a young man is accused of passing counterfeit French franc notes and is sent to prison. his wife leaves him and his life spirals out of control in way that is totally believable. I kept thinking this could really happen. it's a very simple story, but a complex tale. there are many gaps in the film and I understand that is how the director Robert bresson does things. you are just expected to catch up with what's going on as best you can. it's a film where basic decency turns into monstrous results. it's a lot like Hitchcock. maybe better. one interesting thing I noticed was atm machines in France in 1981. I don't really remember them in nyc that early.
