After a day of auditioning actresses for his play, Thomas finds himself alone in a Parisian theatre with little hope of finding someone to take the lead role and he is preparing to leave when Vanda arrives. Vanda embodies everything that Thomas hates, but he gives her a chance.

Adapted from a play by David Ives—itself inspired from the novella of the same name—Roman Polanski won his fourth César Award for Best Director for this metafictional period drama. Both smart and playful, a wicked two-hander starring Mathieu Amalric and regular Polanski star Emmanuelle Seigner.