Delphine and Solange are twin sisters who teach dance and music respectively in Rochefort. They both seek their masculine ideal.
Maxence, a young blond sailor doing his military service in a barracks in town, is a painter and poet in his spare time. He is also looking for his feminine ideal.
Delphine goes to the painting gallery of her lover, Guillaume Lancien, to break up. She discovers there, hanging on the wall, a female portrait painted by Maxence, which strangely resembles her. Meanwhile, Solange goes to Simon Dame, manager of a musical instrument store. She does not know that he is her father but also that he was once her mother's lover, before she left him, deeming it indecent to call herself "Madame Dame".
Yvonne, the mother of the twins, tells about her relationship with Simon, then meets Subtil Dutrouz, a friend of his father who regularly comes to the bar.
Two fairgrounds, Étienne and Bill, are present at the café. While Solange is looking for Boubou (their half-brother) at school, he throws his things on the ground. Solange, squatting, meets the gaze of Andy Miller, an American pianist passing through who is helping her pick up Boubou's things. It's love at first sight.
Upset, she forgets to pick up the score from her concerto. Andy deciphers the score and is immediately charmed by the melody.
Étienne and Bill, the two showmen, fell under the spell of the binoculars. They were abandoned by their dance partners, who left with blue-eyed sailors. They then offer to replace them for the show at the fair. They accept, but on condition that they can go to Paris with them the following Monday.
Meetings
Maxence explains that he has to go on leave to Nantes and at the same time learns from Yvonne of the murder of a certain Pélagie Rosier. At the scene of the crime, Maxence meets Solange and Andy meets Delphine. This shows him the way to the shop of his old friend Simon Dame.
On the day of the fair, the twins provide the show and reject the advances of the two dancers.
The film has a happy ending for all and gives us hope that the ideals of love are united.
Rediscover the trailer for Jacques Demy's film: