Wellness and Transformation
Every guest that checks in at the Tranquillum House intends to seek a transformation towards wellness. The 10-day retreat promises to offer a solution to the clientele’s physical or mental problems that haunt their lives. Masha, the founder of the resort, went through a transformative experience that inspired her to open the wellness center. The nine strangers come in with various problems from weight issues, unhappiness, loss, trauma, and emotional pain. As such the center offers services, though questionable, that guarantee that the guests will overcome or solve their deficiencies.
Loss and Grief
Each of the nine guests has experienced a form of loss before checking in at the Tranquillum House. Napoleon, Heather, and Zoe are grieving the loss of Zoe’s twin brother to suicide and are all dealing with the guilt. Ben and Jessica are seeking to revive their dying marriage as they feel they have lost something in their marital relationship. Carmel suffers from low self-confidence after her husband left her for a younger woman, therefore checks in the resort for a weight loss journey. Frances’ writing career is on pause while Tony, a former football star, has just lost his dog. Lars on the other hand is dealing with a strained relationship as he and his partner are on opposite sides regarding having a child.
Moral Flexibility
The origin of Masha’s health spa is the traumatic experience that she underwent ten years earlier, inspiring her methods. Though her intentions are pure, the strategies she adopts for the program are ethically problematic. With the help of Yao and Delilah, Masha initiates her sinister plans to torture the guests psychologically to the point of being traumatized. The narrative explores the moral flexibility in Masha’s healing tactics that prove helpful yet take an unethical route. The guests proceed to lead fulfilling lives having solved their marital problems, found closure, and achieved their desired goals. The ending raises moral questions regarding Masha’s method of triggering trauma as a healing regimen.
