If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power 2021

Directed by

Colin Tilley

Colin Tilley

Made by

IMAX

IMAX

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If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (2021). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.


Lila, a young queen, returns to her castle and finds that the king is dead. She then stares into a mirror and finds that her reflection is a separate entity, Lilith, and dashes out to the balcony after Lilith unsettles the court members. The court members discuss what to do with Lila while revisiting a family tree. The film then cuts to Lila being prepared to take the king’s duties as she sits on her throne; bored and a bit vainglorious, she abandons this and walks out to the balcony again and witnesses a strange fiery light. The kingdom then gathers to mourn the king’s death, while Lila felt contented about it. She then shows a bruise to the Matriarch and the Aristocrat, revealing that he physically assaulted her, in order to explain her contentment.

That night, Lilith comes forth from the mirror and stabs a sleeping Lila in the stomach. Awakening from a nightmare, Lila rushes to pull out seeds from a drawer and urinate on them to test if she is pregnant. She looks in the mirror, seeing Lilith’s hands rubbing her stomach, and grows unsettled. She then decides to go to a bathhouse to relax, but she flees in terror as her reflection continues to show Lilith creepily rubbing her stomach.

To celebrate the king’s death, Lila gathers her friends for a day out, becomes drunk and causes mayhem in the villages. She then tries to ride back to the castle before falling off her horse, and it runs away. A drunk Lila lonely wanders into the forest, and stumbles upon a witch’s cabin. The witch feels her stomach and begins teaching Lila a lamaze technique causing her to become frightened and run away, eventually finding her way back to the castle. Upon stumbling back to the bedroom, she found that the seeds she urinated on earlier had sprouted, upsetting her, as it means she is pregnant.

The Aristocrat, fed up with Lila’s selfish attitude, claims that given Lila is not of royal blood, she is a common widow and should not retain her title as Queen, especially considering what happened while she was drunk. Lila is sentenced to be executed after her child is born; if the child is a boy, it will be raised in the court, but if it is a girl, it will also be killed. An enraged Lila walks out to the lake to drown herself and her child, but as she felt it kicking her stomach, she changes her mind and swims through the lake to flee from the castle, trying to find the Witch’s cabin to give birth in a more safe area, as her water breaks. A maid then tells the Aristocrat that she witnessed Lila running away.

Lila flashes back to the night the king died, revealing that she had poisoned his wine and he raped and impregnated her, and the king collapsed to death just after that incident; the rape resulted in Lila’s pregnancy. The Aristocrat find Lila after she gives birth with the help of the witch. They burn down the cabin, presumably killing the witch, and throw Lila and her child onto a wagon back to the castle. She then wakes in a cell, which has been unlocked by an unknown person and finds out that all the guards are dead. She then makes her way to the nursery and the maids are frightened when she finds her baby. She carries the baby with her to the guillotine and gives it to the maid. She then thinks what would have been if she had been more loving and imagines a peaceful life with her child. Smiling at the thought of it, she is abruptly beheaded.

Lilith escapes from the mirror again. She wanders around the castle and looks over the dead bodies of the guards and Aristocrat, which she presumably killed. She picks up the crown that formerly belonged to Lila and observes it, before leaving the palace.

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power Characters

Explore all characters from If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (2021). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.


Queen Lila / Lilith (Halsey)

Queen Lila is a complex character torn between her desires and the harsh realities of her reign. As she grapples with her brutal past and the implications of her pregnancy, her internal struggle manifests in her erratic behavior and deep-seated vulnerability. Lilith, her alter ego, embodies the darker aspects of her psyche, representing her fears and the chaotic turmoil of her life.

👸 Queen 🔮 Supernatural ⚔️ Betrayal

The Aristocrat (Brian Caspe)

The Aristocrat represents the voice of traditional power and judgment, often challenging Lila's authority. His disdain for her perceived incompetence underscores the rigid expectations of royal lineage and duty during their tumultuous times. His actions drive much of the conflict, positioning him as an antagonist in Lila's tragic story.

💼 Authority ⚖️ Judgment 🤴 Antagonist

The Witch

The Witch serves as a pivotal figure in Lila's journey, embodying the themes of knowledge and fear. Her teachings and mystical abilities provide both guidance and dread, reflecting the duality of the supernatural in the context of Lila's struggles. The Witch symbolizes the freedom and power that come with embracing one's identity, albeit with dire risks.

🧙‍♀️ Magic 🔥 Fear 📜 Knowledge

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power Settings

Learn where and when If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (2021) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.


Time period

The movie takes place in a medieval setting, a time when kings and queens ruled, and superstitions were prevalent. This period is marked by strict societal hierarchies and the weight of lineage, particularly in the struggle for power and survival. Themes of witchcraft and the supernatural intertwine with the harsh realities of royal life, highlighting conflicts and consequences faced by those in positions of power.

Location

Castle, Forest, Witch's Cabin

The castle serves as the backdrop for much of the intrigue and turmoil surrounding Queen Lila, where significant events unfold including her rise and downfall. The forest is a mysterious, almost enchanting place that leads her to the witch's cabin, symbolizing both refuge and danger. The witch's cabin represents a place of hidden knowledge and fear, playing a crucial role in Lila's transformation and desperation.

🏰 Castle 🌲 Forest 🪄 Witch's Cabin

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power Themes

Discover the main themes in If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (2021). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.


👑

Power & Betrayal

The theme of power dynamics is central to the movie as Queen Lila grapples with her loss of authority and identity. Her actions are fueled by betrayal, as she confronts the violent truths of her past with the king. The film illustrates how the ruthless pursuit of power can lead to deep personal and societal consequences.

💔

Love & Despair

Lila's journey is marked by her complex relationship with love, intertwined with despair and loss. Her contentment at the king's death is contrasted with her eventual desperation as she faces overwhelming challenges as a mother. The exploration of these emotions reveals the vulnerability of those in power when love is absent or manipulated.

⚖️

Justice & Retribution

Justice is a pivotal motif as Lila is judged for her actions amidst a backdrop of royal expectations. The notion of retribution looms large with her impending execution, showcasing the harsh realities of consequence in a capitol society governed by tradition. The narrative ultimately questions the true nature of justice in a world rife with moral ambiguity.

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If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (2021). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.


If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power unfolds as a visually lavish and emotionally charged cinematic experience, accompanying Halsey’s fourth studio album produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The film casts Halsey herself as Queen Lila, a young and pregnant ruler whose reign is shadowed by the complicated forces that surround her. Set within the cold grandeur of a castle and its surrounding kingdom, the story bathes its royal court in a moody, atmospheric palette that blurs the line between medieval fable and modern allegory.

At the heart of the film is a woman caught between the expectations of her crown and the turbulent currents of her own heart. Lila navigates a world defined by control and manipulation, where love itself becomes a force to be reckoned with rather than a refuge. The narrative explores the push and pull of intimacy and power, examining how relationships can shape, constrain, or even transform those caught within them. Through its striking visual language, the film paints a portrait of sovereignty that feels as fragile as it is fierce, inviting viewers to feel the weight of every glance, every whispered conversation, and every silent reckoning.

The film pulses with a restless, defiant energy, matching the album’s sonic intensity with imagery that feels raw and unfiltered. Halsey brings a commanding yet vulnerable presence to Lila, anchoring the story in a deeply personal performance that blurs the boundaries between artist and character. As the camera lingers on candlelit corridors, mirrored reflections, and shadowed throne rooms, the world becomes a character in its own right, one that mirrors Lila’s inner turmoil and amplifies every emotional beat.

More than a traditional narrative, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is a mood piece that asks what happens when the desire for connection collides with the hunger for autonomy. It is a story about a woman learning to claim her space in a world determined to define her, leaving audiences immersed in a haunting, visually arresting meditation on love, power, and the cost of both.

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