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
as Jean-Louis
Françoise Fabian
as Maud
Marie-Christine Barrault
as Françoise
Antoine Vitez
as Vidal
Léonide Kogan
as Concert Violinist
Guy Léger
as Priest
Anne Dubot
as Blonde Friend
Marie Becker
as Marie (uncredited)
Marie-Claude Rauzier
as Student (uncredited)
