In this film, two objects recur over time: a picture of a beautiful woman, painted in the 19th century, and a luxurious Sèvres service, which are repeatedly stolen, passed from hand to hand, from thieves to fences, from antique dealers to new owners. Colas, with his young son Julien, is the traditional thief, a small or medium-sized thief, burglar of flats and good plotter of goods. Others steal on a larger scale: a wealthy gunsmith, a bizarre mechanic who makes detonators for terrorists visiting Paris, bourgeoisies and prostitutes. Money circulates unceasingly, many fortunes suddenly collapse, while feelings, like objects, appear interchangeable and with them people: love affairs, whether mercenary or not, are wasted and everyone passes almost indifferently from one bed to another…
