o'clock each day, returning to her unsuspecting husband in the evenings. One day, Husson comes to visit her at home, but Séverine refuses to see him. Still, she fantasizes about having sex with him in her husband's presence. At the same time, Séverine's physical relationship with her husband is improving and she begins having sex with him. Séverine becomes involved with a young criminal, Marcel (Pierre Clémenti), who offers her the kind of thrills and excitement of her fantasies. When Marcel becomes increasingly jealous and demanding, Séverine decides to leave the brothel, with Madame Anaïs's agreement. Séverine is also concerned about Husson, who has discovered her secret life at the brothel. After one of Marcel's associates follows Séverine to her home, Marcel visits her and threatens to reveal her secret to her husband. Séverine pleads with him to leave, which he does, referring to her husband as "the obstacle". Marcel waits downstairs for Pierre to return home and shoots him three times. Marcel then flees but is shot dead by police. Séverine's husband survives but is left in a coma. The police are unable to find a motive for the attempted murder. Sometime later Séverine is at home taking care of Pierre, who is now paralysed, blind and in a wheelchair. Husson visits Pierre to tell him the truth about his wife's secret life; she does not try to stop him. After Husson leaves, Séverine returns to see Pierre crying. In an ambiguous ending which is hinted to be another of her fantasies, Pierre then gets out of the wheelchair, pours himself a drink and discusses holiday plans with Séverine. Cast Catherine Deneuve as Séverine Serizy, alias Belle de Jour Jean Sorel as Pierre Serizy Michel Piccoli as Henri Husson Geneviève Page as Madame Anaïs Pierre Clémenti as Marcel Françoise Fabian as Charlotte Macha Méril as Renée Maria Latour as Mathilde Marguerite Muni as Pallas Francis Blanche as Monsieur Adolphe François Maistre as The professor Georges Marchal as Duke Francisco Rabal as Hyppolite Production Costume design Much of Deneuve's wardrobe was designed by Yves St. Laurent. Filming locations 1 Square Albin-Cachot, Paris 13, Paris, France 79 Champs-Élysées, Paris 8, Paris, France Chalet de la Grande Cascade, Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16, Paris, France Champs Elysées, Paris 8, Paris, France Rue de Messine, Paris 8, Paris, France (Serizy's home) Release Critical response On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Belle de Jour holds