The relationship between Jules and Cynthia Hawkins in Jean-Jacques Beneix's Diva is uniquely complex and vaguely oedipal. For Jules, the diva represents musical perfection, and he is completely in love with her. However, her relationship to him is somewhat maternal. Jules's obsession with Cynthia Hawkins is rather unhealthy, and he violates her purity. However, her maternal attitude towards him allows for reconciliation despite his mistakes.

From the very beginning of the movie, the voice of Cynthia Hawkins pervades everything. In fact, the opening title sequence tricks the viewer into thinking her voice is non-diegetic sound, mere background music for the on-screen occurrences. However, when Jules turns off his tape deck, the audience is jolted and quickly realizes that it is, in fact, diegetic sound. Beneix uses this trick more than once, yet each time the melodious sounds of Cynthia Hawkins's voice lulls the audience into the trap. Jules...