The story is a fragmented, nonlinear narrative told in flashbacks over the course of a single rainy day. The protagonist, Murphy (Karl Glusman), an American film student living in Paris, receives a phone call from the mother of his ex-girlfriend, Electra (Aomi Muyock), who has gone missing. As Murphy recalls their intensely sexual and emotionally volatile two-year relationship, the film explores the highs and lows of a passion that blurs the lines between love, lust, and self-destruction. Their bond is tested when they invite a Danish teenager, Omi (Klara Kristin), into their bed for a no-strings-attached threesome. However, Murphy continues a secret sexual relationship with Omi, leading to an unplanned pregnancy that ultimately destroys his relationship with Electra and leaves him in a loveless co-parenting situation.

Hollywood often cleanses romance, reducing intimacy to brief, heavily edited cutaways. Noé aims for "sentimental sexuality"—capturing the physical act as an extension of deep, volatile emotional bonds.

The post-2015 era brought about a re-evaluation of emotional intelligence (EQ) and mental health. People began prioritizing psychological safety over passion alone.