The film focuses on the relationship between filmmaker Jo (Lois Weaver) and her girlfriend, lawyer Agatha (Sheila Dabney).

Jo's film-within-a-film involves the life of Catalina de Erauso (c. 1592–1650), a semi-legendary personality from 17th century Spain.

Catalina was given a special dispensation by Pope Urban VII to live, work and dress as a man.

[2] The Catalina story to some extent mirrors the butch-femme aspect of Jo and Agatha's relationship.

[4] Teresa de Lauretis considers the film to be about "lesbian sexuality and its relations to fantasy".