The Patty Hearst story was one of the key events of the 1970s. On February 4th, 1974, 19-year-old Patricia Hearst was kidnapped by a radical left guerilla group. Her abductors held her in total solitary for six weeks, brainwashing her with their ideology, and threatening to kill her if the police become involved. Later on, she was given the choice to be freed or join them, she chose the latter, becoming fully involved in their activities. Only after police annihilated the group was Hearst released. Paul Schrader explores the mental changes experienced by the heroine.