It's 1936 Paris and the world hurtles towards war. Fiodor, a former Russian general, has sought exile with his elegant, Greek-born wife, Arsinoe. This glamorous couple move in political circles and host cocktail parties where gossip and political debate occupy the same space. While Fiodor occasionally disappears on secretive 'errands', Arsinoe befriends their neighbours, a couple sympathetic to the rising Popular Front. As Fiodor's behaviour becomes more mysterious, those around him realise he is a spy'all, that is, except his wife. But who is he spying for' Is he a White Russian' A Soviet double agent' A Nazi'

Veteran French auteur Eric Rohmer has crafted an espionage thriller in homage to Alfred Hitchcock, replete with betrayal, deception and complicity. As is Rohmer's style, there is plenty of talk and minimal action. Effectively capturing a mood of desperation, this master filmmaker elicits first-class performances from his talented cast as the layers of deception are slowly peeled away in this intriguingly sly study in living a lie.

D/S Eric Rohmer P Françoise Etchegaray, Jean-Michel Rey, Philippe Liégeois WS Wild Bunch L French w/English subtitles TD 35mm/Col/2004/115mins

Eric Rohmer was born in Nancy, France in 1920. Films include: The Sign of Leo (1959), Pauline at the Beach (1983), Autumn Tale (1998), The Lady and the Duke (2001).