After a violent dispute with her mother, sixteen-years old Chloé ends up in the streets with nowhere to go. Then she finds Jean-Michel, a charming young man who will lead her to prostitution.

During an orgy, Some old and wealthy notables are being murdered by a small group of leftist young revolutionaries. Very soon the police are tracking down Virgile Cabral, the leader of the group. Meanwhile, Virgile's brother and only relative, Vincent, a violinist (and a thief), comes back to Paris. They have not seen each other for three years. Vincent does not believe in the revolution. He only tries to live as he wishes to live. But by looking for his hunted down brother, he has no other choice than to be involved in a fight that is not his.

The life and times of the famous French writer Guy de Maupassant.

Olga, Masha, and Irina Prozoroff lead lonely and purposeless lives following the death of their father who has commanded the local army post. Olga attempts to find satisfaction in teaching but secretly longs for a home and family. Masha, unhappy with her marriage to a timid schoolmaster, falls hopelessly in love with a married colonel. Irina works in the local telegraph office but longs for gaiety. Their sense of futility is increased by their brother's marriage to Natasha, a coarse peasant girl. She gradually encroaches on the family home until even the private refuge of the sisters is destroyed. They dream of starting a new life in Moscow but are saddled with the practicalities of their quiet existence. Despite their past failures, they resolve to seek some purpose and hope when the army post is withdrawn from the town.

Caroline, a teen, decides to come back to live with her mother where she meets Ben, her mother's very young lover. As Caroline begins to fantasize about Ben, she realizes that he's in love with her mother. Now, daughter and mom are at war.

Bernard is in the middle of a divorce. In the courthouse where he is awaiting the separation settlement, he runs across a childhood friend, Nicolas, who runs a dating service and is passing out flyers to soon-to-be divorcés. Bernard goes with his friend to his club, and gets roped into helping him find his soulmate.

David learns that his mother has cancer and only two months to live. He decides not to let her know.