L'Argent is the last film by Robert Bresson made in 1982. Its translated title is Money, it is based on a work by Leo Tolstoy The Forged Coupon.
A couple of wealthy Parisian youngsters obtain a forged banknote of a relatively large denomination (500 francs), and buy something relatively inexpensive with it, running away with their change. Then the bill changes hands as the receivers prefer not to report it, but get rid of it by giving it to another gullible man and returning their money. It eventually gets paid to Yvon, the protagonist, a working-class heating oil engineer, who doesn't notice that it's forged, and tries to buy a drink with it, but is caught in the act. He loses his job and it all goes downhill for him from there.
Tropes
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Amateur Cast: Par the course with Bresson. - Counterfeit Cash: The catalyst of the plot is a counterfeit bill of 500 francs. It falls in the hands of the unsuspecting protagonist, whose life falls apart after he tries to pay for a drink with it.
- Despair Event Horizon: When Yvon is serving his jail term he learns that his daughter has dies and his wife has cancelled their marriage.
- Downer Ending: Yvon massacres the whole family with an axe.
- Driven to Suicide: Yvon. He is saved as he makes an attempt in prison.
- Dull Surprise: That's how the characters including Yvon react to situations.
- For Want Of A Nail: None of this would have happened if the rich couple at the beginning of the movie had given their son a little extra allowance.
- From Bad to Worse: For poor Yvon.
- Karma Houdini: For everyone bar Yvon, including the two boys in the beginning who got the note in the first place.
- MacGuffin: A 500-franc note. Every subsequent receiver tries to give it to someone else instead of reporting to the police.
- Reality Has No Soundtrack: Played very straight.
