The film stars Amanda Langlet, Arielle Dombasle, Pascal Greggory and Féodor Atkine.

Teenaged Pauline (Amanda Langlet) gets out of the car to open the gate to allow her older divorcing cousin Marion (Arielle Dombasle) to drive into Marion’s brother’s vacation home grounds, in Jullouville, Manche, on the north-western coast of France.

As they are getting reacquainted, a man named Henri (Féodor Atkine) approaches and scolds Pierre for abandoning their windsurfing lessons.

Back at the beach, Pierre tries to teach Marion and Pauline how to windsurf, when some local boys approach.

While Marion and Pauline are visiting Mont Saint-Michel, Henri does sleep with someone else, seducing Louisette (Rosette), who has a job selling snacks on the beach.

Louisette hides in the bathroom and Henri shoves Sylvain after her, closing the door on them as Marion climbs the stairs.

As they break up for the evening, Pierre and Sylvain get into a scuffle over Pauline, who decides to stay at Henri's, since Marion is still away.

Back at their cottage, Marion reads Henri's letter; Pauline suggests that they cut short their vacation.

They combine images, language, action and cinematic narrative fluidity to create a kind of cinema that no one else has ever done before.

[2] Referencing the Chrétien de Troyes quote that opens the film, "Qui trop parole, il se mesfait" ("A wagging tongue bites itself"), Pauline Kael wrote, "Pauline, who is the moral center of the film, doesn't carry tales.

[4] Rohmer won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival.

Movies that recall Pauline at the Beach include: Frankie by Ira Sachs, Crustacés & Coquillages (Côte d'Azur) by Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau, and Swimming Home by Justin Anderson.