Jacques Rivette's elusive, disquieting drama that many considered to herald his second wind as one of the great French filmmakers. The plot concerns a number of drama students who encounter the same mysterious man, who tells them each a different story about a friend in danger. The inherent theatricality of the drama students plays into the film's aura of unresolved menace, where conspiracy is so pervasive that it is essentially invisible. The film intentionally creates an air of mystery and paranoia designed to leave the viewer unsettled and grasping for explanations.