Fred, a raffish safe blower, takes refuge in the Paris Metro after being chased by the henchmen of a shady businessman from whom he has just stolen some documents. While hiding out in the back rooms and conduits of the Metro, Fred encounters a subterranean society of eccentric characters and petty criminals.
This is the sprawling saga of Honoré de Balzac, a man who created a great literary oeuvre from the dramas and adventures of his own life - a life that he shaped into one spectacular and unforgettable blaze of passion. At the heart of the story are the women in Balzac's life. Although gruff, unsophisticated, and far from handsome, Balzac exerts an irresistible fascination on women.
Glamorous theater actress, Diane de Montalte, finds it difficult to accept that her 23-year- old gay, live-in son, Marc, wishes to live a more low-key life. While Marc travels frequently from Paris to Marrakesh to visit his lover, Dionys, Diane begins a casual relationship with the only somewhat dashing Roland.
