The Story of Marie and Julien

The Story of Marie and Julien

Year: 2003

Runtime: 150 mins

Language: French

Director: Jacques Rivette

DramaRomanceMysteryFantasyHumanity and the world around us

Julien, a clockmaker plagued by self‑destructive urges, blackmails Madame X—a wealthy, seductive antiques thief. Unaware of her far darker secret, his scheme draws him back to Marie, the woman he loved a year before, thrusting him into a perilous web of love and betrayal.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Story of Marie and Julien yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Story of Marie and Julien (2003)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Story of Marie and Julien (2003). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Outskirts of Paris, Julien's attic, Letting agent's room

Set on the outskirts of Paris, the story unfolds in a spacious, quiet house where time seems to linger. Julien's attic becomes a sanctuary and a vault for Marie's mysteries, a space that tests trust and desire. The letting agent's room connects past lives to the present, weaving a web of secrets through the couple's encounters.

🌆 Urban outskirts 🏠 Old Parisian house 🕵️ Mystery 🕯️ Suspenseful atmosphere

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:15

Main Characters – The Story of Marie and Julien (2003)

Meet the key characters of The Story of Marie and Julien (2003), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Julien Müller — Jerzy Radziwiłowicz

A middle-aged clockmaker living alone with his cat in a spacious house on the outskirts of Paris. He keeps a quiet, meticulous life while secretly blackmailing Madame X. Beneath his calm exterior lies a mounting obsession with Marie and a willingness to destabilize his world to uncover her secret.

🕰️ Clockmaker 🗝️ Obsession 🔒 Secretive

Marie — Emmanuelle Béart

A radiant young woman whose presence unsettles Julien. She moves with a cool, sometimes trance-like detachment and rekindles a dangerous intimacy when they reunite. Her past and identity remain partially concealed as she decorates the attic and participates in the hidden life surrounding Madame X.

💃 Enigmatic 💔 Mystery 🌙 Dreamlike

Madame X — Anne Brochet

A mysterious figure who uses blackmail and rumor to navigate a web of crimes surrounding Adrienne's sister. She knows Marie as 'l'autre personne' and keeps Adrienne's memory alive to manipulate events. Her presence anchors the conspiracy at the heart of the film's suspense.

🕵️‍♀️ Mysterious 💼 Blackmailer 🎭 Enigmatic Past

Adrienne — Bettina Kee

The sister whose memory lingers after death, haunting Marie and Madame X. Through a letter and spectral hints, Adrienne's presence looms over the couple's choices, complicating trust and truth. Her fate intersects with Marie's secrets, making Adrienne a living symbol of a past that won’t rest.

👻 Spectral 🗝️ Memory 🕰️ Past

l'amie — Nicole Garcia

A friend who appears in Julien's social circle, offering a counterpoint to the romance and mystery. Her presence helps illuminate the quiet anxieties and loyalties surrounding Julien and Marie, without fully revealing the secrets at stake.

👭 Friend 🌐 Social Circle

Le concierge — Mathias Jung

The steady concierge who anchors the domestic world of Julien's home, observing the secrecy with quiet awareness. Their understated presence underscores the film's theme that ordinary routines can hide extraordinary tension.

👤 Concierge 🏢 Domestic Life

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:15

Major Themes – The Story of Marie and Julien (2003)

Explore the central themes of The Story of Marie and Julien (2003), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love

Love is intense and destabilizing as Julien's carefully kept life collides with Marie's elusive presence. The relationship deepens into a fierce, undeniable attachment that unsettles both lovers. Yet the bond is entangled with secrecy, power plays, and a desire to possess the other. The film uses their romance to explore how memory, longing, and fear can blur the line between devotion and obsession.

👻 Memory & Ghosts

Adrienne's memory haunts Marie and lingers in the attic's shadows. Marie's visions of a girl performing a 'forbidden sign' bring a spectral atmosphere to the romance. Adrienne's ghost appears through letters and rumors, blurring the boundary between living memory and revenant presence. The film uses these apparitions to question what truly constitutes the past when memory can be weaponized.

🗝️ Secrets

The attic becomes a vault for hidden rituals and unexplained behavior, a physical manifestation of Marie's inner secrets. The letter from Adrienne, purportedly from Marie's past, acts as a catalyst that reframes every scene. Madame X's dealings and the supposed suicide of Adrienne weave a conspiracy that keeps the truth just out of reach. The suspense centers on what is concealed, and what revelation would destroy the fragile balance of trust.

🔎 Obsession

Julien's fixation on uncovering Marie's secret pulls him away from his own life toward a perilous edge. His blackmail scheme with Madame X reveals his willingness to manipulate others for control. The intensity of his desire threatens to erase the line between love and possession. As the truth slips further away, his grip on reality loosens and he must confront what he truly wants.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:15

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of The Story of Marie and Julien

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Story of Marie and Julien in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Story of Marie and Julien is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Story of Marie and Julien Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Story of Marie and Julien, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Story of Marie and Julien Summary

The Story of Marie and Julien Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Story of Marie and Julien with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Story of Marie and Julien Timeline

The Story of Marie and Julien Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Story of Marie and Julien that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Story of Marie and Julien Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Story of Marie and Julien

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Story of Marie and Julien: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Story of Marie and Julien

Explore More About Movie The Story of Marie and Julien

The Story of Marie and Julien (2003) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Story of Marie and Julien (2003) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Story of Marie and Julien (2003) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow