Twelve episodic tales in the life of a Parisian woman and her slow descent into prostitution.

Paul, a rich English boy, and Michelle, an orphaned French girl, run away from home to a remote beach. Living on their own, their friendship grows into love.

Whilst being transferred to a psychiatric hospital, a ruthless serial killer Gassot makes a break and goes on the run. He arrives in Marseilles, intending to escape abroad. Here, he falls for a young prostitute, Gerda.

An idealistic first-time director lives for his art — until he meets a wife of an Italian producer at the Cannes Film Festival. A passionate affair begins, but the couple's romance is tested as they face the temptations of fame and fortune.

Ticky Edriss, a dwarf, develops a scheme to avenge him on society and extort a bank.

A subtle, down-to-earth and autobiographical depiction of an American screenwriter in Paris who befriends his chauffeur and has an affair with a British aristocrat.

Political ambitions sometimes lead to the downfall of those who formulate them. For Ptolemy, assassinating Pompey was an opportunity to get into Caesar's good graces. Once the crime is committed, Ptolemy impatiently awaits recognition from Caesar. But a completely different fate awaits Cleopatra's brother.

A construction worker on a construction site in the Paris suburbs, Mehdi takes the bus to return home after work. Wishing to get off while the vehicle is stationary in a traffic jam, the driver refuses: while restarting, the bus hits the car in front of it. The bus driver attacks Mehdi whom he holds responsible for the incident, claiming that it is forbidden to “talk to the stagehand”. Mehdi is implicated in court and his lawyer tries to draw attention to the living conditions of immigrant workers.

Paul, a reporter and photographer, comes to the rescue of Laurent, his old army companion in Algeria, who while being pursued in a stolen car has accidentally killed a police officer on a motorcycle.

Bonifacio is 27 years old and he is roaming about Venice. He is trying to decide whether to accept a job or not. In so doing, he recalls all his past life: his love story with Gabriella, his old friend Claudio, who had always regarded working as a worthwhile thing, the war, the partisans.