Ariane (Julie Depardieu) writes photo-novels for a magazine, using material from her own romantic adventures as well as those of people around her. She is dating Farid (Tomer Sisley), a self-obsessed businessman, who clearly is not willing to take their relationship to a deeper level, which is her fond desire. Meanwhile, Pablo (Sergio Peris Mencheta), a Spanish mason doing renovations in her building, cannot take his eyes off her. He wants to pursue a romance with her but she is oblivious to his overtures.

Lena (Marion Cotillard), Ariane's half-sister, has her own intimate relationship difficulties. Her boyfriend Francois (Eric Berger) is a nice fellow but their love has gone flat. When Lena meets Mark (Jonathan Zaccai), a virtuoso violinist, he excites her in new ways. For one thing, they have a mutual love of music and he is willing to suggest ways that she can improve her cello-playing. They begin an affair which causes Lena to take a hard look at her life and its drawbacks.

This French film written and directed by Julie Lopes Curval (Seaside) intermittently uses spreads from illustrated magazines to poke fun at the clichés of romantic love. Although both the spacey Ariane and the shy Lena have a self-destructive side to their search for true love, they are endearing enough to maintain our interest as they commit one blunder after another. Curval makes the point that intimate relationships are so difficult today because of all the complications that must be faced by over-extended working women.


Screened at the New Directors/New Films Festival in New York City, March 2006.