Les Sœurs Soleil 1997
Directed by
Jeannot Szwarc
Made by
Alter Films
Les Sœurs Soleil Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Les Sœurs Soleil (1997). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Bénédicte, Marie-Anne Chazel, lives in a grand house outside Paris with her husband Brice, Thierry Lhermitte, and their schoolgirl daughter Clémence, Léonore Confino. The house and the family business are both legacies from her father, and she brings a classical training and a strong sense of community to her life, including an active role in the local church. She is also nurturing a creative project, a pop opera she has composed titled Noah’s Ark, in which children and their mothers sing and dance together, a project that speaks to her hopeful, collaborative spirit.
Clémence wins two tickets to the recording session for a music video by her idol, the flamboyant diva Gloria Soleil, Clémentine Célarié. Spurred by anticipation, both she and her mother are coaxed into costumes and cast in a production that proves to be far raunchier than they anticipated. The evening takes an embarrassing turn when, at the local Lions Club, the video is shown by mistake and the crowd recognizes Bénédicte, transforming a private dream into a public moment.
When Bénédicte goes to Gloria’s address to demand the video be withdrawn, she discovers Gloria in a precarious situation, harassed by bailiffs, and she agrees to let Gloria hide in her house. Gloria then heads to the airport to join an Australian band she’s set to work with, and the group ends up camping out in Bénédicte’s home, bringing chaos and a large stash of marijuana, plus their pet kangaroo, into the tranquil life of the household. Amid the upheaval, Brice—who is far from immune to temptation—is drawn to his attractive secretary at work, and the two indulge in a fling that Clémence happens to witness after stopping by the house after school.
Clémence is soon sent away to a holiday camp as the misunderstandings multiply, and Bénédicte chooses to leave Brice to follow Gloria on a demanding, eye-opening tour that exposes her to lives beyond their quiet suburban routine. In London, a perceptive producer spots a striking symmetry: Bénédicte and Gloria could be two complementary halves of a powerful, marketable act. Thus, the Soleil Sisters are born, a new collaboration that blends their distinct energies into something commercially compelling. The producer also sees potential in Noah’s Ark, which, with a professional polish, finds a surprisingly receptive audience in a market very different from the one in which it was conceived.
As the touring life unfolds, Bénédicte’s perspective broadens and she grows increasingly aware of choices beyond the comfortable status quo. Meanwhile Brice, now confronted with the consequences of his flirtation and the financial windfall that comes from selling their house at a steep price to Japanese investors, begins to rethink the path that has brought them to this point. The journey culminates in a reconnection between Bénédicte and Brice, strengthened by the shared experience of navigating fame, family, and the possibilities that lie beyond the familiar.
Les Sœurs Soleil Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Les Sœurs Soleil (1997) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Family home and Bénédicte's inherited life
Bénédicte lives with her husband Brice and their daughter Clémence in the grand house outside Paris, a property she inherited from her father. She is classically trained and deeply involved with the local church, while quietly preparing a pop opera called Noah's Ark. The family unfolds against a backdrop of privilege, duty, and artistic ambition.
Noah's Ark rehearsals begin
Bénédicte rehearses her pop opera Noah's Ark, drawing on her classical training and the community around her. She envisions children and their mothers singing and dancing as part of the spectacle. The rehearsals set up the upcoming tensions between art, family, and social expectations.
Clémence wins tickets to Gloria Soleil's video
Clémence wins two tickets to the recording session of her idol Gloria Soleil. Excitement turns into plans to dress up and become part of the pop event. The moment marks the start of the family being drawn into Gloria's world.
Mother and daughter join the raunchy video cast
Bénédicte and Clémence are persuaded to don costumes and join the cast of Gloria Soleil's music video. What begins as playful fun quickly reveals itself as a raunchy production. The film crew's world begins to slice into their own.
Video shown at the Lions Club and Bénédicte is recognised
The music video is shown at the local Lions Club, where Brice had hoped to be next year's president. People recognize Bénédicte from the clip, turning a private moment into public exposure. The revelation ignites tensions within the family.
Bénédicte confronts Gloria and shelters her
Bénédicte storms to Gloria's address to demand withdrawal of the video. She finds Gloria harassed by bailiffs and persuades her to hide in Bénédicte's house. The actress's crisis drags the family into an unfamiliar, dangerous orbit.
Gloria's arrival with a touring entourage
Gloria goes to the airport to meet an Australian band and they all camp out in Bénédicte's house. The group leaves behind a chaotic trail, including a large quantity of marijuana and their pet kangaroo. The atmosphere mixes glamour with unpredictability.
Brice's affair comes to light
After consuming hash, Brice is seduced at work by his attractive secretary. Clémence later spots them together when she drops in after school, uncovering the affair. The family fracturing intensifies as loyalties blur.
Clémence is sent to a holiday camp
Clémence is sent off to a holiday camp, a decision that widens the distance between mother and daughter. The separation compounds misunderstandings and increases family strain. The household starts to drift toward separate lives.
Bénédicte joins Gloria on tour
After more misunderstandings, Bénédicte leaves Brice to join Gloria on an eventful tour. The journey exposes her to different lifestyles and begins to reshape her sense of self. The tour marks a turning point away from her previous domestic life.
London producer envisions Soleil Sisters
In London, a perceptive producer recognises that Bénédicte and Gloria could be two halves of a commercial whole. He proposes forming a duo called the Soleil Sisters to capitalize on their contrast. The encounter reframes their art as a marketable spectacle.
Noah's Ark gains a new life and audience
The producer also realises Noah's Ark has potential in another market when polished for professional production. With refined polish, the work becomes a hit in a different audience. This turn ties back to the original project and expands its reach.
Reconciliation and Brice's windfall
Bénédicte reconciles with a contrite Brice, who now has money after selling their house at an exorbitant price to Japanese investors. The sale changes their financial dynamic and underpins a new balance in their marriage. The family finds its way back through money and promises.
Les Sœurs Soleil Characters
Explore all characters from Les Sœurs Soleil (1997). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Bénédicte d'Hachicourt — Marie-Anne Chazel
An inherited heiress who oversees a grand estate outside Paris and a family business. Devout and cultured, she remains deeply involved with her local church and pursues a hidden passion for composing and staging Noaḥ's Ark. When a risqué music video implicates her, she confronts the chaos, hides Gloria in her home, and must navigate a shifting marriage and reputation. By the end, she confronts the consequences of fame and wealth and seeks reconciliation with Brice.
Brice d'Hachicourt — Thierry Lhermitte
A businessman who runs the family enterprise and life with Bénédicte. He falls into temptation at work with his secretary, triggering a cascade of misunderstandings and public exposure. His actions contribute to the family's financial windfall when their house is sold to Japanese investors, transforming their situation. He ultimately seeks reconciliation, shaped by the lure of wealth and the lessons of fame.
Gloria Soleil — Clémentine Célarié
A flamboyant diva who becomes entwined with the family when a raunchy video scene pulls her into the house. She flees bailiffs, camps out with an Australian band, and travels to London to work on a new act. Her presence catalyzes the formation of the Soleil Sisters and a shifted career path that blurs the line between authentic artistry and commercial spectacle. Her journey highlights the price and payoff of fame.
Clémence d'Hachicourt — Léonore Confino
The schoolgirl daughter who witnesses her mother and Brice’s indiscretions, then is sent to a holiday camp after a cascade of misunderstandings. Her perspective frames the film’s coming-of-age undertone, as she navigates adult chaos from a youthful vantage. She later observes the transformation of her family and the new path their lives take through fame and fortune.
Les Sœurs Soleil Settings
Learn where and when Les Sœurs Soleil (1997) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Location
Grand house outside Paris, London
The story is anchored in a grand house outside Paris, which signifies the family’s heritage and social standing. The plot also moves to London during Gloria's tour, marking a shift from a country estate to a worldwide showbiz backdrop. The contrast between the quiet, traditional estate and the high-energy, international pop scene underlines the film’s satirical take on fame and domestic life.
Les Sœurs Soleil Themes
Discover the main themes in Les Sœurs Soleil (1997). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
🎭
Celebrity and Commerce
The film explores how pop culture can commercialize art, turning personal moments into marketable performances. Producers see potential in Gloria and the Noah's Ark concept, merging church-inspired music with glossy, mass-market appeal. The Soleil Sisters become a vehicle for fame, raising questions about authenticity versus profit. The narrative shows art bending to the demands of a commercial drive.
💔
Relationships
Brice’s infidelity strains the marriage with Bénédicte, and the couple’s trust is challenged by public exposure and private desires. The video scandal forces confrontations and misunderstandings that threaten family life. Reconciliation comes only after money and circumstance alter the balance of power. The story uses personal relationships to critique how success can complicate loyalty.
🚀
Transformation
Characters reinvent themselves as they move from private life to public performance. Gloria’s disruptive presence and Bénédicte’s secret artistry collide, giving birth to a commercially viable persona. The film tracks how two opposed worlds—devout maternity and flashy stardom—converge into a new act. In the end, performative reinvention leads to new wealth and a changed domestic dynamic.
Les Sœurs Soleil Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Les Sœurs Soleil (1997). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the leafy outskirts of Paris, a comfortably affluent family navigates the gentle absurdities of suburban life. The patriarch, Brice, carries the weight of a generations‑old family business while trying to keep his composure amid the whims of those around him. His wife, Bénédicte, balances her role as the house’s steady anchor with a devout commitment to the local church, where she serves as the organist, offering a calm counterpoint to the world’s louder moments.
Bénédicte brings more than piety to the household; she nurtures a bright, collaborative spirit through a pop‑opera project titled Noah’s Ark, a whimsical blend of children’s voices and hopeful choreography that reflects her belief in community and creativity. This artistic side hints at a longing for expression beyond the polished façade of her privileged surroundings, setting up a subtle tension between duty and desire.
Their daughter, Clémence, is a typical school‑age dreamer whose excitement reaches a fever pitch when she wins tickets to a recording session for a music video starring the flamboyant, aging rocker Gloria Soleil. The promise of glitter, cameras, and celebrity pulls the family toward a world far removed from their orderly routine, and the allure proves impossible for both mother and daughter to resist. Their involvement quickly escalates from innocent curiosity to full‑on participation, placing them in costumes and scenes that flirt with the outrageous.
The resulting clash of high‑society propriety and Gloria’s unapologetically raucous aesthetic forms the heart of the film’s satirical humor. As the family’s polished existence meets the chaotic energy of a rock‑star production—complete with special‑effects flair, scantily‑clad extras, and absurd rubber sea creatures—the audience is invited to watch a delicate balance teeter, promising plenty of laughter and an affectionate poke at the ways privilege can be both a shield and a springboard into unforgettable, wildly unexpected experiences.
Movies with Similar Twists and Themes
Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.
Featured on this page
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2025)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.