Toute une nuit is not a conventional narrative. It presents various fragments of important moments from romantic relationships one after the other without any explanation or back story, with these fragments only similar thematically, location-wise and time-wise (everything takes place in a stretch of about 12 hours). By doing so, it shows us that in any given location at any time, there is always a variety of narrative threads running along each other with the many human beings serving as characters in their own stories.

But more significantly, the film possesses incredible atmosphere. Amidst the dark and alluring cinematography, there is a great feeling of longing. And as the characters play out their lives, we gradually begin to understand the film’s power, enhanced by its poetic portrayal of human beings’ greatest desire – a longing for love.

By presenting various unexplained fragments of relationships, Akerman deromanticises relationships. This film leads us to realise that the romantic moments popular culture has greatly emphasised on are in fact rather unimportant. Rather, the history of a relationship is what renders certain moments emotionally powerful.

Yet through the same method, Akerman also celebrates romance. She shows us that moments in relationships can bear great importance, regardless of magnitude, from a dramatic dance to a quiet expression of love. And with the multiple romantic gestures in the film, mixed with the beautiful cinematography, the film clearly aestheticises and celebrates romance.