Beyond the Clouds 1999

A mosaic of four stories about love and desire tied together by the story of a filmmaker who observes the relationships of young couples. The first episode, "Chronicle of a Love That Never Was," follows a young traveler to Ferrara who falls in love with a woman he meets, but falls asleep in his room and leaves her waiting in vain. Two years later they meet again, but he chooses to leave rather than consummate his desire for his ideal love. The second episode, "The Girl, the Crime," has the filmmaker wandering through Portofino and sleeping with a pretty young boutique owner who confesses that she has killed her father. The third episode, "Don't Try to See Me Again," takes place in Paris as two jilted lovers become attracted to one another. The final episode, "This Body of Mud," takes place in Aix-en-Provence and tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a young woman who has devoted her life to God and views her body as nothing more than a vessel to transcend.