The story centres around knifethrower Gabor (Auteuil) and a young woman called Adèle (Paradis), whom he meets as she prepares to jump from a bridge.

The soundtrack consists entirely of existing music, with Who Will Take My Dreams Away by Marianne Faithfull, I'm Sorry by Brenda Lee and Goodbye in a version of Benny Goodman recurring during the film.

Ruth Vitale (president of Paramount Classics at that time) declared herself pleased with the film's performance in the U.S.

Daniel Auteuil won a César as best actor for his role in 2000, and a similar prize at the Festival de Sant Jordi in 2001.

The action of the film proper begins on the Passerelle Debilly in Paris, and ends on the Galata Bridge in Istanbul.