| Director | Christophe Honoré, Jewel Maranan |
|---|---|
| Genre | comedy film, drama film, musical film, romance film |
| Runtime | 139 min |
| Country | Czech Republic, France, United Kingdom |
| Budget | €6.8 million |
| Box office | $1.7 million |
The film takes place in several periods which at times interweave.
In 1964, Madeleine is an assistant in a Parisian shoe-shop. As a result of a misunderstanding and to increase her income she becomes an occasional prostitute. She meets Jaromil, a young Czech doctor and falls in love. In 1968, they are living in Prague when Madeleine discovers that Jaromil is unfaithful; she returns to France with their daughter.
In 1978, Madeleine has married François, but Jaromil, passing through Paris convinces her to see him.
In 1997, Véra goes to London with her lover/friend Clément who is promoting his book. In a night-club she notices Henderson, an American. When they are alone he tells her that he is gay but both are attracted to each other. Meanwhile, Madeleine has been living in Reims with François, seeing Jaromil when he is in Paris. One afternoon Jaromil is hit in an accident and dies in hospital, upending the lives of Véra and Madeleine.
In 1998, Véra returns to London in search of Henderson. Véra is still very attracted to him but he reveals that he is HIV poisitive. Their relationship becomes impossible.
In 2001, Véra decides to see Henderson in New York. The attacks of 9-11 divert her to Montréal. She tells him that she wants to have a child with him, and with medical help they can avoid HIV contamination of mother and child. After leaving him and his boyfriend in her room she takes his medicines and commits suicide.
In 2007, Clément is persuaded by François to come to Reims for Madeleine's birthday. She is in a cycle of depression after the death of her first lover and her daughter. Together she and Clément go back to Paris and revisit her haunts from the 1960s.