The Nazi occupation of Paris in 1942 didn’t seem to hurt the city’s theaters and cinemas; in fact, they were quite popular. One such venue was located in Montmartre and operated by the Steiners. Because he was Jewish, Steiner was advised to leave, handing over the theater to his actress wife, "Marion" (Catherine Deneuve). Fittingly, their next production was a play called "the Disappearance," which brought in "Granger" (Gerard Depardieu) to perform alongside "Marion," directed by "Jean-Loup" (Jean Poiret). “Granger” had a reputation as a womanizer, but the costumer, "Arlette" (Andréa Ferrêol), showed no interest. The group’s main goal was simply to make it through the remainder of the war intact, and with constant risks and shortages, they faced significant challenges. As events unfold, it becomes clear that both “Marion” and her co-star were hiding things, and their crucial performance would also be attended by "Daxiat" (Jean-Louis Richard), an anti-semitic critic who could easily ruin everything and destroy them all. There’s a genuine spark between the actors, and François Truffaut incorporates dark humor into a setting filled with fear, providing a glimpse into the lives of these artists as they vie for attention, scheme against each other, and stand in stark contrast to one another. The film explores themes of bravery, resilience, and determination—qualities that can be found in unexpected people—and Deneuve delivers a compelling performance demonstrating how subtlety can be incredibly impactful. It unfolds at a measured pace, so relax with a good glass of wine and appreciate the talent on display.

Source on TMDB