Jacques Rivette’s disquieting drama confirms his place as one of France’s greatest filmmakers. Drama students individually encounter the same mysterious man, who tells them each a different story about a friend in danger. The inherent theatricality of the drama students plays into the film\'s aura of unresolved menace, where conspiracy is so pervasive that it is essentially invisible. The film intentionally creates an air of mystery and paranoia designed to leave the viewer unsettled and grasping for explanations.