2000 film by Gérard Blain

In a somewhat deflated story of robbery and deception set against the rooftops and byways of Paris, a group of enterprising petty thieves take advantage of the dog days of August to burglarize vacated apartments. At this time of year, all Parisiens are on vacation elsewhere, and the city is invaded by tourists on vacation from their own cities. In this mass rearrangement of the European population, the thieves get away with their looting until they run into an architect who catches them in the act. But his morals are nothing to brag about, as he gets more involved in what they are doing and wants some of their take. He is also smitten with one of the down-and-out women the thieves have been supporting (Dominque Laffin). As in so many French dramas, these conflicting relationships are doomed to be resolved only by tragedy.

Der junge Jäger David befindet sich mitten im dreißigjährigen Krieg auf dem Weg zum Dekan Sölln in Bayern. Plötzlich hat der Mann eine unheimliche Vision: er sieht die hübsche Madda in Flammen! Doch nicht genug damit. Der Dekan gibt David im Salzbergwerk Arbeit. Dort sprengt er eines Tages einen im Salz konservierten Menschen aus der Urzeit frei, den alle für die Personifizierung des Satans halten. Der skrupellose Inquisitor Pürckmayer sieht sich durch den Volksglauben bestärkt und rechtfertigt damit seine Teufelsaustreibungen. Auch die durch die Natur bedingten Naturzerstörungen schreibt man schließlich auf das Luzifers Konto. Die Zeit des Glaubensstreits ist aber ebenso jene des Hexenwahns und so wird auch die hübsche Isabell gefoltert, weil man annimmt, sie sei eine Hexe. Jäger David bangt um die junge Frau. Sie ist nämlich die Liebe seines Lebens.

In a mysterious French castle dark meetings and apparitions happen, seasoned by nauseating erotic menages. The involvement frantically increases up to the amazing epilogue.

After the death of his parents, Pierre is forced to care for his younger sister Nathalie by committing petty crimes. In a recurring motif of Gérard Blain’s cinema, Pierre is taken under the wing of an older gay man, Hubert , who offers him work and financial security; but when Hubert makes advances to him, Pierre robs him and takes up with a group of radical leftists who are planning terrorist attacks. Without employment, Pierre loses Nathalie to child services and spirals into desperation, finally erupting in an act of horrific violence. An x-ray showing the largely undiagnosed sickness of its time, and a stern warning to ours.

In the carefree days before World War I, introverted Austrian author Jules strikes up a friendship with the exuberant Frenchman Jim and both men fall for the impulsive and beautiful Catherine.