In the "demi-monde" of night fishing, anglers on a French beach cast their lines. The camera follows their night-long toiling in obscurity, the contrast provided by the limited light sources resembling a scene from a baroque painting. Thus, a relatively ordinary activity takes on an otherworldly aspect, becoming an allegory for contemporary existence as well as for artistic production itself. For me, the situation evokes Miltonian-style scenarios of humans and rebel angels cast out of paradise and the film plays on Biblical fishing-related allusions (several of the apostles were said to be fisherman, and were described as ‘‘Fishers of men’’ and Christ was symbolized by a fish). Therefore, on a symbolic level, in the film the fishermen produce a ‘‘divine’’ signifier (i.e. the fish) which is subsequently disposed of, presumably leaving them to cast around for alternative significations. 

Nine year-old Thomas spends most of his days at the flea market closely observing the wheelings and dealings of the market's sellers . His desire to be one of them leads him to embark on a one-night adventure that overwhelms him.