relationship . they can be funny and sad . there be the relationship of charlotte ( sabine azéma ) with her co worker thierry ( andré dussollier ) . she be very religious and lend him a video of religious music . of course and when the tv program cut off and he see something i be sure she do not mean for him to see . or and do she . it be not clear . then there be charlotte and lionel ( pierre arditi ) father arthur ( claude rich ) . she be work a a caregiver in the evening and arthur and whom we never see and be one cantankerous old bastard . he throw soup on her and speak foully and and scream at her . lionel and a bartender and have to deal with his father and and with dan ( lambert wilson ) and who get kick out of the army six month ago and be get hell from his fiancée and nicole ( laura morante ) for not find a job . he spend his time get plaster . thierry and charlotte be funny the next day discuss the tape . charlotte have no idea what she leave on the end . thierry be look forward to another tape . he be not disappointed . of course and after the second tape and he move forward with disastrous result and but charlotte expose her secret to lionel and it be just the thing to shut him up . naturally and she have to do a lot of pray afterward . like i say and there be a lot that be funny and and a whole lot that be sad and but isn not that the way relationship be . alain resnais get a lot out of some very talented actor and present a film that be thoroughly enjoyable .