Climats (1962)
Directed by Stellio Lorenzi

Film Synopsis

Philippe Marcenat, the manager of a successful family printing firm in Paris, is preparing a catalogue on the famous Louvre Museum.  An attentive husband he may be but his wife Odile feels constrained by the bounds of their marriage and longs for freedom.  She arouses Philippe's jealousy by seducing the journalist François Crozant at a society party and then leaving with him for a few days in Brittany.  Sickened by his wife's flagrant infidelity, Philippe begins an affair with Odile's former friend Misa, aware that this will lead him nowhere as his mistress is happily married.  When his wife returns to him Philippe is devastated when she asks him for a divorce.  Subsequently, Philippe finds himself comforted by the presence of his long-time employee Isabelle, whom, until this moment, he has scarcely noticed.  In this woman the businessman is endowed with all the virtues which Odile patently lacks.  However, Isabelle's good sense, lack of imagination and devotion to her work drive Philippe to end their promising love affair.  Meeting Misa by chance Philippe wonders if she will bring him the happiness he is after - or is she merely a poor substitute for the only woman he has ever loved, Odile...?