This is a very eventful period film that covers a lot of storytelling ground and is acted with forthright confidence.

The decades-spanning sprawl Quillévéré attempts is ambitious, but absent her usual passionate attachment to her characters, it feels like they are skittering across the surface of history, rather than living, lying and loving within it.

Each new episode is written, shot and acted with such vividness that the lulls between narrative reveals never feel frustrating.

The film poses interesting questions around the nature of coupledom, emotional compatibility, and parental love.