The Mother and the Whore 1973

Alexandre, a seemingly aimless young intellectual, navigates life in Paris without a clear direction. An aspiring journalist, he fills his days with deep discussions on political and philosophical themes, often referencing contemporary films like The Working Class Goes to Heaven and reminiscing about the Mai 68 protests. Living with his partner, Marie, who works at a dress store, Alexandre’s nonchalance towards her affections leads to a series of tense confrontations cloaked in her passionate, yet frustrated, denouncements of his behavior.

In a bid to rekindle his romantic life, Alexandre reaches out to an ex-girlfriend, Gilberte, only to face rejection as she decides to marry another man. This fuels Alexandre’s sense of loneliness, prompting him to visit the famed café, Les Deux Magots, where he acquires the number of a woman leaving. Enter Veronika, a Polish French anesthesiologist with a bold outlook on life and relationships. She embodies freedom and promiscuity, ultimately leading Alexandre into a whirlwind of seduction.

As Alexandre’s affair with Veronika blooms, Marie becomes increasingly aware of his betrayal, although their intimacy reignites whenever they find themselves together. During one of [Marie]‘s business trips to London, Alexandre indulges not only with Veronika but also with another friend, further complicating his entangled love life. Each encounter is shadowed by Alexandre’s penchant for lecturing these women about various philosophies, all while setting the mood with classical and pop tunes from his record collection.

The dynamic shifts when a drunken Veronika surprises Alexandre and Marie in bed, leading to a tumultuous three-way relationship that initially excites all parties involved. However, competitive feelings soon surface, as both women vie for Alexandre’s attention. This tension escalates when Marie invites one of her ex-lovers over, prompting a harsh confrontation. Veronika vocally dissects Alexandre’s attitude toward women at Café Flore, branding him incapable of genuine love.

When Marie attempts to end her life with sleeping pills, only to be saved by Alexandre, the dominoes begin to fall. Veronika, in the aftermath, expresses her disillusionment with societal labels placed on sexually liberated women, and she confesses the fear of possibly being pregnant with Alexandre’s child.

In a moment of urgency, Alexandre drives Veronika back to her residence at the hospital, yet his emotions take over as he proposes. Strange laughter mixed with tears follows, as Veronika wrestles with feelings of nausea and fear, begging Alexandre to fetch a dish. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, Alexandre finds himself troubled and overwhelmed, sitting on the floor, trapped in a web of his own making.