The Soft Skin (1969) 2011

As Pierre Lachenay (played by …) steps off the plane at Paris-Orly Airport, he’s mobbed by photographers eager for a shot with Nicole, the captivating flight attendant who had caught his eye during their journey from Lisbon. The paparazzi’s persistence prompts Pierre to pose with Nicole, capturing the moment in a flash of light.

Following a sold-out lecture on Balzac and money at a packed auditorium, Pierre returns to his hotel, where Nicole is also staying. As they share an elevator ride together, he can’t help but notice her room number on her keycard, sparking an idea that would alter the course of his evening. Pierre calls Nicole from his room, inviting her for a nightcap, which she declines due to the late hour. However, minutes after hanging up, she calls back, and they agree to meet for drinks the following evening, much to the dismay of Pierre’s schedule, which had him set to depart at noon.

Their date unfolds like a dream, with Pierre and Nicole engaging in lively conversation until the sun rises over the cityscape. As the night wears on, their mutual attraction grows, culminating in a passionate encounter in Nicole’s hotel room. She leaves him her phone number on the flight back to Paris, and Pierre attempts to reach out while hosting a gathering at his home with Franca, his wife of fifteen years. However, Nicole is unavailable, leaving Pierre to plot his next move.

Pierre eventually finds himself making excuses to escape his duties and meet Nicole at the airport between her flights. When she has some free time, they plan a night together, opting for a hotel stay rather than returning to her apartment, where her parents’ landlady might raise an eyebrow. At the nightclub, Pierre is mesmerized by Nicole’s dance moves, and their plans for the evening take on a life of their own.

As their clandestine affair gains momentum, Pierre begins to feel suffocated by the secrecy surrounding his trysts with Nicole. He invites her to join him on an overnight trip to Reims, which she agrees to, but not before suggesting they spend the night in her apartment, where the atmosphere is more relaxed and free from prying eyes.

As Pierre (actor name) and Nicole embark on a winding journey from Paris to Reims, their arrival at an unassuming hotel serves as a mere prelude to the intricate dance of desire, deception, and heartache that unfolds. His initial reluctance to introduce Clément’s screening of Marc Allégret’s 1951 documentary Avec André Gide is merely a ruse to spend quality time with Nicole, but his subsequent obligations conspire against them. As he disappears into the night, leaving Nicole to her own devices, she finds herself beset on all sides by unwanted advances from a persistent stranger.

The evening’s machinations culminate in Pierre’s hasty departure, leaving Clément and the sold-out screening behind. Though he eventually reunites with Nicole at a romantic inn, their tryst is short-lived, as his deceitful nature soon catches up with him. A phone call to Franca (actor name) reveals that she has been aware of his lies all along, setting in motion a chain reaction of recriminations and heart-wrenching confrontations.

Franca’s subsequent declaration of divorce proceedings sends Pierre reeling, but their tumultuous relationship is far from over. As they navigate the treacherous landscape of their own desires, Franca vacillates between anger, despair, and ultimately, passion. In a moment of unguarded intimacy, they surrender to their base instincts, only for Pierre to reaffirm his commitment to leaving her behind.

In the aftermath of this emotional maelstrom, Franca’s friend Odile intervenes, recognizing the perilous signs of impending self-destruction. With a sense of urgency, she takes drastic measures to remove any remaining temptations from Franca’s grasp, setting the stage for a future fraught with uncertainty and possibility.

In the midst of a bustling restaurant, Pierre’s embarrassment boils over as Nicole’s boisterous chatter draws attention to their table. The tension culminates with Nicole’s blunt request that he escort her home, prompting Pierre to apologize for his own shortcomings. As he shares his struggles with Nicole, he reveals the emotional toll of not being able to spend quality time with his daughter every day. This intimate moment marks a turning point in their relationship, but it ultimately proves to be a fleeting reprieve.

Later, when Pierre attempts to showcase the apartment he envisions for them to share, Nicole’s perception of their compatibility has undergone a significant shift. With an air of resignation, she announces that they are fundamentally incompatible and brings their romance to a close. Meanwhile, Franca, a mysterious figure with a hidden agenda, has been quietly observing Pierre’s life from afar. She discovers a receipt in one of his jackets and uses it as a key to unlocking the memories of Pierre’s romantic weekend getaway with Nicole.

As fate would have it, Franca finds herself at the same restaurant where Pierre frequently dines, her eyes fixed intently on him. With calculated precision, she flings the incriminating photographs at Pierre, followed by a brutal display of violence as she brandishes a shotgun. The weapon drops from her hand, and she takes a seat, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on her lips, leaving Pierre to confront the devastating consequences of his actions.