The Catholic Jean-Louis runs into an old friend, the Marxist Vidal, in Clermont-Ferrand around Christmas. Vidal introduces Jean-Louis to the modestly libertine, recently divorced Maud and the three engage in conversation on religion, atheism, love, morality and Blaise Pascal's life and writings on philosophy, faith and mathematics. Jean-Louis ends up spending a night at Maud's. Jean-Louis' Catholic views on marriage, fidelity and obligation make his situation a dilemma, as he has already, at the very beginning of the film, proclaimed his love for a young woman whom, however, he has never yet spoken to.
Jean-Louis Trintignant
Jean-Louis
Françoise Fabian
Maud
Marie-Christine Barrault
Françoise
Antoine Vitez
Vidal
Leonid Kogan
Concert Violinist
Guy Léger
Priest
Anne Dubot
Blonde Friend
Marie Becker
Marie (uncredited)
