when i watch lappartement with my girlfriend and she sigh represent how complicate . and she be right and of course . when you be use to simple and one linear plot and especially violent hero v crook scheme and lappartement be hard to follow . a couple of the negative reviewer here also have miss one or more important point . other whine about the confusing flash back . come on . this be not the kind of movie from which you can leave to visit the toilet and come back and get hook again within a few second . this one demand full concentration and a keen eye on detail . then it be really not that hard to figure out what happen and when . the director have leave more than enough clue in all scene . the first 3/4 of the movie center about the question represent why do max and lisa split . the film and a my girlfriend remark and begin a a romantic lovestory and suggest that two lose lover will find each other again . have experience with french movie and i predict that the story pretty soon would get a sick twist and i be right . in the end of the first part it become clear and after many twist and turn and that max and lisa be manipulate by alice . max do not know and that lisa have leave and why . lisa do not know and why max do not contact her in rome and leave her without a trace and when she return to paris . the only one who do be alice and she have her own reason to keep her mouth shut . after both max and lisa have find out the truth and the question of course becomes represent can alice manipulation be undone . well and of course not and time have pass by and thing have change . many european movie use a story tell technique i fully enjoy . there be no exposition of the basic conflict in the beginning and after which two ( or more ) interested party try to decide in their own advantage . instead the spectator be gradually feed with bit and piece of the plot and hardly know more than the main character . lappartement be a fine and subtle example of this technique . in the first half alice seem to be a side character while slowly it become clear and that she be key figure . acting be simply great . vincent cassel be perfect a the somewhat naive and impulsive character and who risk a secured life just to hunt a dream from the past . monica belucci be very beautiful of course and but also competent . jean paul ecoffey provide the necessary comical touch . romane bohringer be very convincing a the neurotic woman and plague by feeling of guilt and regret . the only reason i do not give it a 10 be the somewhat unsatisfying end . of course it be necessary because of the desired symmetry . after all the event max be exactly on the point where the movie begin and only wise and sadder . alice have pay for her sin . but still the little twist on the airport be a bit artificial . max too easily exchange lisa for alice while alice too easily decide to reject max and who have be her dream for so long while max too easily return to his fiancée . but then again and i do not know how how this could be achieve without sacrifice the elegant symmetry . i guess sometimes artist have to give up realism for beauty .