Albert (Michael York), a distinguished art dealer lives in New York City. One day by chance, he visits a photo exhibit titled "Bistrot de Paris" by Carol Labronsky (Florinda Bolkan). In an old photo of two young lovers kissing while seated at a Bistro, Albert recognizes his first love, Rose (Charlotte Valandrey), the girl he fell madly in love with during his stay in Paris in 1959, and had disappeared after leaving him. In that photograph Rose is wearing a sweater which Albert gave her, proof that the photo was taken after she had met him. Tormented by memories, AIbert feels a burning need to find out whet became of her. He leaves for Paris. To resolve the mystery. To assist in the search, he enlists the help of his friend, Jean (Bernard Fresson) the boy who he fought for Rose's love. To begin their search, their only due is an enlargement of the photograph of the couple kissing. From the small details of the photograph, Albert finally finds the identity of the boy kissing Rose in the photograph. He goes to meet him and the man recounts his last days with Rose, had told him that someone was stalking her. From the conversation, Albert intuitively feels that the stalker must be his friend, Jean. Among the photographs which Mrs. Labronsky had given him, Albert finds in the background of a photo, Jean's face while he tries to be inconspicuous. When Albert confronts him, Jean confesses that he had kidnapped Rose in order to have her, and in desperation he had killed her and hidden her body.
