Pierre Lachenay, a literary man, has lived an easy existence. He is often sought to deliver lectures by his friends in the art world. Little prepared him for the awakening he would experience when he is invited to Lisbon for a presentation. The beautiful stewardess working the first class section of the flight he almost missed, flirts openly with him. To make matters worse, she and the crew are staying in the same hotel. This presents an opportunity for an adventure that, unknown to him, will be fatal.

Pierre leads a bourgeois life in Paris. He has been married for a while to a brunette beauty, Franca, and have a young daughter, Sabine. When Pierre meets the young flight attendant, he probably thought it was going to be a quick encounter, but the allure of having the younger woman proves a fatal mistake on his part. His marriage, begins to unravel because of the lies he tells Franca. The relationship with Nicole does not go according to plan because when he decides to abandon his wife, Nicole feeling she will never be at his level, dumps him without much regret.

Franca, the spurned woman, agrees to the separation, but upon finding proof that Pierre has lied to her, blatantly, prepares a plan of action of her own. Pierre, after being rejected by Nicole, tries unsuccessfully to patch things up with Franca, but alas, it comes too late.

"The Soft Skin" was one of Francois Truffaut films that deviated from the canons of the New Wave movement. It had the feeling of being one of the typical French cinema offering where love triangles like the one at the center of the story were commonplace. This black and white picture is a nostalgic trip to that period in France, where the Paris of that era is the background for most of the action. The director gives a nod to other directors, like Jean Renoir, and others, with some small references to his peers' work. The screenplay is by Jean Louis Richard. Raoul Cotard, the cinematographer, captures the essence of the places where the story takes place in great detail. That look of the 1960s in European cinema is magical world.

The most interesting aspect of the film is Jean Desailly, an actor with boyish looks, who did fine work in his country's movie industry, as well as on the stage. He makes an impression because one can see in his face all the emotions Pierre is experiencing. Just looking at Mr. Desailly while Nicole is dancing, reveals a man whose lust for her, and her "soft skin" is tangible. Francoise Dorleac, a beautiful woman whose life was ended tragically at 25, was perfect as the stewardesses that gets involved with an older man without weighing the consequences she will cause. Nelly Benedetti, an attractive actress, plays Franca, the deceived wife. Ms. Benedetti was convincing as the wife that will not stop until she finds the right punishment for the cheating husband.

This is a character study, steeped in intense emotionalism, and bad judgment. Unfortunately, even the most deep intellectual beings make those choices. The love for Nicole is suspect. The title sort of indicates the sensuality of the characters. He is on the road and he needs to fulfill, for himself, a need (even though it is founded in betrayal). Yes, it is very dramatic and intense. But it is real and it is French. There were times when I was so uncomfortable watching this. And some would say the ending was a bit much. But it is masterfully orchestrated.

The ending of this movie really helped to improve this movie. Most of it involved an affair between a pretty young stewardess and a famous author who looked like a very chubby version of Peter Sellars (with his glasses). I found myself not caring for him or his mistress and I thought this movie was going to glamorize adultery--I just felt sorry for the poor wife. However, its effect on this wife becomes more the focus of the last third of the movie and that's when the movie really picked up for me. After all, I am not the sort of person who LIKES movies that make adultery seem "cool"--all too often, the emotional or physical impact is irresponsibly ignored. Kudos for giving a more thorough view of its impact on all.