Autumn Tale 1999

Magali, a 45-year-old winemaker and widow portrayed by Béatrice Romand, strives to fill the void of loneliness through her cherished vineyards. Her devoted friends, Rosine (Alexia Portal) and Isabelle, hatch individual schemes to rekindle her romantic life, leveraging their unique social skills to attract potential suitors. Isabelle discovers a suitable middle-aged widower, Gerald, through a dating service and takes the initiative to establish contact. However, Magali is adamant about not using personal ads to meet men, as her work often overshadows her personal life, leading Isabelle to go on several dates with Gerald to keep the connection alive.

Simultaneously, Rosine is determined to employ her youthful allure to captivate her older university professor, Etienne, who harbors hopes of a romance with a younger student. As both relationships evolve, each woman reveals the true intent behind their schemes—to bring Magali into the dating scene by showcasing a photo of her. The men, initially surprised by the deception, find their curiosity piqued enough to want to meet Magali.

The culmination of their plans unfolds at Isabelle’s daughter’s wedding, where Rosine’s professor becomes infatuated with another young woman from the school. Amid the festivities, Magali and Gerald find themselves at the wine table, forging an instant connection as they bond over their shared experiences in Northern Africa and the wine business. However, tensions arise when Gerald accidentally encounters Isabelle, leading to an intimate hug that Magali witnesses, prompting her to retreat into a shell of disappointment.

Faced with the choice to leave the wedding, Magali is hindered by her son taking the car, leaving her reliant on a ride home from Isabelle and Gerald, who remain unaware of her earlier sighting. During their tense car ride, Magali and Gerald clash amidst confusion, resulting in her being dropped off at a desolate train station near Orange after a prolonged wait for the train.

Frustrated and defeated, Magali decides to take a taxi back to the wedding, hoping her son has returned the car. In a twist of fate, Gerald also makes his way back to the wedding just before it concludes, looking to discuss the earlier misunderstanding with Isabelle. As they converge, the intricate web of deception unravels, with Isabelle clarifying that her affection lies with her husband, not Gerald. This revelation brings laughter between Magali and Gerald, igniting a newfound commitment to try dating again, free from the tangled ploys, at her upcoming Fall harvest party later in the month.