Confession of a Child of the Century plot
The Napoleonic Wars are over. Octave (Peter Doherty) is young and beautiful and loves his mistress Elise – until he catches her in adultery. Despair leads to decadence. Under the influence of his friend Desgenais (August Diehl), Octave becomes the perfect libertine, even though his new lifestyle cannot satisfy his hunger for the absolute. His father's death takes Octave to the countryside where he meets Brigitte (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a young widow who fills her days helping the needy and the poor. He has found a new love. At first Brigitte resists – she doesn't want to relive the torments of love – but eventually she gives in. They fall in love, but Octave soon becomes suspicious. Will Brigitte remain faithful to him? Does not every woman betray her lover sooner or later? Is Desgenais right when he states that love does not exist? In his love for Brigitte, can Octave find the strength to have faith in the future?