The plot for Gradiva is hallucinatory journey in which its lead protagonist an Englishman named John Locke finds himself in too deep when he becomes obsessed with finding a mysterious woman dressed in white. After some investigating he uncovers that this woman in white is somehow connected to a woman named Gradiva who was the model who posed for the recently unearthed Delacroix illustrations. The most fascinating aspect of this film is how John Locke’s journey and that of the viewer are intertwined. Besides the film’s lead protagonist John Locke the film is populated with an abundance of decadent characters that further enhance voyeuristic nature of the story at hand. The films more erotic moments of sadistic delights look like something right out of the works of the Marquis De Sade. Surprisingly the films standout performance doesn’t come from James Wilby, the actor cast in the role of John Locke. Instead the best performance comes from an actress named Dany Verissimo who is cast in the role of Belkis a young servant girl who takes care of John Locke. Belkis as the story evolves becomes attached to John Locke who she has several sexual liaisons with. Ultimately Gradiva, is a mesmerizing tale in which all lines that discern what is real or what is an illusion are blurred.