What Is The Bad Intentions About?
The premise of The Bad Intentions in 324 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In 1980s Peru, a country still echoing the reverberations of political upheaval, the rhythm of everyday life is a delicate balance between privilege and uncertainty. Gated estates on the outskirts of Lima sit against a backdrop of sirens and looming change, creating a world where the innocence of childhood is constantly measured against the weight of history. The film’s muted palette and lingering cinematography invite the viewer to feel the quiet tension that pervades both public squares and private homes.
…Cayetana de los Heros is an eight‑year‑old girl whose world is defined by solitude and ritual. Raised in a comfortable middle‑class household, she travels to school in a chauffeur‑driven car, yet the polished exterior masks a profound sense of isolation. Her parents are divorced; a distant, charismatic father appears only in fragments, while her remarried mother and stepfather maintain a careful, almost performative domesticity. Servants tend to her needs, yet she often retreats into hidden corners, preferring the silence of empty rooms over the chatter of relatives.
Within this carefully constructed life, Jimena, Cayetana’s chronically ill cousin, becomes a rare source of companionship. Their brief moments together—sharing food, whispered confidences, and quiet solidarity—offer a glimpse of warmth that the larger family structure cannot provide. It is during these fragile exchanges that Cayetana nurtures a solemn conviction: she believes she will meet her end on the very day her mother gives birth to a new sibling. This premonition colors her interactions, casting a shadow over celebrations and everyday routines alike.
The film moves with a measured, contemplative pace, allowing the audience to inhabit Cayetana’s internal landscape as much as the physical one. The mood is one of restrained melancholy, punctuated by fleeting flickers of hope that emerge through the tender, if uneasy, bonds she forms. As the political and personal spheres subtly intertwine, the story invites viewers to contemplate how a child’s inner world can both reflect and resist the larger forces shaping her country.
What Happens in The Bad Intentions?
The complete story of The Bad Intentions, from the first scene to the last, in 686 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Cayetana de los Heros is a lonely and solemn 8-year-old child growing up in Peru during the turbulent 1980s. She comes from a wealthier middle-class family and even has a chauffeur to cart her to and from school. Her parents are divorced, and she rarely sees her disinterested father, the archetype of a Latino playboy, which leaves her feeling adrift. She lives with her remarried mother and stepfather in a gated home on the outskirts of Lima, tended to by servants while they travel abroad.
The film opens with a picture show and an unseen narrator recounting the costly sacrifices Peruvian military leaders once made for the country. The scene shifts to a classroom full of girls just as a siren blares, and the children are evacuated. A driver picks Cayetana up from school, calling her “Miss Cayetana,” and yet she remains mostly silent on the ride home, save for a small moment where she offers her medication to a beggar and remarks that it suppresses the appetite.
Back at home, Cayetana sits alone at a table laden with food and refuses to touch it, until a maid scolds her and clears the dishes. The maids fuss over her every morning, dressing her to look pretty for her mother’s return, yet she must be dragged out of a hiding place to meet her mother. She sits stiffly on her mother’s lap as her stepfather looks on and hands her gifts, but the moment the news of her mother’s pregnancy arrives, Cayetana recoils in anger and storms off to her room. She even runs away for a time, only to get lost and forced to come home. In a climactic move, she chooses to punish her mother by withdrawing all affection and, on the baby’s delivery date, contemplating an ultimate withdrawal from life.
At school, Cayetana finds a glimmer of companionship in her cousin Jimena, a chronically ill girl who follows her to the bathroom and shares her own lunch when Cayetana discards hers. This fragile bond gives Cayetana a rare moment of connection, but the mood at home grows heavier as she sinks further inward and acts out. Her worried parents decide to send her away on a vacation to Lima with Jimena’s family after the holidays, hoping a change of scenery might help.
The vacation is serene and sunlit—boating, swimming, beach days, and leisurely meals—but it’s all overshadowed by the looming absence of structure in Cayetana’s life. The happiness breaks when her mother and stepfather arrive unannounced, hoping to surprise her. Cayetana refuses even a single hug from her visibly pregnant mother, and the warmth of the trip quickly collapses. A medical emergency strikes Jimena, who is whisked to the hospital, leaving Cayetana to wander the beach alone. She climbs a daunting sand dune and has a vision-like encounter with the Peruvian heroes and with Jimena, who tells her that she loves her and will always watch over her.
When the vacation ends, it’s clear the political situation has deteriorated further—the family’s house has been robbed. A few days later, Cayetana’s mother and stepfather leave again for the hospital, leaving her in the care of the household staff. She is then taken to the hospital to see her newborn half-brother, wandering the wards and eventually ending up outside Jimena’s room. The doctor there tests Jimena’s coordination by miming the actions for her, revealing just how fragile Jimena’s mind and body have become; she no longer recognizes Cayetana. Moving on to the maternity ward and nursery, Cayetana makes a startling choice: she points to the wrong baby, declaring she will not be upstaged by her mother’s new son. The confusion and jealousy give way to a raw moment as she ventures into the nursery and finally encounters her own new baby brother.
This story traces a child’s inward battle amid a country in turmoil, balancing tenderness and envy, family trauma, and the ache of being unseen. The film lingers on Cayetana’s quiet, searching gaze as she negotiates love, loss, and belonging, culminating in a moment of unexpected clarity and a new, complicated sense of family belonging.
The Bad Intentions Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Opening narration about Peru's past sacrifices” to “Closing reflection”. 14 events name a place, across 14 locations.
- 1
Opening narration about Peru's past sacrifices
The film opens with an unseen narrator recounting the costly sacrifices Peruvian military leaders once made for the country, framed by a picture show. The narration establishes a backdrop of national turmoil that contrasts with the intimate world Cayetana inhabits. The opening sets the tonal thread of public history meeting private sorrow.
When:Opening Where:Peru (opening sequence)
- 2
Siren evacuation and car ride
A siren blares and the girls evacuate from the classroom. On the ride home, Cayetana sits mostly silent while a driver calls her 'Miss Cayetana.' She offers her medication to a beggar, remarking that it suppresses the appetite.
When:During school hours Where:School and car ride
- 3
Home dinner and pregnancy news
Back at home, Cayetana sits alone at a table laden with food and refuses to touch it, until a maid scolds her and clears the dishes. The maids fuss over her every morning to look pretty for her mother’s return, but the moment the news of her mother’s pregnancy arrives, Cayetana recoils in anger and storms off.
When:Evening after school Where:Home, Lima
- 4
Cayetana runs away
She runs away for a time, getting lost in the city before she is quietly returned to the family. The episode widens the rift between Cayetana and her mother as she wrestles with the idea of a new baby.
When:Soon after pregnancy news Where:Home and nearby streets
- 5
Delivery date and withdrawal
On the baby’s delivery date, Cayetana makes a chilling choice to punish her mother by withdrawing her affection. She contemplates an ultimate withdrawal from life, a stark sign of her desperate need to be seen.
When:Baby's birth date Where:Home
- 6
Friendship with Jimena at school
At school, Cayetana finds a glimmer of companionship in her cousin Jimena, a chronically ill girl who follows her to the bathroom and shares her own lunch when Cayetana discards hers. This fragile bond gives Cayetana a rare moment of connection before the mood at home grows heavier.
When:School days Where:School
- 7
Vacation plan to Lima
Their worried parents decide to send her away on a vacation to Lima with Jimena’s family after the holidays, hoping a change of scenery might help. The plan is meant to provide structure and distance from the home turmoil, but Cayetana remains emotionally unsettled.
When:Post-holidays Where:Lima, Peru
- 8
Serene but fragile vacation
The vacation is sunlit and carefree on beaches and boats, yet it feels hollow because there is no stable routine. When Cayetana’s mother and stepfather unexpectedly return, Cayetana refuses even a hug from her visibly pregnant mother, and the warmth quickly evaporates.
When:Vacation period Where:Lima coast/beach house
- 9
Jimena injures and dune vision
A medical emergency strikes Jimena, sending her to the hospital and leaving Cayetana alone on the beach. The girl climbs a towering sand dune and experiences a vision-like encounter with Peruvian heroes and Jimena, who tells Cayetana that she loves her and will watch over her.
When:During vacation Where:Beach near Lima
- 10
Return from vacation; house robbed
When the vacation ends, the family returns to a robbed house, underscoring the unravelling stability of Cayetana’s world. A few days later, Cayetana’s mother and stepfather depart again for the hospital, leaving her to be cared for by the household staff.
When:Post-vacation Where:Lima, near home
Show the other 4 events of The Bad Intentions Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Hospital visit and wandering wards
Cayetana is taken to the hospital to see her newborn half-brother, wandering the wards and eventually ending up outside Jimena’s room. The hospital setting intensifies the sense of fragile families and shifting loyalties as Cayetana searches for belonging.
When:Soon after hospital admission Where:Hospital
- 12
Jimena's recognition test
The doctor mimes actions to Jimena in the hospital nursery to test her coordination, and Cayetana watches as Jimena no longer recognizes her. The moment marks a cruel turning point in their bond as memory and recognition fade within the family.
When:After testing Where:Hospital/Nursery
- 13
Birth day confusion: wrong baby; meeting own brother
In the maternity ward, Cayetana points to the wrong baby, declaring she will not be upstaged by her mother's new son. She then slips into the nursery and finally meets her own newborn baby brother, a troubling moment of confused belonging.
When:Birth day Where:Maternity ward/Nursery
- 14
Closing reflection
The film lingers on Cayetana’s quiet gaze as she negotiates love, loss, and a new, complicated sense of family belonging. Her clarity arrives in a moment of unexpected understanding rather than external resolution.
When:Ending Where:Final scene
Who Are the Main Characters in The Bad Intentions?
5 characters, among them Cayetana de los Heros (Fatima Buntinx), Jimena (Kani Hart) and Inés (Katerina D'Onofrio): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- CD
Cayetana de los Heros (Fatima Buntinx)
Played by Fatima Buntinx
Cayetana is an eight-year-old girl trapped in a life of wealth and neglect. Her father is largely absent and self-absorbed, while her mother’s attention is consumed by a new pregnancy. She withdraws affection as a form of punishment, revealing a guarded, observant child who seeks belonging in a world that seems to overlook her. Her quiet gaze follows the tremors of Peru’s turmoil, shaping a fragile sense of self.
- 🎭 Drama
- 🧒 Childhood
- 💔 Family
- 🌪️ Turmoil
- J(
Jimena (Kani Hart)
Played by Kani Hart
Jimena is Cayetana’s chronically ill cousin who becomes a fragile beacon of companionship. She shares lunches and follows Cayetana to the bathroom, offering rare warmth in a tense home. Her vulnerability deepens Cayetana’s sensitivity to care and attention, while her illness adds a layer of fragility to their bond. Jimena’s presence exposes how illness can shape friendships within a privileged circle.
- 💗 Fragility
- 👭 Bond
- 🤝 Friendship
- 💬 Communication
- I(
Inés (Katerina D'Onofrio)
Played by Katerina D'Onofrio
Inés is Cayetana’s mother in a marriage that is strained by pregnancy and distance. She embodies a outward warmth that rarely reaches Cayetana, contributing to the child’s sense of being unseen. Her life as a remarried mother reflects a pursuit of happiness amid upheaval, leaving Cayetana to navigate affection on her own. Inés’s choices illuminate the tension between appearance and genuine care.
- 🎭 Drama
- 💔 Family
- 👩👧 Motherhood
- 🏛️ Privilege
- F(
Francisco (Jean-Paul Strauss)
Played by Jean-Paul Strauss
Francisco is the stepfather, a figure of authority who vacillates between warmth and distance. He participates in the household’s routine, yet his indifference contributes to Cayetana’s emotional isolation. His presence underscores the film’s focus on how adults’ actions shape a child’s sense of safety and love. The dynamic with Cayetana reveals the complexity of blended families under pressure.
- 🎭 Drama
- 🧍♂️ Authority
- 💔 Family
- 🏙️ Privilege
- R(
Ramón (Paul Vega)
Played by Paul Vega
Ramón is the family chauffeur who greets Cayetana with a respectful 'Miss Cayetana' and often witnesses the child’s quiet rebellion. He represents the domestic staff that keeps the household functioning while reflecting the social distance between class layers. His interactions offer occasional windows into Cayetana’s world outside her formal family life. Ramón embodies a calm, observant presence within the house’s tense atmosphere.
- 🚗 Service
- 🧑💼 Staff
- 💬 Observant
- 🕊️ Quiet resilience
Where and When Is The Bad Intentions Set?
The Bad Intentions is set in Lima outskirts and Peru (1980s Peru). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1980s Peru
The 1980s in Peru were marked by political violence and economic instability. The story uses the era to frame Cayetana's isolation amid family drama and national turmoil. Sirens, evacuations, and shifting loyalties echo the mounting tension outside the family walls.
Where
Lima outskirts, Peru
Set in a gated home on the outskirts of Lima, the film follows a privileged childhood shadowed by neglect and parental turmoil. The daily life is managed by servants and a chauffeur, illustrating a wealth gap set against Peru's wider upheaval. The setting contrasts the security of an enclosed estate with the volatility of the era outside.
- 🏡 Gated residence
- 🧭 High-society
- 🗺️ Peru
What Are the Themes of The Bad Intentions?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Family and Belonging, Loneliness and Jealousy and Perception.
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01
Family and Belonging
The film centers on Cayetana’s desperate need for affection within a fractured household. It probes how privilege cannot shield a child from emotional neglect or the ache of being unseen. The slow withdrawal of love triggers a search for belonging that threads through every scene. The story suggests that true belonging may emerge only through understanding and care, not status.
-
02
Loneliness
Cayetana drifts through home and school with a quiet, isolating loneliness. The cousin Jimena offers a fragile bridge to companionship, yet their bond is fragile against the larger family turmoil. The film uses weather, distance, and silences to map the inner weather of a child who feels unseen by the adults around her. Loneliness here is a lens on a child's resilience and need for touch and trust.
-
03
Jealousy and Perception
The arrival of a new baby intensifies Cayetana’s jealousy as attention shifts within the household. The child's gaze becomes a tool to test family loyalties and perceptions, exposing the fragility of maternal love and the pressure to perform as a 'good child.' The theme explores how appearances and expectations mask complex emotions. Envy becomes a catalyst for a pivotal moment of clarity near the end.
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04
Class and Privilege
Privilege isolates Cayetana from ordinary experiences and emotional availability. The film contrasts ornate interiors and servitude with a country in turmoil, highlighting how wealth can coexist with emotional neglect. The private world of the mansion becomes a crucible where memory, guilt, and longing brew into a coming-of-age moment. Through this lens, the story questions what family identity means beyond status.
What Kind of Film Is The Bad Intentions?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A quiet and introspective film that follows a lonely child's melancholic perspective as she grapples with feeling unseen amidst family upheaval and a turbulent political backdrop.
- lonely
- somber
- reflective
- quiet
- introspective
- atmospheric
- childhood
- sibling rivalry
- neglect
- coming of age
Content notes: child neglect, emotional distress, political unrest.
Quiz
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