Filledwithexpectations,EtiennemovestoParisfromLyontostudyfilmdirectingattheSorbonne.HeleavesbehindhisgirlfriendLucie,promisingtocallherregularlyviaSkype.OnhiscoursehemeetsJean-NoëlandMathias,theytoohavecometothemetropolisfromsmallercitiesandsharehispassionforcinema.Togethertheydiscussthecinematiccanon,readtextsbyFlaubertandPasolini,andlistentoBachandMahler.Jean-NoëlprovestobeanagreeablefriendwhotriestostrengthenEtienne’sfragileself-confidence;Mathias,ontheotherhand,oftencomesacrossasstern,aloofandmysterious.Fondofarguing,hehasahabitofdisappearingforweeksonendwithouttheothersknowingwhereheis.Nobodygetstoseehisstudentfilm,either.EtienneisparticularlycrestfallenwhenhediscoversbychancethatMathiassharesasecretwithAnnabelle,anidealisticyoungwomanwholivesinEtienne’ssharedflatandwithwhomheissecretlyinlove.JeanPaulCiveyrac’stenderlymelancholicblack-and-whitestudyoftheseyoungpeople’sencounterwithartandlifeisatthesametimeadeclarationofloveforclassiccinemaandthecityofParis.