Alice and Martin

At age ten, Martin lives with his hairdresser mother Jeanine and her taxi-driver lover Said in Cahors. He learns he is the illegitimate child of Victor Sauvagnac, a successful businessman. When his mother sends him to live with Victor, the move is unhappy and he clashes with his cold, brash father.

Martin is relocated to Victor's home, entering a rigid, divided household. Victor is married with three older sons, and the atmosphere feels hostile to an outsider. The early years are defined by friction and longing for belonging.

Victor Sauvagnac dies, and Martin flees his family's home. He tries to drown his sorrows by attempting suicide, then drifts across the country until he reaches his half-brother Benjamin's apartment in Paris.

In a matter of weeks after arriving in Paris, Martin is discovered and becomes a sought-after model. He moves in with Benjamin, who is a struggling actor, and Alice, a violinist who shares the flat. The rapid fame contrasts with his unsettled inner life.

Alice is grieving the death of her gifted sister and is wary of the new arrival. She resents Martin at first, staying cold toward him in the shared apartment. Yet his persistent attention gradually unsettles her and draws her into his orbit.

Martin and Alice begin a passionate affair that unsettles the dynamic in the Paris flat. They travel to Granada, Spain for a modeling shoot, where their happiness is short-lived and Martin's behavior grows erratic.

Alice reveals she is pregnant, amplifying Martin's downward spiral. His self-absorption deepens and the couple's joy gives way to tension and unease. The pregnancy becomes a focal point of the mounting crisis.

Martin suffers a severe nervous breakdown and falls into a coma, doctors diagnosing psychosomatic illness. The collapse shatters the fragile bond with Alice and signals a turning point in his life.

To recover, Alice rents a cabin by the sea on Spain's southern coast and Martin spends hours swimming each night. He remains withdrawn, haunted by memories of his father's death and the burden of guilt. The sea both comforts and torments him.

A flashback chronicles the tense prelude to Victor Sauvagnac’s death: Martin is withdrawn, François commits suicide at the factory, and a heated confrontation with Frédéric amplifies the family rift.

During the volatile period, an argument escalates and Martin pushes Victor down the stairs, killing him. Unable to cope with the act, he runs away and hides from the family and authorities.

Lucie, Victor's widow, decides to report Martin’s culpability to the authorities. Martin eventually confesses and surrenders, leading to his imprisonment. The weight of guilt drives the remaining years of his life.

Alice travels to Cahors to confront the Sauvagnac family and support Martin. She befriends Martin’s mother, while Lucie remains hostile and Frédéric openly antagonistic. Benjamin travels from Paris, and the family begins to adjust to her presence.

Benjamin reconciles with Alice and backs her decision regarding her unborn child. The tense relationships slowly ease as they confront the truth about Martin.

Alice decides to have the baby and appears playing the violin at a wedding, symbolizing fragile happiness. From prison, Martin writes a final letter to Alice, suggesting he has found peace within himself.