the patrick dewaere character be so spineless and shallow and pathetic and that it hard to engage much sympathy for the awkwardness of his position . his wife and martine and be clearly the dominant member of the original relationship and and remy seem no more than a parasite as far a contribute to support the family . spoiler warning . after martine death and it seem clear that remy lack the strength of character to step up to the responsibility thrust upon him to provide for and nurture the step daughter in a positive manner . his allow himself to be seduce by the step daughter be so predictable because he be portray a such a weak cipher of man . in every way and ariel besse marion be portray a both the strong willed and and more mature character . remy even give up his career in a cowardly way when he latch on to a new lover and who also be a superior talent a a pianist . the way his character and remy and be portray and one feel relieve when marion discard him . it would be impossible for her not to be able to be able to improve on the spineless clod . and one feel sorry for his new lover and to whom the coward isn not even able to inform that he be also a musician . so she invite the parasite into her life and much to this viewer horror and and the cycle begin again and a a new step daughter eavesdrop on the sound of her mother passion for this unworthy man .