Une femme de ménage (2002)

Through a classified ad, Laura, a young Parisian woman, finds a few hours of housecleaning work at Jacques’s place. He is in his fifties and has been living apart from his partner for several months. When Laura is abandoned in turn and has to leave her boyfriend’s studio apartment, she asks Jacques to let her stay with him. She has very simple tastes and likes rap. He is a sound engineer and would rather listen to classical music or jazz. Nevertheless, after a while, an affair develops between them. Hounded by his former partner, who wants to get back together with him, Jacques decides to leave Paris and spend a couple of weeks in Brittany, leaving Laura alone in the apartment. But the young woman, who has feelings for her new protector, insists on going with him and sharing the pleasures of a seaside holiday. Jacques agrees to take her. Although the first days of the vacation are idyllic, Jacques realizes that their difference in age and tastes is leading them to a dead end. Laura is happy during the trip and dreads returning to Paris, which means going back to her life as a housekeeper. She meets a young man her own age, Julien, and begins flirting with him, while still wanting to continue her relationship with Jacques. Jealous, Jacques considers ending their relationship. On the last day of the vacation, as Jacques goes to meet Laura and Julien on the beach, he meets Hélène, Julien’s mother, who mistakes him for Laura’s father. Jacques grows closer to Hélène and finds himself facing a dilemma between her and Laura.