The Past

Ahmad arrives back in France after four years, intending to finalize his divorce with Marie. On the way to her home, he discovers that Marie has begun a relationship with Samir, the dry cleaning shop owner, and that Ahmad may have to share a room with Samir's son Fouad. The news unsettles him as the divorce drama begins to unfold.

Just before their meeting with officials to finalize the divorce, Marie tells Ahmad that she is pregnant with Samir's child. The revelation changes the stakes of the proceedings and adds a new layer of complication to their relationship. They proceed toward the court amid mounting tension.

While the adults confront their tangled pasts, Ahmad continues to counsel Lucie about her troubled behavior. He tries to help her understand the consequences of family and relationship turmoil. Lucie remains resistant and disapproving of Marie's new relationship.

During their conversations, Lucie confesses that Samir is still married and that his wife is in a coma after a suicide attempt sparked by the affair's revelation. The truth intensifies the emotional stakes around all the adults' choices. Ahmad and Lucie grapple with how much truth Marie should be told.

Samir tells Ahmad that his wife suffered from depression and that the suicide attempt was not solely caused by the affair. He attributes the event to a complex set of pressures, including an incident at his shop. The conversation deepens the mystery around Naïma's later involvement.

Naïma is arranged to meet with Lucie to discuss what she witnessed, including the suicide attempt and the shop incident. The meeting is framed as a way to clarify what really happened before telling Marie. Lucie agrees to hear Naïma's version, though anxiety remains.

After listening to Naïma's account, Lucie becomes distressed and admits that she forwarded Marie and Samir’s email correspondence to Samir's wife the day before she sought her. She also mentions calling a woman with an accent she believed was the wife, adding to the confusion. This confession strikes at the heart of the marriage's unraveling.

Lucie disappears after the confrontation, prompting Ahmad and Samir to search for her. Ahmad eventually finds Lucie staying with a friend and tries to persuade her to tell Marie what she did. The tension tightens as the truth threatens to erupt in the family.

Lucie tells Marie about the forwarded emails, and Marie becomes enraged, demanding that Lucie leave. Ahmad calms the situation and Marie goes after Lucie, hoping to bring her back. Lucie returns, signaling a fragile moment of attempted reconciliation.

Marie questions whether Ahmad still has feelings for his wife, and she tells Samir what Lucie did. Samir finds this hard to accept and questions Naïma about the events that led to his wife's suicide attempt. The conversation reveals the tangled loyalties and shifting power among the trio.

Naïma maintains that Samir's wife was not in the shop the day of the alleged call, and Lucie says she spoke to a woman with an accent. Samir realizes the woman was Naïma and confronts her about the emails. The confrontation reveals Naïma's involvement and the motives behind her actions.

Naïma's confession explains the family dynamics, including the wife's jealousy and Naïma's risk of deportation. The story moves toward an uncertain future as Samir and Marie discuss focusing on their own lives. Ahmad prepares to return to Iran, bidding farewell to the children and attempting one last talk with Marie, which she resists.

In a quiet, intimate moment, Samir visits his wife in the hospital with a selection of perfumes. He sprays cologne on his neck and leans toward her bed, whispering for any sign she can hear. A tear slides down her cheek, but it remains unclear whether she is responsive.