La Pointe Courte

A young woman arrives by train from Paris to join her husband in La Pointe Courte. They have grown distant over four years of marriage, and she initially plans to tell him she wants a divorce. Instead, she agrees to stay a few days to talk and see if they can salvage their relationship.

Together they wander the village and discuss love’s changes over time. He defends stability as a form of care, while she laments the loss of the early spark. The scene establishes the emotional stakes that will shape their decision to stay or split.

The Board of Health bans harvesting shellfish from a small lagoon, citing contamination. The fishermen think politics, not safety, is behind the decision and keep fishing with help from their families. They begin talking about testing the water themselves to challenge the ruling.

One of the seven young children of a local single mother falls ill and dies, casting a pall over the community. The death deepens the sense that the neighborhood’s fortunes are tied to both tradition and fragile safety nets. Grief ripples through the streets and homes.

Raphäel Scotto, a young fisherman, is caught breaking the coastal rules by the patrol and is reported. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the fishermen and authorities. It also foreshadows the personal testing that will intersect with the couple’s stay.

When the police come to take him to Montpellier, they allow Raphäel to collect his belongings and meet them at the train later. On his way, he passes Anna Soldino’s house and sees her smiling with her father Jules, who is furious at the sight. The moment highlights the social pressures and loyalties in the town.

News arrives that the water test is positive for bacterial contamination. Some fear foul play, while others quietly avoid the lagoon to steer clear of authorities. The community’s routines begin to fracture under the weight of the test results.

Walking around the place where his wife was raised helps him listen to her again, and she begins to value their more mature love. They attend the local water jousts, a Sunday summer ritual, where the spectacle feels both novel and familiar. The couple finds a spark of connection in the communal spectacle.

Raphäel, after three days served, secures a temporary release to participate in the events. He performs well and earns the tacit approval of Jules, Anna’s protective father. The small triumph sits beside the larger undercurrent of the lagoon conflict.

That evening a neighborhood party unfolds with dancing and shared laughter. Raphäel and Anna share a dance, while Anna’s family revels, even as they recognize that fun does not solve their problems. The gathering underscores the community’s persistent warmth amid tension.

The wife speaks of the value of their mature love and their need to be together. She and her husband reconcile, choosing to work through their differences rather than sever their bond. The moment marks a turning point from fracture toward a shared future.

Hand in hand, they walk through the dances and board the train back to Paris. Their departure signals a new chapter, built on deeper affection and a willingness to face the future together. The movie closes with them moving forward as a unified couple.