Les portes tournantes

Blaudelle, who works as an artistic painter, is recently separated from his wife Lauda, a lighting technician. Their son, Antoine, lives with his father as Blaudelle, being a solitary and sullen man, needs him more than his mother does. Although he sees his mother often, Antoine records himself both playing the piano and telling stories as mementos for her. One day, Blaudelle receives a suitcase from his own mother, a woman named Celeste, who he never knew as his paternal grandparents were his guardians. Celeste is hoping to reconnect with him. The suitcase is full of her personal mementos, including a diary from her young womanhood. It chronicles her life as a movie theater pianist in Campbelltown, New Brunswick, her local celebrity because of the job, and her fall from professional grace with the advent of 'talkies'. It also outlines her relationship with her husband and her wealthy in-laws, which provides some insight into why Blaudelle is the man he is. And it mentions his real given name. After reading the diary, Blaudelle has no thoughts of seeing her. However, Antoine has other thoughts.