France, 1815. After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon heads for exile. Royalists occupy Paris and attempt to restore the monarchy. However, the battle doesn't seem to be over. On July 6, Talleyrand, a shrewd politician of flexible convictions, invites chief of police and zealous revolutionary Fouché to supper and tries to convince him to serve the king. Over the meal they insult each other, accuse each other, and, at first sight, look like mortal enemies. But they definitely have one thing in common: they are both power-hungry.

Claude Brasseur
as Fouché

Claude Rich
as Talleyrand

Michel Piccoli
as Chateaubriand (voice)

Ticky Holgado
as Jacques

Yann Collette
as Jean

Stéphane Jobert
as Carême

Alexandra Vandernoot
as La duchesse de Dino

Lionel Vitrant
as L'homme à la torche

Alexandre Brasseur
as Le premier badaud

Didier Cauchy
as Le second badaud