Jacques Rivette's 1984 film ( L'amour par terre ) is a quintessential piece of French New Wave puzzles, existing at the intersection of life, theater, and the supernatural. For viewers seeking a typical narrative, it may feel like a "tedious exercise," but for those who appreciate the "Rivettian" blend of mystery and artifice, it is a beguiling "overlooked jewel". A Play Within a Play (and Life)

Searching for reviews and summaries of the 1984 film Love on the Ground ( L'amour par terre ) to provide a detailed perspective.

The film follows two actresses, (Geraldine Chaplin) and Emily (Jane Birkin), who are recruited by an enigmatic playwright, Clément (Jean-Pierre Kalfon), to perform a new play in his eccentric, colorful mansion. The core conceit is that the play is actually a dramatization of a real-life love triangle involving Clément, a magician named Paul (André Dussollier), and a woman named Béatrice who has mysteriously disappeared.

As rehearsals progress, the boundaries between the scripted roles and the actresses' real lives begin to dissolve: Love on the Ground (1984) - IMDb