Alibi.com (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A man who sells cover stories confronts the damage deception causes in his own relationship and ultimately refuses to help someone else lie.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Business of Cover Stories

Grégory's childhood experience of infidelity informs his belief that lies can spare people pain. He runs Alibi.com with Augustin and Mehdi, creating cover stories for clients.

Key Events

• A Childhood Shaped by Infidelity — As a child, Grégory experiences the pain of his mother discovering his father's infidelity. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel Location: Family home
• Alibi Company Begins — Grégory builds a company that creates alibis for clients hiding parts of their private lives. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel Location: Alibi.com
• The Team Creates Cover Stories — Grégory, Augustin, and Mehdi arrange excuses, staged emergencies, and other cover stories. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Augustin, Mehdi Location: Alibi.com

Love Meets a Hidden Profession

Grégory grows closer to Florence, making it harder to keep his work and private life apart. The prospect of meeting her family raises the pressure to appear honest and dependable.

Key Events

• Grégory Grows Close to Florence — Grégory's relationship with Florence deepens, complicating his efforts to keep his work separate. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Florence Martin Location: Unspecified
• Meeting Florence's Family Looms — Grégory faces meeting Florence's family while trying to appear honest and dependable. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Florence Martin Location: Unspecified
• The Parents' Situation Unfolds — A complicated cover-up involving Florence's parents draws Grégory and his colleagues in. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Florence Martin, Gérard Martin, Marlène Martin Location: Unspecified

The Family Cover-Up

A cover-up involving Gérard and Marlène draws Grégory and his colleagues into a series of misunderstandings. Gérard's hidden meetings and a hotel visit make the situation harder to contain.

Key Events

• Gérard's Hidden Meetings — Gérard's hidden meetings add to the misunderstandings Grégory tries to manage. Characters: Gérard Martin, Grégory Van Huffel Location: Unspecified
• The Hotel Visit Complicates Matters — A hotel visit becomes part of the tangle of misunderstandings around Florence's parents. Characters: Gérard Martin, Grégory Van Huffel Location: Hotel
• Alarm and Camera Disrupt the Plan — The team deals with an alarm and a camera while trying to contain the cover-up. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Augustin, Mehdi Location: Unspecified
• Belongings Must Be Retrieved — Grégory and his colleagues try to retrieve belongings as the cover-up grows harder to control. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Augustin, Mehdi Location: Unspecified

The Lie Comes Apart

The team invents a story that places people far from their real locations, but its efforts to control every detail deepen the deception. Florence believes Grégory is in Tanzania until the truth begins to unravel.

Key Events

• A False Location Is Invented — The team invents a story placing people far from where they really are. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Augustin, Mehdi Location: Unspecified
• Florence Believes Tanzania Story — A later deception leaves Florence believing that Grégory is in Tanzania. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Florence Martin Location: Tanzania
• Grégory Admits the Lie — Grégory admits that he lied and says he left the hotel and made his way back to Florence. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Florence Martin Location: Hotel

A Refusal to Deceive

Grégory admits his lie and says he returned from the hotel to Florence. Her message leaves their relationship uncertain, but Grégory later refuses to help someone arrange a discreet meeting.

Key Events

• Florence Ends Their Arrangement — Florence acknowledges her own mistakes and says their arrangement is over, leaving the relationship uncertain. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel, Florence Martin Location: Unspecified
• Grégory Refuses to Arrange a Deception — Asked to arrange a discreet meeting, Grégory refuses and warns that acting on the impulse could lead to regret. Characters: Grégory Van Huffel Location: Unspecified

Story Breakdown

• Childhood and Alibis — Grégory's experience of family infidelity shapes his view of lies and his work creating alibis.
  • Early Family Pain — As a child, Grégory feels the pain of his mother discovering his father's infidelity.
  • Alibi Company — Grégory turns his belief in protective lies into a business.
• The Alibi Team — Grégory works with Augustin and Mehdi to construct excuses and staged cover stories.
  • Staged Emergencies — The team arranges staged emergencies as part of its alibi work.
  • Growing Complications — Their attempts to manage a cover-up make its details increasingly difficult to sustain.
• Florence and Grégory — Grégory's growing relationship with Florence challenges his ability to separate work from private life.
  • A Deeper Relationship — Grégory and Florence grow closer.
  • Meeting Her Family — Grégory worries about appearing honest and dependable as he faces Florence's family.
• The Parents' Cover-Up — A complicated situation involving Gérard and Marlène entangles Grégory and his colleagues.
  • Hidden Meetings — Gérard's hidden meetings contribute to the misunderstandings.
  • Hotel Visit — A hotel visit adds another complication to the cover-up.
• Deception Escalates — Efforts to control practical details lead the team to construct increasingly elaborate stories.
  • Alarm and Camera — The team deals with an alarm and a camera while trying to contain the situation.
  • False Whereabouts — A fabricated story places people far from where they really are.
• The Tanzania Lie — Florence believes Grégory is in Tanzania until the deception begins to collapse.
  • Florence Is Misled — The later deception gives Florence a false impression of Grégory's location.
  • Truth Begins to Surface — Grégory admits he lied and explains that he left the hotel and returned to Florence.
• A Changed Outlook — Florence's message leaves their relationship uncertain, while Grégory's response to a new request signals a change.
  • The Arrangement Ends — Florence acknowledges her own mistakes and says their arrangement is over.
  • Refusing Another Lie — Grégory refuses to arrange a discreet meeting and warns of possible regret.

Directed by

Philippe Lacheau

Key Cast

• Philippe Lacheau — Grégory Van Huffel
• Élodie Fontan — Florence Martin
• Julien Arruti — Augustin
• Tarek Boudali — Mehdi
• Nathalie Baye — Marlène Martin