"In a Paris sidewalk café in 1880, ex-soldier Georges Duroy meets an old army comrade, Charles Forestier, who offers to get him a job at a newspaper owned by Monsieur Walter, an aristocratic tycoon. During a dinner party at Charles' home the following evening, Georges is introduced into Paris society by Charles' beautiful wife Madeleine. Among the guests is Madeleine's best friend, Clotilde de Marelle, a young widow and mother of a young daughter...