Maurice Ronet (Lift to the Scaffold), in an implosive, haunted performance, plays Alain Leroy, a self-destructive writer who resolves to kill himself and spends the next 24 hours trying to reconnect with a host of wayward friends. For the most part, they choose to ignore his predicament, thinking their friend is being dramatic and will snap out of it. Only Jeanne (Jeanne Moreau), who lives among a set of decadent poets, seems to take it at face value, accepting her own helplessness with regret when she lets Alain get away.

35mm screening. Recommended: 12+

Screening as part of the 25th French Film Festival - see the full film programme here.