Albertine struggles to build fragile freedom and love while crime, imprisonment, and unstable relationships repeatedly pull her back into danger.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Love Before Flight
Albertine develops feelings for Marie and joins her in an armed robbery. The robbery ends in Albertine's arrest and imprisonment.
Key Events
Privileged Upbringing — Albertine grows up with adopted parents in a privileged environment. Characters: AlbertineLocation: Albertine's childhood home
Albertine Meets Marie — Albertine develops a crush on Marie, a delinquent girl. Characters: Albertine, MarieLocation: Unspecified meeting place
Armed Robbery — Albertine and Marie commit an armed robbery together. Characters: Albertine, MarieLocation: Unspecified robbery site
Albertine Arrested — Albertine is arrested after the robbery with Marie. Characters: Albertine, MarieLocation: Jail
Escape And Rescue
Albertine escapes jail with seven years left to serve but collapses after breaking her astragal. Julien rescues her and moves her into a precarious life in Paris.
Key Events
Escape From Jail — Albertine climbs out of jail despite seven years remaining on her sentence. Characters: AlbertineLocation: Jail
Broken Astragal — Albertine collapses beside a highway after breaking a small foot bone. Characters: AlbertineLocation: Highway
Julien Finds Albertine — Julien, a passing professional criminal, rescues the injured Albertine. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Highway
Arrival In Paris — Julien leaves Albertine in Paris with Nini, a prostitute he knows. Characters: Albertine, Julien, NiniLocation: Paris
Foot Operation — Julien pays for an operation on Albertine's damaged foot. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Unspecified medical facility
A Life In Hiding
Julien pays for Albertine's operation and provides false papers, but his criminal work keeps him away. Albertine turns to prostitution and saves money for a future with him.
Key Events
False Identity Papers — Julien obtains false identity papers so Albertine can remain outside prison. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Paris
Julien Disappears — Julien's criminal way of life leads to indefinite absences. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Paris
Albertine Turns To Prostitution — Unable to risk legitimate work, Albertine takes up prostitution. Characters: AlbertineLocation: Paris
Saving For Julien — Albertine saves money while hoping for a future with Julien. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Paris
Old Desire Returns
Marie finds Albertine and rekindles their affair. Their reunion is short-lived because Marie is arrested again.
Key Events
Marie Finds Albertine — Marie finds Albertine after her escape and disappearance. Characters: Albertine, MarieLocation: Paris
Affair Rekindled — Albertine and Marie resume their romantic relationship. Characters: Albertine, MarieLocation: Paris
Marie Arrested Again — Marie is arrested again, abruptly ending the renewed affair. Characters: Albertine, MarieLocation: Paris
The Final Separation
Julien is jailed, and Albertine learns that another woman visits him while refusing to visit him herself. After his release, their attempt to resolve the relationship ends with Albertine being taken away.
Key Events
Julien Jailed — Julien is arrested and imprisoned because of his criminal life. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Jail
News From Prison — Albertine avoids visiting Julien but learns another woman visits him. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Jail
Julien Is Released — Julien is released from jail and returns to Albertine's life. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Paris
Demand For Commitment — Albertine demands that Julien give up the other woman, and he drives away to do so. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Paris
Albertine Taken Away — Julien returns in the morning and sees policemen taking Albertine away. Characters: Albertine, JulienLocation: Paris
Story Breakdown
Privileged Beginnings — Albertine's protected upbringing contrasts with the criminal life she later enters.
Adopted Home — Albertine grows up with adopted parents in privileged circumstances.
Meeting Marie — Albertine develops a crush on Marie, a delinquent girl.
The Robbery — Albertine's attraction to Marie develops into criminal collaboration.
Armed Collaboration — Albertine and Marie carry out an armed robbery together.
First Arrest — Albertine is arrested after the robbery and sent to jail.
Escape And Injury — Albertine escapes imprisonment but becomes physically vulnerable during her flight.
Jail Escape — She climbs out of jail with seven years still to serve.
Broken Astragal — She breaks a small foot bone and collapses beside a highway.
Julien's Protection — Julien becomes Albertine's main source of practical protection and romantic hope.
Highway Rescue — Julien finds and rescues Albertine after her collapse.
False Papers — He pays for her operation and obtains false identity papers.
Paris Survival — Albertine tries to survive independently while waiting for Julien to return.
Nini's Connection — Julien leaves Albertine in Paris with Nini, a prostitute he knows.
Saving Money — Albertine turns to prostitution and saves money for a future with Julien.
Marie Returns — Marie reopens Albertine's earlier romantic attachment before legal consequences intervene again.
Rekindled Affair — Marie finds Albertine and resumes their affair.
Second Arrest — Marie is arrested again, ending the renewed relationship.
Julien Imprisoned — Julien's criminal life produces another period of separation and jealousy.
Jail Separation — Julien is arrested and jailed while Albertine remains outside.
Prison Rumor — Albertine learns that another woman visits Julien in jail.
Final Disappearance — Albertine and Julien briefly attempt to resolve their relationship before the law separates them again.
Demand For Choice — After Julien's release, Albertine demands that he give up the other woman.
Police Take Albertine — Julien returns in the morning and sees policemen taking Albertine away.
On a night of April 1957, Albertine, a brillant and rebel 19-year-old girl, jumps from the wall of the prison where she’s serving a sentence for a holdup. In her fall, a bone from her ankle breaks: the astragal. She is rescued by Julien, a justice fugitive, and so is born a burning passion between them. He takes her to Paris and hides her. But while he leads his gangster life here and there, the young woman struggles for her freedom and against the wounds inflicted by Julien’s absence, and writes poetry.
