What Is One Sings, the Other Doesn’t About?
The premise of One Sings, the Other Doesn’t in 290 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the early 1960s, Paris hums with the restless energy of a society on the brink of change. Young students and mothers alike navigate a world where personal choice is still tightly bound by tradition and law. Within this atmosphere, the feminist movement begins to surface, its ideas echoing through cafés, galleries, and the streets where protests will later swell. The film paints the era with a lyrical, almost documentary‑like realism, letting the sights and sounds of France—its bustling markets, quiet suburbs, and vibrant activist circles—create a backdrop that feels both intimate and historic.
At the heart of the story are two women whose paths cross in a chance encounter that sparks a lasting bond. Pauline, a teenage student on the cusp of adulthood, is thrust into a world of adult responsibilities when she discovers a friend in need. Suzanne, a young mother already juggling the demands of two children, faces a difficult decision that reflects the limited options available to women of the time. Their initial connection is forged through a shared act of courage, highlighting the ways personal solidarity can blossom amid broader social upheaval.
Ten years later, the two protagonists find themselves again amid the larger chorus of 1970s feminist activism. Pauline has transformed into an unconventional singer, her voice echoing the rebellious spirit of the era, while Suzanne has devoted herself to community work, tending to the practical needs of a changing society. Their reunion underscores contrasting yet complementary visions of womanhood—one rooted in artistic expression, the other in collective service. Through their friendship, the film explores how individual identities intertwine with the swelling tide of feminist thought, inviting the audience to contemplate the myriad ways women shape and are shaped by the world around them.
What Happens in One Sings, the Other Doesn’t?
The complete story of One Sings, the Other Doesn’t, from the first scene to the last, in 325 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In 1962 Paris, Pauline, Valérie Mairesse — a 17-year-old student preparing for her baccalaureate — wanders into a gallery after recognizing her old friend Suzanne in a photograph. There she learns the photographer, Jerôme, Robert Dadiès, is Suzanne’s partner, though they are not married. Pauline reconnects with Suzanne, who is a 22-year-old mother with two children and is expecting a third. When Suzanne tells Pauline she cannot afford to have a third child, Pauline helps secure the money for an illegal abortion for Suzanne. To get the money, Pauline lies to her parents about a school trip; when they discover what the money was used for, she leaves home, drops out of school, and begins working as a singer. Jerôme commits suicide and Suzanne moves back to her parents’ farm, where she is looked down on for having illegitimate children.
Ten years pass before the two women are reunited at a 1972 demonstration in Bobigny for abortion rights. Pauline, now known as Pomme (Apple), sings in a feminist folk group and lives with her partner Darius, a grad student she met in Amsterdam when she was herself getting an abortion. Suzanne has managed to leave her parents’ farm by teaching herself typing, and has opened a family planning clinic in Hyères. Although the two women have to part ways again, they keep in touch by sending each other postcards.
Pauline later moves to Darius’s native Iran, where they marry and Pauline becomes pregnant. When their relationship becomes strained, Pomme leaves Darius and returns to France, where she has the baby at Suzanne’s clinic. She lets Darius return to Iran with their infant son on the condition that he impregnate her again. A pregnant Pomme is able to go back on the road as a singer. Suzanne, after an unfulfilling relationship with a sailor, marries a local doctor. In a brief epilogue, Pomme and Suzanne, their families, and their friends have a reunion by the sea.
One Sings, the Other Doesn’t Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Pauline discovers Suzanne and funds an abortion” to “Epilogue: reunion by the sea”. 10 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Pauline discovers Suzanne and funds an abortion
Pauline, a 17-year-old schoolgirl in 1962 Paris, wanders into a gallery and recognizes her old friend Suzanne. She learns that Suzanne's partner is Jerôme, though they are not married, and Suzanne is pregnant with a third child. To help Suzanne, Pauline lies to her parents and secures funds for an illegal abortion, which forces her to leave home and start working as a singer. The upheaval culminates in Jerôme's suicide and Suzanne moving back to her parents' farm.
When:1962 Where:Paris
- 2
Jerôme's suicide and Suzanne's move to the farm
Jerôme commits suicide amid the turmoil following the abortion money. Suzanne, now with two children and expecting a third, moves back to her parents' farm, enduring social stigma for having illegitimate children.
When:1962 Where:Paris
- 3
Pauline leaves home and starts a singing career
Pauline leaves her home, drops out of school, and begins working as a singer, seeking independence after the 1962 events. She forges a new life in France and across her travels, embracing a more self-reliant path while staying connected to Suzanne. The upheaval of 1962 marks the beginning of a long, divergent journey.
When:1962 Where:France
- 4
Reunion at the Bobigny abortion rights demo
Ten years after the 1962 events, Pauline and Suzanne are reunited at a 1972 demonstration in Bobigny for abortion rights. Pauline, now known as Pomme, sings in a feminist folk group, and she and her partner Darius, a grad student she met in Amsterdam during her abortion, begin a new life together. The encounter highlights the enduring friendship between the two women as they confront shared struggles.
When:1972 Where:Bobigny, France
- 5
Suzanne's new path: clinic in Hyères
Ten years after their first meeting, Suzanne has moved beyond her parents' farm by teaching herself typing and opening a family planning clinic in Hyères. She becomes a pioneer in reproductive health and maintains her activist commitments. The distance between the friends remains bridged by letters and occasional meetings.
When:early 1970s Where:Hyères, France
- 6
Maintain their bond through postcards
Pauline and Suzanne continue their bond across distance, keeping in touch by sending postcards. The correspondence preserves their shared history while each pursues her own path as artist and caretaker. Their friendship remains a lifeline through years of separation.
- 7
Pauline moves to Iran and marries Darius
Pauline relocates to Iran, Darius's homeland, where they marry and Pauline becomes pregnant. The move marks a dramatic geographic and cultural shift as she builds a new life abroad while maintaining ties to Suzanne. The pregnancy foreshadows further complexities in her relationships.
Where:Iran
- 8
Difficulties in Iran and return to France
The relationship with Darius grows strained, and Pauline returns to France, where she gives birth at Suzanne's clinic. The return reorients her life toward motherhood and music in a familiar French setting. The two women's paths continue to diverge yet remain connected.
Where:France
- 9
Darius returns to Iran with their infant son
Darius returns to Iran with their infant son, on the condition that he impregnates Pauline again. This arrangement binds the two of them in a complicated family dynamic as Pauline continues to pursue her career and motherhood. The separation between continents underscores the long reach of their choices.
Where:Iran
- 10
Pregnant Pomme resumes performing
While pregnant, Pauline, still called Pomme, goes back on the road as a singer, balancing motherhood and a performing life. She travels and performs to support herself and her family, reflecting her resilient spirit. The touring life becomes a throughline for her eventual reunion years later.
- 11
Suzanne's life: sailor affair and marriage
Suzanne endures an unfulfilling relationship with a sailor before marrying a local doctor in Hyères. Her personal life mirrors the improvisational, nontraditional paths of the women in the story. Despite the challenges, she builds a stable family life while continuing her work in reproductive health.
Where:Hyères, France
- 12
Epilogue: reunion by the sea
In a brief epilogue, Pomme and Suzanne, along with their families and friends, reunite by the sea. The gathering offers a quiet, hopeful coda to a decade and more of shared struggle, friendship, and motherhood. The scene emphasizes the enduring bond between the two women.
When:epilogue Where:Seaside, France
Who Are the Main Characters in One Sings, the Other Doesn’t?
4 characters, among them Pauline 'Pomme' (Valérie Mairesse), Suzanne (Thérèse Liotard) and Jérôme (Robert Dadiès): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- P'
Pauline 'Pomme' (Valérie Mairesse)
Played by Valérie Mairesse
A 17-year-old Parisian who steps into her path through a gallery encounter and becomes a singer and activist. She funds Suzanne's illegal abortion, leaves home, and forges a life shaped by friendship, art, and political awakening. Over the years she adopts the nickname 'Pomme' and travels—from Paris to Amsterdam and Iran—while maintaining a steadfast bond with Suzanne.
- 🎭 Performer
- 🌱 Activist
- 🗺️ Wanderer
- S(
Suzanne (Thérèse Liotard)
Played by Thérèse Liotard
Suzanne is a 22-year-old mother who raises two children with Jerôme and later faces social stigma for illegitimacy. She builds a resourceful life by teaching herself typing and eventually runs a family planning clinic in Hyères. Her resilience and care underpin the film’s portrayal of female solidarity across decades.
- 👩👧 Mother
- 🎗️ Feminist
- 🧭 Pragmatic
- J(
Jérôme (Robert Dadiès)
Played by Robert Dadiès
A photographer and Suzanne's partner who fathers her children. His eventual suicide becomes a pivotal, painful moment that exposes the fragility of personal relationships under social pressure. His role marks the emotional cost of the choices shaping the women’s lives.
- 📷 Photographer
- 💔 Tragic
- 🧩 Complex
- D(
Darius (Ali Rafie)
Played by Ali Rafie
Pauline's partner during the arc of the story; a grad student she meets in Amsterdam. They marry in Iran, navigate cultural distances, and face strains that lead to Pauline's return to France with their child, while still weaving their lives together across borders.
- 🎓 Student
- 💞 Partner
- 🌍 Traveler
Where and When Is One Sings, the Other Doesn’t Set?
One Sings, the Other Doesn’t is set in Paris, Hyères, Bobigny, Amsterdam and Iran (1962–1970s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1962–1970s
The film begins in 1962 Paris, capturing a period of cultural renewal and the quiet onset of a feminist awakening. It follows Pauline and Suzanne through early adulthood, workplaces, and family life, exposing the social pressures surrounding motherhood and autonomy. In the 1970s, the plot foregrounds abortion rights activism, notably the Bobigny demonstration, and tracks the women's evolving roles across Europe and beyond.
Where
Paris, Hyères, Bobigny, Amsterdam, Iran
Paris is the film's starting point, a modern metropolis where a chance gallery encounter triggers a life‑changing friendship. The city embodies the 1960s' artistic ferment and hints at the emerging feminist movement. The story then travels to Hyères, Bobigny, Amsterdam and Iran, showing how different places shape motherhood, activism, and personal freedom.
- 🎨 Paris
- 🗺️ Cultural hub
- 🕰️ Historic city
What Are the Themes of One Sings, the Other Doesn’t?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Feminism, Friendship and Art & Voice.
-
01
Feminism
A core thread follows how Pauline and Suzanne challenge traditional limits on women’s bodies and choices. The film ties intimate decisions to public action, culminating in the 1972 Bobigny demonstration that marks a turning point for reproductive rights. Through personal stories, it maps the growth of a broader feminist consciousness across decades.
-
02
Friendship
The enduring bond between Pauline and Suzanne anchors the film, surviving distance, misfortune, and ideological shifts. Their support for each other enables risky choices and personal reinventions, from illegal abortion to clinic leadership. The friendship functions as a quiet engine for social change as they navigate love, motherhood, and work.
-
03
Art & Voice
Pauline’s evolution into a singer and member of a feminist folk group shows how art becomes political expression. Music carries the story between personal triumphs and collective action, giving voice to women’s experiences. The performances and public appearances link intimate life with public visibility, turning music into activism.
What Kind of Film Is One Sings, the Other Doesn’t?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A hopeful and reflective journey following two women's evolving friendship through decades, marked by feminist activism and personal struggles, ultimately celebrating resilience and connection.
- hopeful
- reflective
- melancholic
- uplifting
- earnest
- feminism
- female friendship
- abortion rights
- self-discovery
- motherhood
Content notes: suicide, illegal abortion.
Quiz
How well do you remember One Sings, the Other Doesn’t? Test yourself on the story.
