One of the great works of 1930s poetic realist cinema, Le jour se lève was Marcel Carné’s fourth collaboration with screenwriter and poet Jacques Prévert. In this compelling story of obsessive sexuality and murder, the working-class François (Jean Gabin) resorts to killing in order to free the woman he loves from the controlling influence of another man.

Taciturn laborer François (Jean Gabin) has begun to date Françoise (Jacqueline Laurent), a florist’s assistant. They bond over the similarities in their names and the fact that they both are orphans. François falls in love with her and hopes to marry her, but she turns him down in order to have a relationship with the older Valentin, a narcissistic, manipulative dog trainer. When Clara (Arletty), Valentin’s assistant and lover, leaves him, she takes up with the reluctant François, who still continues to pine for Françoise. Amused by François’ frustrations over his increasing attentions to Françoise, Valentin taunts him, bringing about a shocking and tragic act.