Chéri

Plot

In 1900s Paris, wealthy, middle-aged retired courtesan Léa starts an affair with Fred, nicknamed Cheri ("Dear" or "Darling"), the 19-year-old only son of another even wealthier courtesan. A famous beauty, Léa has been successful at extracting large sums of money from her up-scale clients, never falling in love with any of them.

At first, Léa takes Chéri off her "friend" (and former rival) Charlotte's hands as a favor, as his dissipated lifestyle is irritating to Charlotte and unhealthy for Chéri. Although Léa only plans on keeping Chéri around for a short while, their affair turns into a six-year relationship, in which Léa pays for Chéri's expenses, (although he has access to considerable wealth from his mother) and Chéri wears Léa's silk pajamas and pearls. Although they satisfy each other both sexually and emotionally, the two convince themselves that their affair is casual, but they are the only real friend the other has. Her status as a former prostitute and his as the son of one make them outsiders who can only be fully honest and relaxed together.

Léa learns Chéri's mother has arranged for him to marry the daughter of another courtesan, 18-year-old Edmée, as Charlotte has decided she wants grandchildren, largely to make up for her years of neglecting Chéri. Despite not wishing to marry Edmée, whom he finds boring, Chéri has no choice as he stands to inherit a fortune from Charlotte. Léa cheerfully kicks him out of her home but makes Chéri promise to always be gentle and kind with Edmée and to try to give her a good life. After Chéri agrees, the two part ways, both putting on an air of unconcern, as much to convince themselves as the rest of the world that their affair had just been for amusement.