In Jean Vigo's hands, an unassuming tale of conjugal love becomes an achingly romantic reverie of desire and hope. Jean (Jean Dasté), a barge captain, marries Juliette (Dita Parlo), a country girl, and the two climb aboard Jean`s boat, the "L`Atalante" – otherwise populated by an earthy first mate (Michel Simon) and a multitude of mangy cats. As they make their way down the Seine, Jean grows weary of Juliette`s flirtations with his all-male crew, and Juliette longs to escape the monotony of the boat. When Juliette flees for the excitements of Paris, the film visualises the lovers` mutual longing with sensuous immediacy. This timeless masterpiece of love was the only full-length film made by Jean Vigo.