Model Shop

Model Shop

Year: 1969

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Jacques Demy

RomanceDramaMoving relationship storiesCaptivating relationships and charming romanceShow All…

Desperate to stop his car from being repossessed, George scrambles for cash and becomes intrigued by Lola, a Frenchwoman employed at a “model shop”—a studio that rents glamorous pin‑up models to photographers. He spends his last twelve dollars on a photo session with her, only to discover that she, like him, is profoundly unhappy.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Model Shop (1969)

Trace every key event in Model Shop (1969) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

George's bleak start in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, 26-year-old architect George Matthews is unemployed and deep in debt. His live-in girlfriend Gloria is tired of him, and his car is about to be repossessed. He begins to scramble for $100 by visiting friends, hoping to stave off the finance company.

early in the story Los Angeles
2

A quest for cash: borrowing from friends

He visits friends hoping to scrounge $100 to postpone the creditors. The desperate gesture underscores his precarious situation and foreshadows the choices he will face later.

before meeting Lola Friends' homes around Los Angeles
3

A mysterious woman and a hillside mansion

While searching for money, George spots a beautiful foreign woman in a white convertible and follows her to a mansion in the hills. The pursuit hints at a romance that could change his path. The setting in the hills also signals a step toward escape from his life in the city.

daytime LA hills; mansion
4

A second sighting leads to a modeling studio

On the street again, he sees the same woman and follows her to a tawdry modeling studio where customers can pose for erotic photographs. He books a session hoping to impress her, but she remains uninterested. The encounter marks the start of a strange, transformative obsession.

same day Model shop/studio, Los Angeles
5

Draft notice brings mortality into focus

Back home, George learns his draft notice has arrived and he must report for Army duty next week. The news pulls him into a confrontation with his own mortality and the fragility of his plans. For the first time, the future feels imminent and uncertain.

imminent future George's home, Los Angeles
6

Gloria lands a new admirer and goes out

Gloria, meanwhile, lands a job with a new admirer who takes her out for the evening. Her changing fortunes highlight the emotional distance growing between her and George. The night shows him a life he no longer participates in.

evening George's apartment
7

George returns to Lola and learns her past

Obsessed with the enigmatic Lola, George returns to the model shop and books another session. Lola reveals she is French, named Cecile but working as Lola, and shares the troubles that haunt her—an abandoned husband, a gambler lover, and a plan to return to France with her son.

later that night Lola's model shop/apartment
8

A tender night of conversation and love

During a tender night of drinking and lovemaking at Lola's apartment, George and Lola discuss failed romances, dashed dreams, philosophy, and mortality. Their dialogue rekindles a will to keep living and to seek a fresh start.

that night Lola's apartment
9

George helps Lola by giving her the money

After their talk, George hands Lola the money he had borrowed to save his car. The gesture shifts from desire to practical support, signaling a possible new beginning for both of them.

late night Lola's apartment
10

Morning: Gloria packs and George's world shifts

The next morning, George returns home to find Gloria packing to leave. The couple's relationship has clearly deteriorated, and loneliness begins to loom over his ambitions. The day opens with a sense that nothing will be as it was.

morning George's apartment
11

A call to Lola, but she is Paris-bound

George phones Lola to speak with her, only to learn from her roommate that Lola flew to Paris that morning with enough cash for a plane ticket. The news makes their distance literal and underscores the fragility of their connection.

morning Lola's apartment (before departure)
12

Tow truck arrives; car is removed

As they talk, a tow truck arrives to remove George's car, marking the practical end of his stalled prospects. The life-affirming talk with Lola collides with the hard reality of his finances and responsibilities.

morning Outside George's apartment
13

Final confession: a love for Lola and a stubborn hope

George tells his roommate, 'I just wanted to tell her that I love her. I wanted to begin again. A person can always try.' The line sums up his awakening: love exists alongside uncertainty, and hope remains a stubborn habit.

morning George's apartment

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:37

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Model Shop Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Model Shop

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