In a small coastal town, a young man named Paul feels trapped in an oppressive routine that flattens his dreams of becoming a writer. His life changes dramatically when he meets Gabriel, an enigmatic free-spirited roommate who becomes his best friend and mentor. Gabriel, a life veteran, introduces Paul to a world of bohemianism, art, and dark pleasures, pulling him into an existence filled with excesses and fleeting freedoms.
As Paul is swept away by Gabriel’s influence, his relationship with his fiancée, a sensible young woman named Camille, begins to crumble. Camille, increasingly frustrated by Paul’s new lifestyle, tries to steer him back towards responsibility and the dreams of a conventional life. The tension between Paul’s desire for freedom and society’s expectations intensifies, creating an emotional triangle that exhausts everyone involved.
Time passes, and Gabriel begins to show his darker side: his dangerous habits and tragic personal history are revealed, leaving Paul questioning whether the pursuit of an authentic existence is worth the cost of losing something as precious as love. In a melancholic and poetic atmosphere, the film explores the duality of life and the struggle to find a balance between freedom and responsibility, leading us to a conclusion that is poignant and thought-provoking about the nature of sacrifice and choice.