The film is structured into three distinct segments: The Departure, The Absence, and The Return.
It begins with Julie Pommeraye wandering through the vibrant streets of Paris. She heads to a cinema and, while waiting in line for tickets, calls her boyfriend Ismaël Bénoliel. Although he claims to be alone at work, he is actually accompanied by Alice. Upon learning this, Julie expresses her annoyance, stating that he “pisses her off”. Later that evening, Ismaël unexpectedly encounters Julie on his way home. A discussion unfolds about the tensions in their relationship, culminating in a heartfelt reconciliation once they are back in their apartment. However, just as things seem to settle, Alice arrives, and the three share a bed, each engrossed in their own book while navigating their positions under the covers.
The following day features a breakfast shared with Julie's family. Frustrations mount, leading Julie to retreat to the kitchen, where her older sister Jeanne follows her. During this private moment, Julie confides in Jeanne—as well as their mother—about her complex feelings regarding Alice and their unconventional relationship. Later that evening, after an outing at a bar, Julie voices her jealousy over Ismaël's closeness with Alice, to which Ismaël retorts with irony: despite her own relationship with Alice, she is the one he truly loves. Alice, on her part, asserts that her role is to unite them both. Things take a turn when they attend a concert, and there, Alice makes the acquaintance of a young man named Gwendal. Feeling unwell, Julie and Ismaël decide to leave, but outside, tragedy strikes when Julie suddenly collapses and dies.
Ismaël's life is thrown into chaos as he navigates his grief. He unexpectedly runs into Jeanne on her way to his apartment and struggles with his emotions. Confrontations with Alice occur as he grapples with persistent breakdowns following Julie’s death. Seeking comfort, Alice offers him a place to stay, which marks the beginning of his restless nights. Eventually, after a sleepless night, Ismaël meets Erwann, Gwendal's younger brother, who, in a compassionate gesture, offers Ismaël his room for some much-needed rest. When Ismaël later discovers Erwann following him, he rejects the boy's advances, causing more turmoil within his already fragile emotional state.
As time progresses, Ismaël finds himself visiting Julie's family and eventually finds solace in the arms of a bartender named Maud after a long night of despair. However, his tangled web of relationships does not go unnoticed, as Jeanne stumbles upon Ismaël and Maud in a compromising situation the following day. Ismaël tries to sneak out but ultimately ends up confronting Jeanne again. He attempts to explain his process of grieving, yet their conversation only leaves them both more confused.
In subsequent days, Erwann insists on pursuing Ismaël, who expresses his disinterest while trying to untangle his feelings for Alice, who mistakenly believes the two boys were meant to meet because of his brother. This miscommunication illustrates the complex web of relationships that have formed in the aftermath of Julie's death. The film subtly pays homage to significant works in cinema, particularly the films of Jacques Demy, making clear references to The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort, among others, allowing viewers to appreciate the homage being paid within the narrative.
As the story unfolds, Ismaël finds himself at Julie’s grave battling guilt over his infidelity and his reluctance to confront his feelings towards Erwann. In a poignant moment, Alice finds him intoxicated in a bar, and the film leads to a bittersweet resolution as Ismaël and Erwann share a night together, each grappling with love and loss. As they share intimate moments, Ismaël expresses a wish for a lasting love without the necessity of grand declarations—a sentiment echoed when he tells Erwann to "love him less but love him for a long time."
In the end, the film explores the intricacies of love, grief, and the legacies that haunt us, culminating in moments both heart-wrenching and tender, against the backdrop of a city that continues to move forward.
