The film begins with a scene featuring tarot cards, employing a visual technique where color highlights the cards and switches to black and white when focusing on the characters. This opening sets up the protagonist, Cleo, as a young woman who values her beauty but is facing an illness that threatens her appearance and possibly her mental well-being.

Cleo's maid seems to view her as a "drama queen" who is overly concerned with trivial matters. There are two possible interpretations: Cleo is either overly pampered due to her beauty, leading people to dismiss her concerns, or she genuinely fixates on minor issues, suggesting a superficial nature.

Throughout the film, mirrors serve as a recurring motif, symbolizing Cleo's preoccupation with her self-image. She is portrayed as superstitious and obsessed with her appearance, suggesting a reliance on external validation, possibly due to her status as a celebrity.

Cleo's interactions with men highlight societal expectations regarding beauty and gender dynamics. Despite facing harassment from men in a cab, she and her maid brush it off, indicating that such attention may be commonplace for Cleo. Her lover dismisses her concerns about her health, emphasizing her perceived hypochondria and the importance placed on her physical attractiveness.

An insightful moment arises when Cleo confides in her maid about her lover's lack of understanding. The maid's response implies resignation to societal norms, suggesting that women like Cleo settle for men who only value their physical attributes.

As Cleo navigates her fears and anxieties about her illness, she encounters a man who sees her beyond her appearance. Their connection provides her with comfort and support, leading her to confront her medical results with newfound courage.

The film concludes with Cleo finding relief in the news that her illness is not severe. Her journey highlights themes of self-acceptance, societal pressures on beauty, and the importance of genuine human connection in facing life's challenges.

Overall, the film offers a poignant exploration of identity, beauty, and resilience through the lens of its protagonist, Cleo. It critiques societal norms while celebrating the transformative power of human connection and self-acceptance.