The Lover

The film opens with a voice-over by Jeanne Moreau as the elderly Duras recalls her youthful experiences. This establishes a reflective tone, suggesting that the story will be deeply personal and autobiographical.

A flashback transports us to the year 1929, where a fifteen-and-a-half-year-old girl is traveling back to Saigon. At the Mekong ferry crossing, she meets a wealthy Chinese man, marking the beginning of a transformative chapter in her life.

Before heading to Saigon, we are introduced to the girl's family in Sa Dec. The toxic atmosphere in her home and the dynamics with her older brother, younger brother, and distant mother set a bleak backdrop for her life.

The Chinaman offers the girl a lift to Saigon in his luxurious black limousine, a pivotal moment that signifies the start of their forbidden love affair. This ride symbolizes her departure from her mundane life and the beginning of something illicit.

Over the following days, the Chinaman picks her up from school in his limousine, establishing a routine that deepens their connection. This clandestine relationship defies societal norms, reflecting the disparities between their backgrounds.

The romantic tension culminates in their first sexual encounter at the Chinaman's garconnière in Cholon. This significant moment marks both an awakening and a turning point in their relationship, laden with societal implications.

As their affair unfolds over eighteen months, the couple meets numerous times in secret. Each encounter is charged with emotion, yet they constantly grapple with the reality that their love is doomed from the outset.

Desperate to show her family her 'prize,' the girl arranges a dinner to introduce the Chinaman. However, the evening turns disastrous as her family behaves appallingly, and her brother confronts him, revealing the deep-seated prejudices they all harbor.

Following the dinner, a dance between the girl and her younger brother provokes jealousy in the Chinaman. This jealousy escalates into a violent confrontation in the garconnière, showcasing the strain that their relationship endures.

Despite the Chinaman's generosity, the girl's family pretends to ignore the nature of their relationship while harboring disgust. This societal rejection intensifies the conflict between the lovers, as the girl's mother openly confronts her.

Eventually, the Chinaman marries a wealthy Chinese girl chosen by his father in an elaborate ceremony. This event is starkly contrasted with the girl’s feelings of sadness and betrayal, marking the end of their secret affair.

After the wedding, the girl leaves for France, setting sail with a heavy heart. As she looks back one last time, she sees the Chinaman’s car, emblematic of their lost love and the painful memories of what could have been.

Many years later, the Chinaman comes to Paris with his wife and reaches out to the girl by phone. He professes his undying love for her, reinforcing the tragic reality that their love, once vivid, remains unfulfilled.

The film concludes by emphasizing the stark contrast between real life and the idealized love stories often depicted in Hollywood. Their love story, filled with societal obstacles, ends instead with longing and unresolved feelings.