The film opens with a poignant narrated obituary of Arthur Howitzer Jr., the editor of The French Dispatch, who unexpectedly passes away from a heart attack. In accordance with his last wishes, the magazine's publication is immediately halted. We then see Howitzer and his team discussing the upcoming release of four notable magazine stories.
The Cycling Reporter follows Herbsaint Sazerac as he guides viewers on a cycling tour through Ennui-sur-Blasé. He highlights various significant locations like the arcade, Le Sans Blague café, and a notorious pick-pocket’s alley, contrasting the changes in the townscape while exploring how much has remained the same.
In The Concrete Masterpiece, J.K.L. Berensen delivers a lecture at an art gallery that once belonged to her boss, Upshur "Maw" Clampette. She narrates the story of Moses Rosenthaler, a troubled artist imprisoned for murder, who creates an abstract nude portrait of Simone, a prison guard with whom he is romantically involved. Art dealer Julien Cadazio, also serving time for tax evasion, becomes enamored with Rosenthaler's work and purchases it despite his protests. After serving his sentence, Cadazio persuades his family of art exhibitors to display the painting, launching Rosenthaler into the limelight. Yet, Rosenthaler grapples with a creative block, focusing on a long-term project instead. Years later, a group of artists, along with Cadazio, confront Rosenthaler in prison, only to find that his true artwork consists of frescoes on the prison's concrete walls. After a scuffle, Cadazio comes to appreciate the art for its essence and arranges for the entire room to be transported to a private museum in Kansas, managed by Clampette. For his role in quelling a prison riot during the art's unveiling, Rosenthaler is granted probation and continues to exchange letters with Simone after his release.
In Revisions to a Manifesto, Lucinda Krementz covers a student uprising in the streets of Ennui, which escalates into the "Chessboard Revolution." What begins as a petty dispute over dormitory access transforms into a larger movement sparked by the traumatic military conscription of student Mitch-Mitch. Even as she strives for "journalistic neutrality," Krementz engages in a brief romance with Zeffirelli, the self-proclaimed leader of the revolution, aiding him in crafting his manifesto. Following a tragedy that claims Zeffirelli's life, a photo of his likeness evolves into a symbol for the protest. Years later, Krementz adapts their tumultuous history into a play for the National Theatre.
The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner features Roebuck Wright recounting his experience attending a private dinner organized by the police chief of Ennui, starring the renowned chef Lt. Nescaffier. Tension arises when the Commissaire's son, Gigi, is kidnapped by a group of criminals, led by The Chauffeur. As the kidnappers demand the release of "The Abacus," a vital figure with access to their financial records, Wright recalls his own prior imprisonment for his sexual orientation, a moment which ended with Howitzer bailing him out.
During a climactic rescue attempt, Gigi manages to sneak out a Morse code message urging them to "send the cook." Later, Nescaffier cleverly poisons the food sent to the kidnappers, resulting in chaos but not before Gigi escapes and reunites with his father. Afterward, Nescaffier tends to the abandoned "Abacus," saving him from starvation with a simple omelette. As the Dispatch staff grapples with Howitzer's death, they prepare his obituary for the final edition, wrestling with the importance of a conversation about the unique taste of poison they shared, illustrating the complex layers of human interaction and the unique fabric of reporting.
In an emotional epilogue, the team at The French Dispatch reflects on their loss while undertaking the bittersweet task of honoring Howitzer's legacy through their final publication.
