保罗(夏维尔·毕沃斯 Xavier Beauvois 饰)是一名年轻的艺术家,长久以来,他一直和一位名叫海伦(凯瑟琳·德纳芙 Catherine Deneuve 饰)的中年女人保持着肉体关系。海伦深深的爱着保罗,但保罗的态度显然就有些飘忽不定了,忽冷忽热的他让海伦逐渐怀疑,保罗真正想要的只是她的肉体。 海伦日渐强烈的占有欲令保罗渐渐的感到痛苦和厌烦,与此同时,保罗结识了名为塞尔吉(丹尼尔·杜瓦尔 Daniel Duval 饰)的艺术家,塞尔吉杰出的才华深深的吸引着保罗,后者梦想着能够和他一起工作。实际上,塞尔吉目前正处于困境之中,他的妻子自杀了,而他自己的精神也濒临着崩溃的边缘。Hélène is unhappy with her marriage but finds some comfort and relief with Paul, a young art student. They reflect on their differences of age, backgrounds and also what truly connects them. The third character in the story is Serge, a famous artist admired by Paul, with a great historical past but also a very conflicted man who has been through many life obstacles, stories he shares with his new friend on a road trip. There, Paul will find new perspectives to his current situation with Hélène, and learn more about what life and love truly means.