Paul Allio

Following over two dozen different people in the almost wordless atmosphere of a dark night in a Brussels town, Akerman examines acceptance and rejection in the realm of romance.

A young man is checked into a mental hospital for unexplained reasons.

Max, who dreams of adventures, abandons his studies at 18 to become involved in the navy. He becomes the sailor 512.

In the streets of Marseille, René Allio encounters, once again, the spaces of his childhood, and remembers his family history.

Michel left Marseilles to Italy when he was twenty years old. Courageous and active, he has succeeded in the construction industry. Thirty years later, his return to Marseilles, for his aunt's burial will abruptly change the life of all of his family, who was first fascinated by his social success. He is regarded as the son who made it like wonder. Michel is the only one who has emigrated. They have all remained in the home country ("le pays") and their social status has hardly changed: workmen, small employees, craftsmen, all living in a modest framework.

The inner courtyard of a building in Belleville. Workshops and apartments where a painter, a saxophonist, a dancer from Cameroon and an actress live. A strange love affair is going to take place between these four characters.