A Monkey in Winter

In the quiet coastal town of Normandy, a modest inn stands as a refuge from the lingering echoes of World II. Its keeper, Albert Quentin, once a marine who saw combat in distant China, has pledged to abandon his drink after a harrowing night of bombing that threatened his home and his marriage. The promise has become the backbone of his daily routine, a disciplined calm that steadies the rhythm of the small hotel and the life he shares with his dutiful, if unadventurous, wife, Suzanne Quentin.

The fragile equilibrium is disturbed when a charismatic, fast‑talking advertising executive checks in one cold winter night. The newcomer, a heavy drinker with a magnetic confidence, immediately challenges Albert’s self‑imposed restraint. Their encounter is marked by a mixture of curiosity and tension, as the veteran innkeeper senses both the allure and the danger of slipping back into old habits. The guest’s presence pulls at the threads of Albert’s carefully woven sobriety, setting the stage for an uneasy yet compelling companionship.

Both men carry their own shadows: Albert, haunted by memories of distant battlefields and the monotony that followed, and the visitor, whose restless ambition masks deeper insecurities. Their interactions, framed by the stark winter landscape and the simple hospitality of the inn, reveal a subtle dance of respect, rivalry, and the longing for something beyond the ordinary. Suzanne watches the unfolding dynamic, offering quiet support while navigating her own sense of stagnation.

The film unfolds with a lyrical, introspective tone, blending the muted colors of a post‑war seaside town with moments of sharp, almost lyrical humor. It invites the audience to linger on the quiet desperation that can reside beneath polite conversation, and to wonder whether the meeting of two unlikely companions might spark a change that both fear and desire.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:50