It tells the true story of teenage prostitute and murderer Violette Nozière, who poisoned her parents in 1933 France.

She falls in love with student Jean Dabin, whom she supports with thefts from her parents' as well as her prostitution.

Violette tries to cover up her crime as a suicide, but is tried and convicted, despite her saying that she had been raped by her father (an allegation which the film neither confirms nor refutes).

Violette Nozière was entered into the main competition at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival, where Isabelle Huppert won the award for Best Actress.

The film was also nominated in three other categories: Best Actress (Isabelle Huppert), Best Music (Pierre Jansen) and Best Production Design (Jacques Brizzio).