Julien's affair with the elusive Clotilde overwhelms his judgment and career, leaving him unable to escape its emotional aftermath.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Exile at the Outpost
A conversation about the war frames Julien's recollection of his remote African posting. He settles into official duties and observes the small community around him.
Key Events
War Conversation — A conversation about the worsening war in Europe frames Julien's recollection. Characters: Julien RochelleLocation: Unspecified
Remote African Posting — Julien recalls arriving at an isolated and uneventful French outpost. Characters: Julien RochelleLocation: Remote French outpost in Africa
Official Duties — With little to occupy him, Julien settles into his official duties. Characters: Julien RochelleLocation: French outpost in Africa
Observing the Community — Julien observes the people around him, including Miss Henry. Characters: Julien Rochelle, Miss HenryLocation: French outpost in Africa
The Enigmatic Affair
Julien meets Clotilde, whose husband is said to be far away in Siberia, and begins an intense affair with her. He initially imagines their happiness as uncomplicated.
Key Events
Meeting Clotilde — Julien meets Clotilde, whose husband is said to be serving far away in Siberia. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
An Intense Affair — Julien and Clotilde begin an intense affair, which he initially believes brings uncomplicated happiness. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Clotilde's Hidden Past — Clotilde keeps parts of her past and inner life from Julien. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Secrets and Projections
Clotilde withholds parts of her past and shifts between familiar and unsettling personas. Julien becomes absorbed in interpreting her secrets and follows her into fantasies that frighten him.
Key Events
Shifting Persona — Clotilde shifts between a familiar composed manner and a more unsettling persona. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Julien Seeks Answers — Julien grows increasingly consumed by the need to understand Clotilde. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Frightening Fantasies — Their conversations reveal Julien's fascination with her secrets and his willingness to follow her into frightening fantasies. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Clotilde's Warning — Clotilde warns that pressure to play Julien's imagined role could make her become that figure on her own terms. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Rumors and Recall
Clotilde's acquaintances and children deepen Julien's suspicions, while rumors and accusations gather around her. Institutional scrutiny threatens his position and officials order him to return.
Key Events
Ibrahim Appears — Julien encounters Ibrahim, whom Clotilde describes as a friend from the country. Characters: Julien Rochelle, Clotilde, IbrahimLocation: Unspecified
Suspicion Deepens — Ibrahim, Aicha, and children associated with Clotilde deepen Julien's confusion and suspicion. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Rumors and Accusations — Rumors and accusations about Clotilde gather as Julien struggles to distinguish knowledge from fear. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Mission Threatens Complaint — The Evangelistic Mission threatens to file a complaint, jeopardizing Julien's position. Characters: Julien RochelleLocation: Unspecified
Consular Involvement — The British Consulate becomes involved as reports about Julien's behavior reach the Foreign Office. Characters: Julien RochelleLocation: British Consulate
Recall Ordered — Officials tell Julien he is to be sent back and may lose his title and pension. Characters: Julien RochelleLocation: Unspecified
The Unkept Promise
Julien confesses his love after facing the loss of his position, and Clotilde promises to join him. She never arrives, leaving him unable to recover from the affair.
Key Events
Possible China Posting — An old friend may secure Julien a new posting in China. Characters: Julien RochelleLocation: Unspecified
Late Confession — Julien confesses his love to Clotilde, but the words come too late. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Clotilde Never Arrives — Although she had promised to join him, Clotilde never arrives. Characters: Julien Rochelle, ClotildeLocation: Unspecified
Love's Aftermath — Julien remains ravaged by an affair that has overwhelmed his reason and career. Characters: Julien RochelleLocation: Unspecified
Story Breakdown
War And Exile — A discussion of the European war frames Julien's recollection of an isolated diplomatic posting.
War Conversation — The worsening war in Europe introduces Julien's recollection.
Remote Posting — Julien arrives at an uneventful French outpost in Africa.
Outpost Routine — Julien settles into official duties and observes the small community around him.
Official Duties — He finds little to occupy him at the post.
Miss Henry — Julien observes Miss Henry among the people around him.
Meeting Clotilde — Julien encounters a mysterious Frenchwoman whose husband is said to be serving in Siberia.
A Distant Husband — Clotilde's husband is described as far away in Siberia.
Growing Affair — Julien and Clotilde begin an intense relationship.
Hidden Identity — Clotilde's concealed inner life and shifting persona intensify Julien's fascination.
Guarded Past — Clotilde keeps parts of her past from Julien.
Unsettling Persona — She alternates between familiar composure and a more unsettling manner.
Fantasies And Warnings — Julien follows frightening fantasies, while Clotilde warns him against forcing her into an imagined role.
Seeking Secrets — Julien becomes consumed by the need to understand her.
Clotilde's Warning — She says she may become the figure he imagines, but on her own terms.
Rumors And Suspicion — Clotilde's associates and the rumors around her make Julien increasingly uncertain.
Ibrahim Appears — Clotilde identifies Ibrahim as a friend from the country.
Growing Accusations — Rumors about Clotilde deepen Julien's confusion and suspicion.
Career In Jeopardy — Institutional complaints and reports threaten Julien's official standing and lead to his recall.
Mission Complaint — The Evangelistic Mission threatens a complaint.
Recall And China — Officials order Julien back, while an old friend may secure a China posting.
Love Without Return — Julien's late declaration is followed by Clotilde's failure to join him.
Late Confession — Julien confesses his love after the damage to his career is underway.
Devastated Aftermath — Clotilde never arrives, and Julien remains ravaged by the affair.
Set amid the European community in an unspecified North African country, a colony on the verge of nationalism just before the war. And colonized is what happens to a French diplomat, Julien Rochelle, when he meets the mysterious beauty Clothilde de Watteville. Schmid 's favorite axiom, that love is projection, never had such a thorough airing. Is Clothilde really the wife of a French official now holed up in Siberia? Or is she Hecate, goddess of black magic and devourer of the Arab boys she meets far from the European quarter? Only our projections know for sure; for the rest, she is a "woman looking out into the night." Drawn from a novel by Paul Morand, who based the main character on his wife Helene, Schmid's film achieves an atmosphere of magic in which psychological credibility is not so much absent as irrelevant-a film that distances itself from the drama it invokes, perhaps as the elusive Clothilde turns her back on the madness she provokes.
