
The film is set in 1910. The story begins by documenting the flooding of the River Seine that year.
Shy projectionist Emile has a passion for film and is in love with his coworker at the cinema, Maud, but has trouble admitting his true feelings. His friend, an exuberant inventor and delivery driver, Raoul, picks him up from work to transport him in his bizarre vehicle (called "Catherine"), to pick up a new belt for his projector, which was broken due to Emile's inattentiveness while daydreaming. In the process of purchasing a new belt, Emile also gets himself a new camera (which almost gets stolen by a thief). The story also introduces Lucille, Raoul's childhood friend, who is a cabaret singer at the club L'Oiseau Rare ("The Rare Bird"). Though she is a successful singer, her aunt Carlotta does everything to push her into the arms of the wealthy Police commissioner, Maynott, a man consumed by pride and ambition.
One evening, Raoul brings Emile with him to make a delivery to the Botanical Gardens. In the absence of the



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