Shall We Kiss? 2009

During a business trip to Nantes, Émilie finds herself hitching a ride with Gabriel, leading to a dinner invitation that takes an intriguing turn. When he drops her off at her hotel and leans in for a goodnight kiss, she cleverly interjects, claiming that a kiss might lead to “undesired results” and offers to elaborate on her reasoning.

Meanwhile, in Paris, Émilie’s friend Judith, who is married to Claudio, confides in her bachelor friend Nicolas about her life. One day, openly expressing his frustration about his romantic life, Nicolas reveals his longing to connect with a woman but wrestles with the concept of only pursuing someone for sexual desires. Judith playfully suggests he try a prostitute, a notion Nicolas finds daunting yet intriguing. However, this endeavor turns into a costly fiasco when the encounter spirals out of control as the girl reacts violently when he tries to kiss her. In a moment of spontaneity, Nicolas asks Judith if he could kiss her purely as a physical gesture, and surprisingly, they find themselves together in bed.

Thus begins an illicit affair that ebbs and flows over time. Even after Nicolas starts a relationship with Câline, he is unable to break his connection with Judith. As guilt looms over both of them concerning their respective partners, they hatch a plan to resolve their conscience by convincing Câline to seduce Claudio. However, their strategy backfires when Claudio inadvertently overhears their scheme and exposes it to Câline. Now, with their partners left in the dark about the true nature of the betrayal, Nicolas and Judith must confront the emotional wreckage they’ve caused to those who have done nothing to deserve such heartbreak.

Finishing her narrative, Émilie decides that she will grant Gabriel a proper goodnight kiss, under the condition that he departs quietly and refrains from ever seeking her out again.