All Is Forgiven (2007)

Victor, a French national living in Austria, finds himself struggling with feelings of inadequacy. His sporadic work as a teacher and writer leads him to cope through drug use and alcohol, contributing to his downward spiral.

In a desperate bid to help her husband, Annette decides to relocate the family to Paris. She hopes that this change of scenery will lift Victor out of his deepening depression and stabilize their family life.

Despite the move to Paris, Victor's problems worsen rather than improve. His dependency on drugs and alcohol escalates, leading to abusive behavior that strains his relationship with Annette, driving them further apart.

As their marriage disintegrates, Victor embarks on a tumultuous affair with Gisèle, a fellow addict. This relationship distracts Victor from his problems, but it also deepens his struggles with addiction.

The gravity of Victor's actions hits him hard when Gisèle overdoses. This terrifying incident becomes a turning point for Victor, prompting him to consider rehabilitation as a necessary step towards recovery.

During one of Annette's visits to the rehab facility, she reveals the depth of her pain. She tells Victor that she cannot forgive him and expresses her intention to take their daughter Pamela to Caracas, urging him to cut all ties.

Eleven years pass after Annette's departure, during which time Pamela grows up without knowing her father. She receives an unexpected message from her aunt Martine, which sparks her curiosity about her estranged father.

Against her mother's objections, Pamela contacts her father Victor. Through their initial reconnection, she learns that he has remained in Paris, living a life cut off from his family.

Pamela and Victor manage to meet a few times, beginning to rebuild their relationship. Their encounters bring hope, showing potential for healing in their fractured familial bonds.

Just as Pamela's relationship with Victor starts to blossom, tragedy strikes when he passes away unexpectedly. The news comes while she is away on vacation, leaving her in shock and grief.

In a poignant farewell, Victor leaves behind a final letter to Pamela, containing several heartfelt poems. This letter serves as a bittersweet reminder of their complex relationship.

Among the poems in Victor's letter is one written in German, which Pamela later translates. This poem delves into themes of loss and rebirth, further emphasizing their strained but deep familial ties.