A Summer Tale

Gaspard, a mathematics graduate and musician, arrives alone in Dinard for his summer holiday. He spends his days holed up in his friend's empty flat, composing music and wandering the town to clear his mind. The seaside setting and solitude set the tone for his search for direction in life.

At a Dinard restaurant, he meets Margot, a cheerful waitress with a PhD in ethnology. They quickly become friends, meeting daily to walk around the area. Margot also conducts interviews with local Bretons in her spare time, which intrigues Gaspard and broadens his view of life.

Gaspard clumsily tries to kiss Margot, but she brushes off the advance with lightheartedness. The moment hints at his confusion about his feelings and her boundaries. Their evolving bond remains affectionate but undefined.

Margot takes Gaspard on a research trip to a local fisherman's house, where maritime folk songs are discussed. The stories inspire him to write his own sea shanty, a shift away from his blues background. The encounter deepens his connection to Margot and to Breton culture.

Gaspard joins Margot's friends for a night at a Dinard bar and feels out of place among the dancers. The awkward night makes him aware of his social insecurities. It foreshadows his ongoing struggle with performance and attention from women.

Solène, a confident former choir singer, meets Gaspard and invites him to sail on her uncle's boat. He shares the sea shanty he wrote, and Solène's interest in his music boosts his fragile self-esteem. They plan a trip to Ouessant together the next week.

Léna unexpectedly finds Gaspard at the beach and appears genuinely excited to see him. He begins to consider canceling the Ouessant trip with Solène to present himself to Léna again. The possibility of losing Margot's honest companionship lingers in his mind.

Gaspard's indecision grows as he tries to balance Léna and Solène. Margot questions his tendency to chase whichever woman is available, and the trip to Ouessant becomes a source of conflict rather than a choice. He ends up committing to neither fully as his plans collide.

In a mood, Léna proclaims she is not in love with him and departs in anger. The situation leaves Gaspard unsure which option is truly right. Margot's growing presence intensifies the emotional stakes of his choices.

During a walk, Gaspard kisses Margot again and this time she reciprocates. He decides to travel with Margot to Ouessant, recognizing their relationship as more honest and caring. The bond with Margot shifts from friendship toward something more meaningful.

Léna calls to re-invite herself to Ouessant, and Solène also calls to commit to the trip, plunging Gaspard into a triple dilemma. A friend then phones about a recording equipment deal in La Rochelle, offering a tempting escape from his growing problems. He chooses to leave town to pursue the opportunity.

Gaspard asks Margot to meet him at the ferry to Saint-Malo and explains his complicated predicament. Margot reveals her own imminent return of her boyfriend, and they agree to go their separate ways toward Ouessant. They kiss goodbye as the boat sails away, with the sea shanty Santiano playing as a final note.