets Greg, a warm and charismatic architect who rekindles a sense of love and humanity in her. His presence also gently nudges the two women toward a path of reconciliation, suggesting that art, forgiveness, and personal choice can begin to bridge the gulf that years of secrecy and competition had forged.

Timeline

Blueprint Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

12 key events in the order they happen, from “MS diagnosis forces new plan: cloning” to “A hopeful horizon for Iris and Siri”. 2 events name a place, across 2 locations.

  1. 1

    MS diagnosis forces new plan: cloning

    Iris Sellin, a world-famous pianist, discovers she has multiple sclerosis, a degenerative nerve disorder that threatens her performing career. Fearing a future where she cannot share her music, she asks Dr. Martin Fischer to help create a clone so her art can live on through a daughter. Fischer agrees, hoping to be remembered as the pioneer who made human cloning possible, despite the illegality of the procedure.

    When:upon diagnosis

  2. 2

    Cloning procedure approved and Siri is born

    The cloning procedure proceeds, and the birth of Siri marks a controversial breakthrough. Siri closely resembles her mother in both appearance and musical talent from birth. Iris and Siri begin to form a unique mother-daughter bond under the shadow of their extraordinary origin.

    When:after birth

  3. 3

    Growing up under Iris's influence

    Growing up under Iris's guidance, Siri experiences a close, affectionate bond with her mother and shares in the family’s musical ambitions. Siri learns to fuse Iris's stylistic genius with her own natural talent, hinting at a powerful future in music. The early years are marked by mentorship and shared dreams rather than doubt.

    When:childhood

  4. 4

    Siri learns she is Iris's clone at thirteen

    At the age of thirteen, Siri discovers that she is Iris's clone, a revelation that shatters her sense of self. The knowledge immediately strains their previously loving relationship and introduces a complex dynamic between imitation and identity. The discovery sets off a chain of emotional conflicts that ripple through both lives.

    When:Siri's thirteenth year

  5. 5

    Rivalry for love and music emerges

    With the truth out in the open, Iris and Siri begin competing for the same man and for prominence in the music world. The rivalry turns their once close bond into tension, jealousy, and fear of being eclipsed by the other. Their personal and professional lives become increasingly entangled and unstable.

    When:post-13 years

  6. 6

    Rivalry escalates toward danger

    The feud escalates to dangerous levels, pushing them into situations that threaten their safety. The escalating conflict tests their limits, and they come perilously close to disaster. The close calls force them to confront what they are willing to sacrifice for art and loyalty.

    When:during adolescence

  7. 7

    Siri flees to Canada

    Seeking escape from the disappointment of her existence, Siri leaves home for Canada. She retreats into isolation, trying to outrun the memories of her mother's world and the pressures of their shared legacy. The decision marks a dramatic turning point in her life.

    When:after fleeing Where:Canada

  8. 8

    Solitary life in the Canadian woods

    In the Canadian woods, Siri builds a lonely life focused on photographing deer and living apart from civilization. The remote setting offers a chance to reflect on her identity and future. Her quiet existence contrasts sharply with the public spotlight of her mother.

    When:during isolation Where:Canadian woods

  9. 9

    Love returns with Greg the architect

    Siri meets Greg, a charming architect, whose warmth rekindles love and brings new meaning to life. Greg's presence offers Siri an alternative path away from old wounds and expectations. The romance introduces hope that her life might include connection and belonging again.

    When:meeting Greg

  10. 10

    Greg helps bridge mother and daughter

    Greg's influence opens a path toward reconciliation between Iris and Siri, showing both women that love and mutual respect can still exist. His presence destabilizes their long-standing feud and creates space for healing. The story moves toward a potential reunion that could merge their shared musical legacy.

    When:after meeting Greg

  11. 11

    Seeds of reconciliation take root

    The evolving relationship hints at a future where Iris's legacy and Siri's talent converge rather than compete. They begin to glimpse a harmonious possibility where mother and daughter can support each other. The timeline remains open, but the seeds of reconciliation have been planted.

    When:near future

  12. 12

    A hopeful horizon for Iris and Siri

    With new love in Siri's life and renewed ties to her mother, a hopeful future starts to emerge. The film leaves the door open for a true, lasting reconciliation that could redefine their identities and careers. The final note suggests that art can transcend the boundaries between imitation and original creation.

    When:open-ended future

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in Blueprint?

5 characters, among them Iris Sellin (Franka Potente), Siri (13 Jahre alt) (Karoline Teska) and Siri (8 Jahre alt) (Nina Gummich): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.

  • Franka Potente as Iris Sellin (Franka Potente) in Blueprint

    Iris Sellin (Franka Potente)

    Played by Franka Potente

    A world-famous pianist and composer whose talent is matched by a stubborn resolve. Her battle with multiple sclerosis pushes her to seek a clone so her art can survive beyond her own stage performances. She combines magnetic artistry with a protective, sometimes controlling, attitude toward those closest to her.

    • 🎼 Music
    • 🧠 Genius
    • 💔 Vulnerability
  • S(

    Siri (13 Jahre alt) (Karoline Teska)

    Played by Karoline Teska

    At thirteen, Siri learns she is Iris’s clone, shattering her sense of self and identity. She resembles her mother in looks and musical talent, which intensifies the conflict over who she is meant to be. Her search for autonomy drives her from the glare of fame toward a life that challenges everything she has been told.

    • 🧬 Identity
    • 🎵 Talent
    • 🧭 Autonomy
  • Nina Gummich as Siri (8 Jahre alt) (Nina Gummich) in Blueprint

    Siri (8 Jahre alt) (Nina Gummich)

    Played by Nina Gummich

    Young Siri embodies the potential and burden of her origin, already showing musical aptitude and an uncanny likeness to Iris. Her early life is colored by the concealed truth of her birth and the expectations that come with being Iris’s clone. She is a quiet echo of the adult Siri, hinting at the conflicts to come.

    • 🧬 Identity
    • 🎶 Talent
    • 🌲 Innocence
  • Hilmir Snær Guðnason as Greg (Hilmir Snær Guðnason) in Blueprint

    Greg (Hilmir Snær Guðnason)

    Played by Hilmir Snær Guðnason

    A charming architect who becomes a source of warmth and possibility for Siri. His presence offers a path toward healing and a chance at love, reintroducing human connection into Siri’s life. He helps bridge the distance between mother and daughter and introduces a hopeful arc.

    • 💞 Love
    • 🧱 Architecture
    • 🌟 Hope
  • Ulrich Thomsen as Dr. Martin Fischer (Ulrich Thomsen) in Blueprint

    Dr. Martin Fischer (Ulrich Thomsen)

    Played by Ulrich Thomsen

    A revolutionary reproductive researcher who agrees to create Siri, enabling Iris to preserve her art. His decision places him at the center of a moral debate about cloning, consent, and the consequences of scientific ambition. He embodies the ethics and ambitions of a breakthrough that could redefine legacy.

    • 🧪 Science
    • ⚖️ Ethics
    • 🧠 Intelligence
Setting

Where and When Is Blueprint Set?

Blueprint is set in Canada. Here is why the place matters to the story.

Where

Canada

Siri retreats to a remote Canadian woods to escape the pressures of fame and her lineage as Iris's clone. The expansive wilderness provides quiet space for reflection and a chance to redefine herself away from public gaze. The Canadian landscape contrasts with the world of music and family drama at the heart of the story.

  • 🇨🇦 Canada
  • 🏞️ Wilderness
  • 🕊️ Solitude
Themes

What Are the Themes of Blueprint?

3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Motherhood and Ethics.

  1. 01

    Identity

    The clone premise drives a meditation on what makes a person unique. Siri’s sense of self is tested by her origin, and Iris’s legacy becomes a force that both binds and divides them. The film explores how identity can be shaped by family, talent, and unseen genetic ties.

  2. 02

    Motherhood

    A fraught mother-daughter relationship sits at the center of Blueprint. Iris’s ambition and control collide with Siri’s search for autonomy and belonging. Their closeness is tested by secrecy, competition, and the ache of shared art.

  3. 03

    Ethics

    The cloning project raises questions about medical ethics, consent, and the price of technological breakthroughs. Dr. Fischer’s decision to create Siri sits at the crossroads of fame, scientific progress, and personal cost. The film uses this tension to critique the pursuit of legacy at any cost.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Blueprint?

Bittersweet in tone, with slow pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Bittersweet
Pacing
Slow
Story
Moderate
Intensity
Medium
Ending
Bittersweet

A slow-paced, melancholic sci-fi drama that explores the emotional and ethical battleground between a mother and her cloned daughter, culminating in a tentative reconciliation.

  • melancholic
  • tense
  • introspective
  • isolated
  • strained
  • hopeful
  • cloning ethics
  • mother daughter relationship
  • terminal illness
  • artistic legacy

Content notes: terminal illness, existential crisis, emotional manipulation.

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FAQ

Blueprint Plot Questions

5 quick answers about Blueprint, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Blueprint about?

In a near‑future where scientific ambition brushes against strict moral borders, a celebrated pianist confronts a looming, irreversible silence. The world knows her music, but a diagnosis of a degenerative nerve disease forces her to consider what will echo after she can no longer play.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does Blueprint take place?

Blueprint is set in Canada. Siri retreats to a remote Canadian woods to escape the pressures of fame and her lineage as Iris's clone. The expansive wilderness provides quiet space for reflection and a chance to redefine herself away from public…

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in Blueprint?

The story follows Iris Sellin (Franka Potente) (played by Franka Potente), Siri (13 Jahre alt) (Karoline Teska) (played by Karoline Teska), Siri (8 Jahre alt) (Nina Gummich) (played by Nina Gummich) and Greg (Hilmir Snær Guðnason) (played by Hilmir Snær Guðnason); the character guide covers 5 characters in all.

All the characters

What are the main themes of Blueprint?

The summary picks out 3 themes: Identity, Motherhood and Ethics.

The themes explained

Who directed Blueprint?

Blueprint (2003) was directed by Rolf Schübel and runs 1 hour 48 minutes.

Rolf Schübel’s films

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