A Tale of Springtime

Unable to go home, Jeanne attends a housewarming party in Paris. She feels uneasy and out of place, highlighting her loneliness and the awkwardness of her situation. The evening introduces the social contrast between her current life and potential new connections.

At the party, Jeanne meets Natacha, a younger student with an interest in music. They quickly form a connection and discover shared sensibilities. Natacha invites Jeanne to stay with her, signaling the start of a new arrangement.

Natacha offers Jeanne her father's room, and Jeanne uses the space as her temporary home. The living arrangement begins to blur boundaries and set up later tensions. Jeanne settles in, preparing for the unexpected dynamics ahead.

Igor, the father, drops in to pick up some clothes and is surprised by Jeanne having just returned from a shower. The awkward moment foreshadows the uneasy entanglement between Jeanne and the family. The incident heightens Jeanne's awareness of the delicate balance in their home.

Later that day, Natacha brings up a trip to her family's country house in Fontainebleau. The plan adds a new layer to the unfolding dynamics, with Jeanne observing how the adults manipulate the situation. Jeanne remains a quiet observer as arrangements take shape.

Natacha quietly engineers a scenario that would bring Igor, Ève, and Jeanne together at the Fontainebleau cottage. The move reveals her insecurity and desire to test family bonds. The proposed gathering promises an awkward, revealing encounter.

During dinner, Jeanne discovers Ève holds a similar academic background in philosophy. Natacha feels excluded and grows angry as Ève engages the conversation. The evening ends with Ève leaving the cottage, signaling a rupture in the family dynamic.

Jeanne offers to leave, but the strain between Ève and the others remains. Ève departs, possibly for good, leaving Igor and Jeanne to confront the awkwardness of their proximity. Jeanne contemplates how deeply she has become entangled in the family skirmishes.

The following day, Natacha's boyfriend William visits, and he and Jeanne are left to carry the day with Igor. They share a distant, polite engagement, recognizing the delicate setup that has been foisted upon them. The atmosphere remains tense but civil.

Jeanne and Igor share a quick kiss, acknowledging that the family entanglement has gone too far. They decide not to pursue any relationship, reinforcing the sense that Jeanne would end up in a similar predicament as Ève. Jeanne leaves the cottage to return to Paris.

Natacha returns to the apartment and finds Jeanne has not stayed, clearly disappointed that the setup did not unfold as planned. She senses the strain of the family dynamics on Jeanne's life. The scene underscores the limits of orchestrated ties.

Jeanne returns to her flat and finds fresh flowers left as a gift from Gaëlle. The gesture serves as a fragile reminder of family and cousinly ties amid the upheaval. She contemplates the path ahead while holding onto the small symbol of connection.

She goes to her boyfriend's apartment, hoping to resume their relationship, but discovers the vase of flowers has wilted and died. The scene highlights how fragile her romantic life has become in the wake of Fontainebleau. She stands amid the fading symbol and reconsiders her options.

Back at her boyfriend's place, Jeanne places the wilted flowers on the table, a quiet act that marks the end of the chaotic visit. The gesture suggests a subdued acceptance and a future that remains uncertain and solitary in Paris.