The Man Who Loved Women (1977) Ending Explained | Truffaut’s Bittersweet Comedy-Drama

The Man Who Loved Women (1977) Ending Explained | Truffaut’s Bittersweet Comedy-Drama
The Man Who Loved Women, French title _L'Homme qui aimait les femmes_, is a 1977 French comedy-drama written & directed by *François Truffaut*

The film opens at the funeral of *Bertrand Morane*, a 40-year-old aerodynamics engineer. Many women from his life are there. The story unfolds through flashbacks as Bertrand writes his autobiography about his relationships.

Bertrand is charming, intelligent, and compulsive: he pursues women constantly but struggles with commitment. Through his encounters with editor Geneviève, lingerie shop owner Hélène, married Delphine, and his former love Véra, the film explores obsession, desire, and the search for meaning.

Truffaut blends humor with melancholy. It’s not just about conquest — it’s about a man trying to understand himself through writing and relationships. The film asks: can you find happiness in quantity if you couldn’t find it in one person?

It was remade in Hollywood in 1983 with Burt Reynolds. Truffaut’s version is warmer and more reflective.

Cast: Charles Denner as Bertrand Morane
Brigitte Fossey as Geneviève Bigey, his editor at Editions Betany
Nelly Borgeaud as Delphine Grezel
Geneviève Fontanel as Hélène, lingerie shop owner
Leslie Caron as Véra, Bertrand’s former love
Nathalie Baye as Martine Desdoits
Valérie Bonnier as Fabienne

Title: The Man Who Loved Women / L'Homme qui aimait les femmes
Genre: Romantic Comedy-Drama
Director & Writer: François Truffaut
Runtime: 1h 59min
Release: 1977 | France
Language: French

The Man Who Loved Women (1977) is a French classic directed by François Truffaut, starring Charles Denner as Bertrand Morane — an engineer whose life is defined by his pursuit of women and his attempt to write about it.

In this video we break down the full plot, Bertrand’s character arc, key themes of obsession vs love, and Truffaut’s bittersweet tone. We cover Geneviève’s role as editor and lover, the flashback structure, and why the ending is both tragic and fitting. We also compare it to the 1983 Hollywood remake.

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