Blier shifted focus to a female protagonist in this Cannes Special Jury Prize winner. Successful car salesman (Depardieu) is happily married to his gorgeous wife (Carole Bouquet, actress and longtime face of Chanel, who won a César for this performance), but finds himself falling in love with his rather plain new secretary (Josiane Balasko).

The couple learns they share the same feelings and begin an affair. But this particular relationship is harder for his wife — who lives with the burden of people resenting her for her beauty — to accept. The trio periodically addresses the camera directly with their speculations about adultery.