Marc (Benoît Poelvoorde), a tax inspector travelling in provincial France, misses his train back to Paris. He asks Sylvie (Charlotte Gainsbourg) whom he meets in a café, to recommend a hotel. Striking up a conversation, they take a night-long stroll. They arrange to meet in Paris a few days later and while Sylvie keeps the date, Marc becomes ill and cannot make it…

It is in part the predictability of the storyline that makes this film so enjoyable. Familiar tropes of melodrama (lyrical music, fade-outs and voice-over to comment on the characters’ sentimental ups and downs) allow us to revel in the superb performances of the cast. (MPR)

Official Competition,Venice International Film Festival 2014

Director’s Note: This enthralling melodrama from Benoit Jacquot (Farewell, My Queen) brings together the wonderful cast of Benoît Poelvoorde, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Chiara Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve.

Showing as part of the Carte Noire IFI French Film Festival 2014 (November 19th – 30th).