In 19th century Paris, a man about to marry recounts his life with a mistress. This is a good-looking costume drama, a lavish production. Unfortunately, it is a boring blab fest. While it's a love story between a man and woman, there is some gender bending going on here. With her hard, angular face, Agento looks like a man in drag, although there is ample evidence that she's 100% woman when undressed. With his soft, feminine face, Ait Aattou looks like a woman cross-dressed as a man. Both leads turn in inept performances. There is a scene involving their love child that is supposed to be tragic, but is laughably lame. Breillat has made some bad but provocative films. This one is simply bad.