Clarisse, who appears to have left her husband Marc, drives an old station wagon around France. Her husband and their two children, Lucie and Paul, still live in their home, where a piano occupies centre stage. Clarisse admits to a waitress that she really misses her kids.
In his fourth feature film, French actor and filmmaker Mathieu Amalric alternates between scenes which focus on Clarisse and flashbacks of a happy family. Sometimes, there are flashbacks within flashbacks, for instance to Marc and Clarisse’s initial meeting. As viewers slowly become aware of the timing, things gradually become clear. This creates a moving film buoyed by the impressive performance of Vicky Krieps (known for Phantom Thread, 2017) as Clarisse, troubled by ghosts from her past. The soundtrack consists of a variety of beautiful (piano) music, ranging from Beethoven to Schönberg.